Author Topic: Corporate religious discrimination (Read 1022 times)

Chairboy · « **on:** July 11, 2007, 09:53:33 AM »

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,288845,00.html

The Muslim owner of a Dunkin-Donuts has had his franchise revoked because he doesn't want to sell breakfast sandwiches with pork products (ham, bacon, etc). As a corporation, Dunkin Donuts probably has the right to refuse to renew a franchise agreement for whatever reason, I imagine, but it sounds pretty scummy.

When I could eat donuts, I preferred Krispy Kreme, but I've heard that Dunkin Donuts has great coffee.

DiabloTX · « **Reply #1 on:** July 11, 2007, 09:54:42 AM »

I wonder if Jewish owners have run into the same problem.

Xargos · « **Reply #2 on:** July 11, 2007, 10:01:34 AM »

He does not support their product, so why should they support him?

Jihad Coffee & Donuts sounds like a nice name for a new company.

Chairboy · « **Reply #3 on:** July 11, 2007, 10:06:41 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Xargos
He does not support their product, so why should they support him?

Well, he pays franchise fees, presumably, and he sells donuts and coffee and whatnot. He's a small business owner that chooses not to sell these pork sandwiches which are a small part of the menu, which seems like a reasonable decision.

I used to own two franchise restaurants, and there's always pressure to add new products from corporate without regard to whether they'll sell, so while the issues I had are different in specific from him, perhaps I'm more sympathetic to the idea that as the owner of his business, he should be able to choose not to sell those products. It's his money on the line, not to mention his soul in his mind.

Jackal1 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 11, 2007, 10:16:33 AM »

Or...maybe he should have read the franchise agreement.

Xargos · « **Reply #5 on:** July 11, 2007, 10:21:06 AM »

He'll get away with it because he is Muslim.

Mickey1992 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 11, 2007, 10:23:55 AM »

Dunkin-Donuts screwed up when they required the items in the franchise agreement, but didn't enforce it. Now they want to enforce it selectively.

==========================

"In an opinion Tuesday, U.S. Circuit Judge Ilana Diamond Rovner wrote that because three other Dunkin' Donuts franchisees in the area were allowed to continue operating without selling breakfast sandwiches for reasons other than the owners' religious views such as space or lease restrictions, that there was sufficient evidence to take the suit to trial."

SirLoin · « **Reply #7 on:** July 11, 2007, 10:36:10 AM »

Yeah but the whole point of franchises is that the customer expects the same food/quality at any of the locations.

Elfie · « **Reply #8 on:** July 11, 2007, 10:38:48 AM »

Quote

Well, he pays franchise fees, presumably, and he sells donuts and coffee and whatnot. He's a small business owner that chooses not to sell these pork sandwiches which are a small part of the menu, which seems like a reasonable decision

If he is violating the franchise agreement, they have every right to revoke his franchise.

I used to deliver pizzas as a part time job. One store that I drove for (the name of that now defunct chain escapes me atm), the franchise owners also owned a store that sold Mexican food. It just so happened that both stores were right next to each other. The pizza store was having it's drivers deliver the Mexican food also. The pizza corporation immediately revoked the franchise as soon as they found out.

It was rumored that a disgruntled driver placed a phone call to corporate headquarters but I never heard if that was actually true or not.

Elfie · « **Reply #9 on:** July 11, 2007, 10:40:10 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by SirLoin
Yeah but the whole point of franchises is that the customer expects the same food/quality at any of the locations.

Good point. If I go to a Wendy's......ANY Wendy's, I can expect to see the exact same menu at all of them.

Elfie · « **Reply #10 on:** July 11, 2007, 10:42:37 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Mickey1992
Dunkin-Donuts screwed up when they required the items in the franchise agreement, but didn't enforce it. Now they want to enforce it selectively.

==========================

"In an opinion Tuesday, U.S. Circuit Judge Ilana Diamond Rovner wrote that because three other Dunkin' Donuts franchisees in the area were allowed to continue operating without selling breakfast sandwiches for reasons other than the owners' religious views such as space or lease restrictions, that there was sufficient evidence to take the suit to trial."

Do you have a link for that?

The part of the article you quoted makes it sound like there were viable reasons the other stores didn't have the breakfast sandwiches.

Mickey1992 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 11, 2007, 10:46:25 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Elfie
Good point. If I go to a Wendy's......ANY Wendy's, I can expect to see the exact same menu at all of them.

But you won't. The big fast food chains all have a "core" menu that all restaurants must carry. Other items are optional.

Elfie · « **Reply #12 on:** July 11, 2007, 10:49:20 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Mickey1992
But you won't. The big fast food chains all have a "core" menu that all restaurants must carry. Other items are optional.

For the most part you do see the same menu. There are *regional* items though. Here in the Denver area I have yet to see any of the various fast food restaurants menu's vary. If I went to say Kansas City, yes there would be some variation. McDonald's McRib sandwich was originally a regional item for example.

Chairboy · « **Reply #13 on:** July 11, 2007, 11:02:55 AM »

Jackal: He's been a franchisee for over 20 years without this being an issue, it's only now becoming a problem.

Here's a real world example: Pizza Hut has a Taco Pizza, but not all Pizza Huts offer it. I'd think that the same discretion they exercise should be available to this small business owner. As long as the food he DOES serve meets the franchise requirements, I see no conflict, plus the fact that there are many Dunkin Donuts (three in his area alone) that don't serve these sandwiches, the argument that they are a 'Core item' doesn't seem to hold up.

Jackal1 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 11, 2007, 11:10:35 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Chairboy
Jackal: He's been a franchisee for over 20 years without this being an issue, it's only now becoming a problem.

Here's a real world example: Pizza Hut has a Taco Pizza, but not all Pizza Huts offer it. I'd think that the same discretion they exercise should be available to this small business owner. As long as the food he DOES serve meets the franchise requirements, I see no conflict, plus the fact that there are many Dunkin Donuts (three in his area alone) that don't serve these sandwiches, the argument that they are a 'Core item' doesn't seem to hold up.

So.......you are saying race discrimination, right?