I have a great deal with a couple of delicatessens whereby I provide them with baked goods for them to sell in their cafeterias. They have another store, 4 hours away, which is a franchise. The owner of that store came by one of the ones I provide to last week, and said how wonderful my carrot cake is.
She has asked for the recipe, so that she can pass it on to the bakery they use for them to make, and sell... what to do?? I really don't like giving out my recipes, but at the same time I want to keep this deal sweet and don't want to pee them off, and it can't hurt too much since they are hours away from me...
No. no, no. First, if it is your own reciepe that you worked on and came up with, why would you.
Second, I did not know you could do that in a Franchise, I thought you had to use all products shipped in. An owner of KFC can not sell other products just because they like them.
Third, what if it is so popular in the franchise it goes nation wide. They get all the credit and the money
JMO
Adamsgama
NO NO NO!!!! I wouldn't , no way!! That is what you are known for, so why lose that??
There are many terrific carrot cake recipes out there but they want yours. Don't give it out. If you are planning to expand your business you would want your recipe to be exclusive. Just say, "Thank you! I'm glad you like it but I don't share my recipes." And smile, knowing you have something great on your hands!
In this case just tell them you have a policy not to distribute recipes. Especially since they would be giving it to another business. Even if it is 4 hrs away, this is not something I would get in the habit of doing.
Big fat NO!
Does Mr Kipling give out his recipes ??? I dont think so.
Tell them you are very sorry but you dont pass on your recipes to anyone.
Perhaps you could offer to ship them, or they could send a driver to pick them up every so often.
The only time you should give someone your recipes is if they buy out your business.
Just adding my NO WAY!!!!! to the list. 
If they love it so much, then they should be willing to pay you for the cake, as Jason suggests.
NO!!! Never ever ever give ur recipe. And be prepared for them to come at you with some nonsense about health concerns yada yada... in that case I wld list ingredients but not ur actual recipe. That's YOUR $$ MAKER and they want it. The minute you give that up they are going to take you out of business anyway!!
What are the odds that you give them the recipe and find yourself out in the cold when both franchises start being supplied with your wonderful carrot cake by the same bakery. I don't think four hours is far enough away. I wouldn't give up my recipe for nothing. It's one thing to share recipes with other cakers on CC, but to give your recipe away to somebody who could wind up being your direct competition is a whole other balgame. Now if they wanted to BUY the recipe, or in some other way guarantee that you won't lose business, that might be a different story. The cynic in me says be vewy vewy careful, but that's just me. 
It's one thing to share recipes with other cakers on CC, but to give your recipe away to somebody who could wind up being your direct competition is a whole other balgame.
So all they have to do to get your recipe is create an account on CC and ask?
NO, not even modified... they have to understand your recipe is part of your business!
You just don't ask a business to give away it secrets 
It's one thing to share recipes with other cakers on CC, but to give your recipe away to somebody who could wind up being your direct competition is a whole other ballgame.
So all they have to do to get your recipe is create an account on CC and ask?
Point taken. Still, have you NEVER shared a recipe on here?
Thanks for all your feedback! My husband says to give them the recipe and change it up a bit, so it doesn't come out quite the same
Having said that, lots of people if they try a recipe it doesn't work out for them anyway...
Why would you want to mess with them like that? That's not fair to them. Just be direct and communicate your policy. If you're trying to prevent hostility, remember that people are usually much less upset by direct and honest communication than we fear they will be. But they usually get really upset if they suspect you're messin' with them. And they will lose respect for you as a business if they see you getting wishy washy and avoiding or dancing around the issue.
You're a business. You have policies. Just say 'em! Why the fear? Think about it. Why would they drop you? They love your cakes so much they want the recipe!
Perhaps you could offer to ship them...
I agree with everyone else to not 'give' them your recipe. I was going to say exactly what Jason said - to work out some sort of deal to ship them. New Orleans bakeries ship king cakes practically year round - many using FedEx. I'd look into that. This way instead of 'giving' something away, you would actually be increasing your business thus increasing YOUR profits.
If in the future should you wish to pursue 'selling' your recipe, do it as a package deal and offer to sell it for a VERY hefty price as you can expect that if one franchise has it, it will only be a matter of time before they all quit buying from you and making it themselves. I'd have the stipulation in the deal that the recipe is somehow credited to you. JMO ~ good luck and congrats on having something so in demand! 
Point taken. Still, have you NEVER shared a recipe on here?
Never. Our recipes are key components of my business's intellectual property and are the results of months of R&D. The only thing I share with strangers is our list of ingredients, which is publicly available anyway.
You use your recipe because it sets you apart from your competition. Don't give it to them. If they really wanted a good recipe, they would experiment on their own and find one. You have done the hard work and they want to reap the rewards. No way, no how.
[quote="jasonkraft"][quote="cakeyouverymuch"]Point taken. Still, have you NEVER shared a recipe on here?[/quote]
Never. Our recipes are key components of my business's intellectual property and are the results of months of R&D. The only thing I share with strangers is our list of ingredients, which is publicly available anyway.[/quote]
Me either. I will share advice and techniques, but not recipes.
Point taken. Still, have you NEVER shared a recipe on here?
Never. Our recipes are key components of my business's intellectual property and are the results of months of R&D. The only thing I share with strangers is our list of ingredients, which is publicly available anyway.
Me either. I will share advice and techniques, but not recipes.
Agree... i have only ever shared one recipe, and that was with my Grandma. But I know i don' have to worry about it going any further.
No, I wouldn't give them a modified recipe, that was just DH's solution! I will just write them a polite email, saying that the recipe has been developed by me and that I cannot share it. But that I am happy to work out some kind of delivery solution with them if they want to buy them from me. Right now, there are only 4 stores in Spain, 2 receive my goods, 1 wants the recipe, and the other I have no idea about but it is also a franchise I believe. But imagine if they open another 5-10 stores and they pass my recipe around to all the others? Nope, not gonna do it.
Thanks for all the advice 
Imagine if they open 5-10 stores and they ALL buy from you!!!!
This reminds me of the $100 cookie recipe story.
A person enjoyed the chocolate chip cookies so much an upper- end 'eatery' in the big city that they asked for the recipe.
They were given the recipe and when the bill came there was a $100 charge added on. They were billed for the information given.
Since they had 'seen' the recipe, the management refused to refund the money.
So, that person seeing how they now owned the recipe....reprinted it in the newspaper. 
Can't remember all the details ( name of city, restaurant, etc) just the point that they reprinted it for everyone to have a copy....
Ha! Take that!
Don't you dare give them that recipe...unless you get paid upfront that is. 
mommachris
This reminds me of the $100 cookie recipe story.
A person enjoyed the chocolate chip cookies so much an upper- end 'eatery' in the big city that they asked for the recipe.
They were given the recipe and when the bill came there was a $100 charge added on. They were billed for the information given.
Since they had 'seen' the recipe, the management refused to refund the money.
So, that person seeing how they now owned the recipe....reprinted it in the newspaper.
Can't remember all the details ( name of city, restaurant, etc) just the point that they reprinted it for everyone to have a copy....
Ha! Take that!
Don't you dare give them that recipe...unless you get paid upfront that is.
mommachris
That was an urban legend.
Give her a sweet smile and thank her for complimenting your cake and add to it very sweetly that , I wish I could share recipes but they are 'trade secrets'.
The owner who asked for your recipe has A LOT of nerve to make such a request. Your recipes are your livelihood. Never give them away.
I agree that recipes are the livelihood of a baking business but I don't think there is anything wrong with asking someone or some business for it. That's how business is done every single day, through acquisition. Unless I'm being asked at gun point, that's a compliment in my book. 
You give them the recipe, next thing you hear, is that they won't need your services anymore, because they've found another way to get the cakes baked, which is cheaper for them. If they work at it, or pay (big time) for it, it's another ballgame. To find the right recipe means a lot of work, baking, trying etc, you've done that and found YOUR recipe
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