Is Make & Take Gourmet Offering Franchise Buyouts?

by sean on June 19th, 2008

(FranchisePick.com Franchise Blog) Related stories: Make & Take Gourmet: Meal Prep Franchisor Takes Failures in Stride, Patrons of Failed Franchise Blast Make and Take Gourmet Franchisor Bellso, Meal Prep Franchisor Blames Franchisees…

Troubled meal assembly kitchen franchisor Make & Take Gourmet is rumored to be offering its franchise owners a chance to buy their way out of their franchise contracts - and to be free from future royalties or obligations to the franchisor - as long as they agree not to sue the Make & Take Gourmet franchisor in the future.

A commenter on meal prep discussion site Meal Assembly Watch stated:

Even more devious… while Michele paints a rosy picture of life in the Make and Take world…knowing full well that her ship is sinking… she proposes to her current store owners that they ”buy out” their franchise agreements… no future royalties… and her (oh so sucessful) marketing and corporate support will still exist…at least for a few years….all for a price…and, of course, release of liability to protect her against lawsuits….How can she feel entitled to anything more from the people that have already invested too much in her (obviously flawed) concept???? People have invested their life’s savings in her idea…and now are being encouraged to buy their way out??? Typical Bellso style….

The comment comes amidst rumors of a looming legal backlash against Make & Take Gourmet for alleged past misdeeds - including selling unregistered franchises and making illegal earnings claims - is on the horizon. Industry observers see the potential buyout as a way for the franchisor to try to contain future legal actions.

A commenter on Unhappy Franchisee concurs with that assessment:

Let me get this straight: M&TG, the franchisor who sold franchises while not even registered in its own registration state (Can you say illegal franchise?), the franchisor who provided earnings claims to be published in the press… the franchisor who publicly stated that she EXPECTED her franchisees to fail… Is offering the franchisees an opportunity not to get sued?
…That is like a fly caught in a web telling the spider that he’s going to give him a chance just to crawl away now before the fly gets violent.

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH MICHELE BELLSO & THE MAKE & TAKE GOURMET FRANCHISE? WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MEAL PREP KITCHEN FRANCHISES? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

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