Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers announced that its 40th store opened in Round Rock, Texas, just north of Austin. It is the third store in the Austin market and the 14th Texas store.
The opening of the 40th store this month precedes by less than two weeks the date on which Freddy’s will celebrate the eighth anniversary of the opening of its first store in Wichita in 2002.
“We congratulate our south Texas Franchisee, Oberoc LLC, on the addition of its 11th store that has taken the concept to this milestone,” says Bill Simon, Freddy’s president. “We have a magnificent group of franchisees who continue to be the catalyst for the growth of our brand. The energy level of all involved is so rewarding to be a part of, especially given the headwinds of economic pressures currently facing the restaurant industry and the U.S. economy in general.”
Earlier this year, franchisees opened stores in Aurora, Colorado, and in Lawrence and Junction City, Kansas. The company plans to open three stores yet this year, including one in Overland Park, Kansas, this coming Friday, a store in Kansas City, Missouri, later this fall and a third near the airport in Wichita, Kansas, in December. It is planned that franchisees will open an additional seven stores in 2010, including a store in Flagstaff, Arizona, later this month.
“Our franchisees are proceeding with growth at a rate unprecedented in our history,” says Mark Scholler, vice president of franchise development. “Our group is electrified and these entrepreneurs continue to energize our brand. We believe that the combination of lower real estate prices and favorable returns on existing stores has helped to spur the recent development activity.” Scholler also announced that a new franchisee recently signed an eight-store development agreement for portions of southern Missouri and northern Arkansas. The group’s president, Jamie Rheem, says the first store is currently under construction in Branson and scheduled to open November 1st.
Chief operating officer Scott Redler says the company recently wrapped up production of its new television campaign titled, “Great Days in America.”
“The new campaign conveys our vision that the Freddy’s brand embodies American values,” Redler says. “Each commercial teases with flashback footage of various significant events that contributed in some way to America’s greatness. A fun-filled parallel is then drawn to a Freddy’s experience.” The commercials, which have recently begun to air in various markets, were created by O & H Brand Design out of Dallas and produced by Digital Brand Productions in Wichita.
In other company developments, Ben Simon, director of operations, announced the promotions of Ben Hesse to director of training and Joe Fernandez to regional manager. Hesse had been general manager of the company’s Plazzio location in east Wichita since it opened and Fernandez held the same position at the company’s first store in west Wichita since March 2007.
“We feel very fortunate to have individuals of this caliber representing the Freddy’s brand and now also mentoring others in our culture,” Simon says. “These two guys personify what we’re about.”
