New York Papa John’s Franchisees Free To Change Trade Dress

Blue MauMau:

Papa John’s International, Inc. is requiring its New York City franchisees to create their own menu panels to meet city nutritional labeling requirements, resulting in some unhappy franchisees. The city now requires calorie counts to be disclosed by restaurant chains. It is the latest effort in the fat wars, a popular term given to calorie and fat-content laws of the past few years and the resultant string of unsuccessful litigation.

Some of Papa John’s NYC franchise owners feel that Papa John’s is abdicating what they feel is a fundamental branding responsibility.

Chris Sternberg, Vice President of Corporate Communications for Papa John’s International, Inc. in Louisville, Kentucky confirms that franchise owners are on their own in creating a menu panel.

A franchise chain’s most valuable asset is its brand. The company’s reputation and credibility is what makes up the brand. So it is surprising to see a franchise chain instruct franchisees to customize their menu boards as they deem fit. What seems to be at stake isn’t as much about a menu board as it is about who controls the brand and who has the higher legal risk if the nutritional information on that menu board is wrong.