With this week’s inclusion in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500®, Freddy’s finishing touches on 2011 are complete, and preparations for a new year of accelerated growth are well under way.
“During this very exhilarating time of unprecedented growth for Freddy’s, we will remain focused on our fundamentals: high-quality, cooked-to-order meals served in a clean and welcoming environment by our top-notch staff,” commented COO Scott Redler. “We are highly committed to those principles and, as we grow, we are continuing to place emphasis on the hospitable culture of our company. We will always put our guests first.”
Among the new locations for the coming year, Freddy’s will debut in Utah, Florida, Nevada, Arkansas and New Mexico in 2012 as well as many new regional sites in established states. Freddy’s opened 12 new stores in 2011 and has 30 openings slated for 2012. The relatively young concept continues to demonstrate results from its operations that attract franchise-seeking entrepreneurs. Even more reassuring is that both the company and its existing franchisees are continuing their expansions, including many that are signing agreements for additional stores.
Experienced restaurateurs have taken note and are seeking out opportunities to get involved with the fast-growing concept.
“We are fortunate to have attracted such an enthusiastic, hard-working and committed group of individuals to our Freddy’s family at every level,” remarked President Bill Simon. “The employees and franchise operators and owners that this concept has attracted are an extremely passionate and innovative group. They have been the catalyst for our growth and I’m confident that they will continue to be in the coming years.”
Co-founded by Scott Redler and Bill, Randy and Freddy Simon, Freddy’s opened its first location on west 21st Street in Wichita during 2002, offering a unique combination of cooked-to-order steakburgers, Chicago dogs, and other savory items along with its signature desserts prepared with premium frozen custard made fresh throughout the day in each store. Freddy’s founders operate six locations in the Wichita Metro area, two in the Kansas City market, and one in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Forty-nine franchise units serve other areas of Kansas and Oklahoma as well as Arizona, California, Colorado, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Texas. Including the 30 stores to open in 2012, the company has sold development rights for 152 additional locations. Freddy’s was listed as the Fifth Fastest Growing Chain Restaurant in the United States and Canada in 2010 by Chain Store Guide, a sister publication to Nation’s Restaurant News. More recently, Freddy’s was recognized by Technomics as the 5th fastest growing burger concept in the country. In the local community of the company’s founding, Freddy’s is a recipient of the 2011 Best in Business Award from the Wichita Business Journal.