What constitutes an 'Approved Supplier' for a Stretch Zone franchise?
Stretch_Zone Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
"Approved Supplier" means a supplier of a particular product or service, possibly among several other suppliers, that we have approved"
(c) Approved Suppliers. You must purchase or lease certain equipment, supplies, inventory, advertising materials, and other products and services used for the development and operation of your Franchise Business only from Authorized Suppliers. These Authorized Suppliers have demonstrated: (i) the ability to meet our standards and specifications for the specified items; and (ii) possess adequate quality controls and the capacity to supply your needs promptly and reliably. We will use our best reasonable efforts to negotiate agreements with Approved Suppliers
(d) Approval of New Suppliers. If you propose to purchase or lease any equipment, supplies, inventory, advertising materials, construction services, or other products or services that are not proprietary to us or an Affiliate from an unapproved supplier, you must submit to us a written request for approval, or request that the supplier do so itself. We have the right to require, as a condition of our approval, that the supplier permit our representatives to inspect its facilities. If we request, the supplier will deliver samples to us or to our designated independent, certified laboratory for testing. We are not liable for damage to any sample that may result from the testing process. You will pay a charge not to exceed the reasonable cost of the inspection and the actual cost of the testing (not to exceed $1,500). We may also require as a condition to our approval, that the supplier present satisfactory evidence of insurance, for example, product liability insurance, protecting our Franchisees and us from all claims from the use of the item within the Business System. We will give you written notice of our approval
Source: Item 8 — Receipts. Any sale made must be in compliance with § 683(8) of the Franchise Sale Act (N.Y. Gen. Bus. L. § 680 et seq.), which describes the time period a Franchise Disclosure Document (offering prospectus) must be provided to a prospective franchisee before a sale may be made. New York law requires a franchisor to provide the Franchise Disclosure Document at the earliest of the first personal meeting or ten (10) business days before the execution of the franchise or other agreement or the payment of any consideration that relates to the franchise relationship. (FDD pages 99–263)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Stretch Zone FDD, an 'Approved Supplier' is defined as a supplier of a specific product or service that Stretch Zone has approved, potentially from a pool of several suppliers.
Stretch Zone franchisees must purchase or lease certain equipment, supplies, inventory, advertising materials, and other products and services from these Approved Suppliers. These suppliers must demonstrate the ability to meet Stretch Zone's standards and specifications for the items they provide. They also need to have adequate quality controls and the capacity to supply the franchisee's needs promptly and reliably.
If a franchisee wants to use a supplier that is not already approved, they must submit a written request for approval to Stretch Zone, or have the supplier do so. Stretch Zone has the right to inspect the supplier's facilities and require samples for testing, with the franchisee bearing the costs of inspection and testing, up to a maximum of $1,500. Stretch Zone may also require the supplier to provide evidence of insurance, such as product liability insurance, to protect franchisees and Stretch Zone from claims related to the use of the item within the Stretch Zone Business System.