Chain Types – Franchise, Holding, Custom
When you create a chain in Vendion, you specify a type that automatically sets four sharing flags. The type controls how much is shared between units. You can always fine-tune later in Chain Settings.
The three types
| Type | Shared menu | Brand lock | Shared loyalty | Shared gift cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franchise | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Holding | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom | – | – | – | – |
1. Franchise
All flags are enabled. This is classic franchising: central standards for menu, brand, and pricing – local units have minimal freedom outside explicitly unlocked fields.
Example: "McDonald Sweden" – all units serve the same menu with central pricing. POS displays the chain menu; local overrides only allowed on unlocked fields.
Typical customer: Franchisors who have licensed their brand and want to enforce brand + menu across all units.
2. Holding
Loyalty and gift cards are shared, but menu and brand are independent. This model suits holding companies that own multiple concepts under one umbrella – each concept keeps its identity but guests can earn points across the board.
Example: A holding with three concepts (Thai Kitchen, Friday Grill, Farm & Table). Different menus, different branding – but the same gift card works everywhere and points pool in a shared loyalty profile.
Typical customer: Multi-concept owners who want to maximize cross-selling without homogenizing brands.
3. Custom
All flags start OFF. You enable only what you want to share. The model is free-form – pick the exact combination that fits you.
Example: Multi-unit owner with 3 restaurants under the same brand but in different cities – wants shared menu but not pooled loyalty (guests are local).
Typical customer: Operators with unusual requirements or who want to experiment. Maximum flexibility.
How flags control functionality
| Flag | Enables |
|---|---|
| Central menu management | Menu template and publishing |
| Brand control | Brand lock, locked logo/colors/fonts |
| Shared loyalty | Pooled loyalty (planned Q2-Q3 2026) |
| Shared gift cards | Chain gift cards with intercompany |
When a flag is OFF, the corresponding menu is hidden in the chain console and access to chain data is blocked.
Can I change the type later?
The type itself isn't locked, but changing the flags affects visibility and availability. If you turn OFF shared menu after publishing a template, local copies "freeze" where they were – they still link to the template but no new publishes push.
Recommendation: Choose type deliberately at start. Franchise or Holding are good starting points because they have sensible defaults. Custom suits those who know exactly what they need.
Next step: Read about how your chain is created in Vendion.
This feature is part of Vendion Chain Operations.
Curious how it looks in practice? Read more about the product or book a short demo.
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