What are some of the criteria Southern Steer uses for supplier approval?
Southern_Steer Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
If You want to purchase certain Goods, Supplies and Services that are subject to Our approved supplier requirements from a supplier who has not been previously approved by Us, then You must, request approval from Us in writing. We must approve such supplier prior to You making any purchase from such supplier. You must send Us representative samples or specifications of that supplier's Goods, Supplies and Services and certain other information about the supplier's business. We will also have the right to inspect the supplier's facilities and otherwise evaluate the proposed supplier and its Goods, Supplies and Services. You must pay the cost of all inspections and evaluations, including the actual cost of any testing. The criteria for supplier approval are available to franchisees upon request. Among other things, the suppliers must have adequate quality controls, the capacity to supply Your needs promptly and reliably and must comply with Our guidelines. We reserve the right to re-inspect the facilities and Goods, Supplies and Services of any approved supplier and to revoke Our approval if the supplier fails to continue to meet any of Our then-current standards. Our supplier approval procedure does not obligate Us to approve any particular supplier. However, We will notify You within 30 days after We complete the inspection and evaluation process of Our approval or disapproval of any proposed supplier. We may modify Our then-current standards for suppliers at any time. We will provide You with these new supplier standards upon Your written request.
There are certain name brand Goods, Supplies and Services that are selected by Us for consistency in quality and other considerations. To ensure that You adhere to the uniformity requirements and quality standards associated with all Southern Steer Business, You must purchase these items for Your Southern Steer Business, but You may purchase them from any approved distributor that can supply them. We will provide a written list of these selected Goods, Supplies and Services. We will also notify You of any additions to or deletions from this list.
You must permit Us and Our agents, at any reasonable time, to remove a reasonable number of samples of food or non-food items from Your inventory, free of charge for testing (at Your cost) by Us or by an independent laboratory, to determine whether the samples meet Our then-current standards and specifications.
Source: Item 8 — ITEM. 8 RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 21–24)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Southern Steer's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if a franchisee wants to purchase goods, supplies, and services from a supplier not already approved, they must request written approval from Southern Steer. The franchisee needs to provide representative samples or specifications of the supplier's offerings, along with other business information. Southern Steer has the right to inspect the supplier's facilities and evaluate their goods, supplies, and services, with the franchisee bearing the costs of all inspections and evaluations, including testing. Southern Steer will notify the franchisee of approval or disapproval within 30 days after completing the inspection and evaluation process.
The criteria for supplier approval are available to franchisees upon request. Approved suppliers must maintain adequate quality controls, have the capacity to promptly and reliably meet the franchisee's needs, and comply with Southern Steer's guidelines. Southern Steer retains the right to re-inspect approved suppliers and revoke approval if they fail to meet the current standards, which Southern Steer may modify at any time.
Southern Steer also designates certain name-brand goods, supplies, and services for consistency in quality. Franchisees must purchase these items for their Southern Steer business but can do so from any approved distributor. Southern Steer will provide a written list of these selected goods, supplies, and services, and will notify franchisees of any changes to the list. This ensures uniformity and quality across all Southern Steer locations, a common practice in franchising to maintain brand standards. Franchisees must also allow Southern Steer to take samples of food or non-food items for testing to ensure they meet the brand's standards, with the franchisee covering the testing costs.