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Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

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Freddy's, LLC
Freddy's
Formerly
  • Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
    (2002–2024)
Company typePrivate
IndustryRestaurants
Genrefast-casual
Founded2002; 22 years ago (2002)
Founders
  • Bill Simon
  • Randy Simon
  • Scott Redler
  • Freddy Simon
Headquarters260 N. Rock Road
Wichita, Kansas
United States
Number of locations
515 (2023)
Area served
35 states [1]
Key people
Chris Dull, CEO, President[2] and Co-Founder
Scott Redler, COO and Co-Founder
Freddy Simon, Co-Founder
ProductsSteakburgers, hot dogs, french fries, frozen custard, milkshakes, soft drinks
RevenueIncrease US$925 million (September 2024)
OwnerThompson Street Capital Partners
Number of employees
9,751 (2021)
Websitefreddys.com

Freddy's, LLC, doing business as Freddy's (known as Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers until 2024), is an American fast-casual restaurant chain based in Wichita, Kansas.[3] Its menu includes steakburgers, Vienna Beef hot dogs, and chicken sandwiches. The company also provides frozen custard and specialty sundaes.[4][5][6]

History

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Freddy's was founded by co-founders Fredrick "Freddy" L. Simon, Bill Simon, Randy Simon, and restaurateur Scott Redler.[7]

Freddy Simon was a World War II Veteran who lived in Wichita, Kansas. He joined the U.S. Army infantry in 1943 and was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division. He was awarded the Purple Heart due to sustained injuries, as well as a Bronze Star for Valor.[8] Simon worked for the same company in the hospitality industry for 55 years, building connections with many restauranteurs.

Freddy Simon was a business partner to a restaurant in 2002 called Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers. The restaurant started out as a family owned burger joint in Wichita. Freddy's gained a large fanbase within its first year of opening, which helped to open more locations in 2004. The food was based on meals that Freddy had served his own family, and was considered an 'All American' meal. The setting of the restaurant is fast-casual dining in the late 1940s and early 1950s and evokes "a post-war era of optimism, pride, and values focusing on unity and quality family time".[9]

On December 17, 2016, Bill Simon, cofounder and son of Freddy Simon died at the age of 61. Freddy died at the age of 95 on October 25, 2020.

In March 2021, private equity firm Thompson Street Capital Partner purchased Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers for an undisclosed amount. In May 2021, Freddy's hired Chris Dull as CEO to take over the top post from co-founder Randy Simon.[10] In August 2022, Freddy's hired Brian Wise as COO to take over the operations post from co-founder Scott Redler.[11]

In November 2022, the company signed a master franchise and development agreement that will allow the brand to enter the Canadian market. The chain plans to expand across nine Canadian provinces, excluding Quebec.

Locations

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The company, founded in Wichita in 2002, opened its first location on August 26 of that year near the intersection of 21st Street and Tyler Road. This location is still open today.

In April 2011, the company opened its 50th store in Victorville, California, and in October 2013, its 100th store in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Its 150th location opened in April 2015 in Loveland, Colorado, and nearly three years later its 300th location in Indianapolis, Indiana, in March 2018.

The state with the most Freddy's locations to date is Texas, with 73 restaurants.[12]

In 2022 it was announced that Freddy's would be expanding their locations to nine provinces in Canada.[13]

As of October 30, 2023, Freddy's has more than 493 locations across 37 states and 375 cities. In 2023, Freddy's opened 62 new locations, a record for the company, including its first restaurant within a Major League Baseball stadium at the St. Louis Cardinals' Busch Stadium.[14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Star, Brad (August 10, 2021). "Freddy's Frozen Custard in Grand Chute has opening date". The Post-Crescent. Retrieved August 17, 2021. The Wichita, Kansas-based chain has over 380 locations across 32 states.
  2. ^ Ewen, Beth; Kaiser, Tom; Michaels, Laura; Upton, Nicholas (December 27, 2018). "Fast & Serious: 11-20". Franchise Times. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  3. ^ Neil, Denise (September 1, 2017). "Freddy's at 15: Wichita-based chain worked because it didn't have to". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  4. ^ Start Your Own Restaurant and More: Pizzeria, Coffeehouse, Deli, Bakery, Catering Business. StartUp Series. Entrepreneur Press. 2016. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-61308-344-4. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  5. ^ "Ready for Freddy's". Arktimes.com. July 20, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  6. ^ "Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers opens". The Daily News. Jacksonville, NC. December 6, 2017. Archived from the original on August 27, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  7. ^ "Scott Redler". NRA. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  8. ^ "Freddy's namesake, Freddy Simon, dies at age 95". www.fastcasual.com. October 27, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  9. ^ "Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers". www.middlemarketcenter.org. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  10. ^ Lalley, Heather (May 6, 2021). "Freddy's Frozen Custard gets a new CEO in Chris Dull". Restaurant Business. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  11. ^ Ruggless, Ron (August 29, 2022). "Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers names Brian Wise as operations chief". Nation's Restaurant News. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  12. ^ "Number of Freddy's locations in the USA in 2023". ScrapeHero. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  13. ^ "Freddy's heading to Canada". www.fastcasual.com. November 30, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  14. ^ "Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers Exceeds Company Record, Opening 62 New Restaurants in 2023". www.pr.com. January 10, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
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