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Grilled chicken stand reopens near Aldi after franchise dispute costs owner ā‚¬120K

A fresh start for a local favorite: After a bitter franchise split, Duran's grilled chicken stand returnsā€”this time, on his own terms. But the financial scars remain.

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2 min read
The image shows two people standing in front of a food truck, surrounded by a wall, plants, trees,...
The image shows two people standing in front of a food truck, surrounded by a wall, plants, trees, and a clear blue sky. The food truck is likely a Belle's Food Truck, as indicated by the logo on the side. The two people appear to be preparing food, with one person sitting in a chair and the other standing beside them.

Grilled chicken stand reopens near Aldi after franchise dispute costs owner ā‚¬120K

Mainz-Mombach's Kaufland Parking Lot Loses Its Grilled Chicken Standā€”Owner Reveals Troubling Reasons

Anyone hoping to grab a grilled chicken from the food truck at the Kaufland parking lot in Mainz-Mombach recently was in for a disappointment: the stand is gone. As owner Abdulmenef Duran told Merkurist, the relocation has a serious backstory.

Owner Terminates Partnership

The move comes after Duran ended his collaboration with a franchise company. In a statement, he revealed he is struggling with debt and severe psychological strain. "Despite a 15-year contract, we accepted the termination of our locationā€”for which we paid ā‚¬120,000ā€”while waiving any reimbursement of our investments," the food truck owner explained.

The decision to walk away was not easy, Duran said. He cited the franchise's contractual terms and quality requirements as key factors, including mandatory sourcing from designated suppliers and significant price hikes after the contract was signed.

Franchise Company Denies Allegations

In response to Merkurist's inquiry, the franchise provider issued a statement through its legal representatives, rejecting Duran's claims of poor quality and unfair contract terms "in such broad terms." The company emphasized that its franchise system is built on clearly defined rights and obligations. "Adjustments to terms and conditions are not made arbitrarily butā€”where provided forā€”on a contractual basis, taking economic circumstances into account," the statement read.

The company also denied exerting "impermissible pressure" on franchisees, asserting that supplier, quality, and system standards are standard industry practice to ensure brand consistency. Due to confidentiality, it declined to comment on individual contracts or internal processes.

According to its Instagram profile, the company operates 20 food truck locations nationwide. Its website, which previously marketed itself as a "full-service supplier with a turnkey concept," now displays a notice that it is "currently under revision." Duran's lawyer noted that the business model had been advertised as an easy path to self-employment, leading many to invest their life savings or take out loans.

Grilled Chicken Stand Reopens at New Location

Duran claims he is not the only franchisee to have left the system, with some cases already heading to court. He stresses the importance of speaking openly about the issues. For customers, however, there is good news: the chicken stand has reopened.

The new location is directly across the street, next to the Aldi supermarket at Rheinallee 203. The truck is already back in operation, maintaining its usual hours from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. "We're selling the same products at the same pricesā€”nothing has changed," Duran assures his customers.

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