Freddy's first location opened on August 26, 2002, with an unassuming outlook and only one mission–to serve high-quality steakburgers like Freddy enjoyed growing up on a Kansas farm.
"My dad raised Angus beef, and steakburgers were a staple in our house," says company co-founder and namesake Freddy Simon. "My sons, Bill and Randy, and their partner Scott Redler created a concept my dad would be proud of, and our commitment to quality and small-town hospitality reflects the values he instilled in me and my siblings when we were kids.
"We opened the first location because we wanted a place in our hometown to eat great, cooked-to-order steakburgers and homemade-tasting frozen custard, and Scott convinced us he could make it happen," he says. "As it turns out, a lot of others wanted it, too. We didn't set out to expand across the country, but after being approached repeatedly to franchise the concept, we realized there was an opportunity to satisfy guests in many communities with our commitment to food-quality excellence and world-class guest service."
First franchised in 2004, Freddy's has grown to 74 locations across 10 states, and the development rights for several hundred more locations are inked for the coming years.
"The growth is great," Bill Simon says. "We are also proud of our efforts to give back and assist local nonprofits in each of the communities we serve. Our focus is on veterans, and through programs like Honor Flight, Wounded Warriors, memorials, RED Day at Dole VA Center, and many, many more, we have been able to support the service of America's dedicated men and women in uniform.
"We have a humble yet great spokesman, WWII veteran and Purple Heart recipient Freddy Simon," he continues. "He speaks fluently to high school history classes and historians regarding his time in the South Pacific. He embodies the values our company was born to perpetuate, and we strive daily to honor his legacy of service."
In addition to Freddy's proud history of philanthropy, the company has been the frequent recipient of awards and industry recognitions.
Freddy's was recently named among America's "Fastest-Growing Privately Held Companies" on Inc. magazine's 500/5000 list.
Other recognitions this year include being listed among Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500, Business Insider's "8 Better-Burger Chains Poised to Conquer America," and QSR's "10 Best Franchise Deals."
