Dive Brief:
- Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers opened a corporate store this week in Belleville, Illinois, featuring a new restaurant design with a drive-thru and a mobile pickup window, the company said Tuesday.
- The design can be either 2,800 square feet or 2,400 square feet and includes a kitchen layout that optimizes each order channel while maintaining high efficiency.
- Freddy’s, which has over 460 units, is also focusing on rapid development with a pipeline of 600-plus units.
Dive Insight:
The new prototype, which is available to prospective franchises, could attract additional operators into the system, especially since 70% of the company’s business comes from off-premise channels.
The brand expects to open 60 units by the end of this year and still has opportunities for franchising in the U.S. including in the Northeast, Upper Midwest, California, Florida, Oregon and Washington. It also has opportunities in large metro areas, such as Pittsburgh. The company is targeting 800 open units within the next few years.
The off-premise design includes various updated technology such as Accutemp’s XLR8, which consistently presses steakburgers into the same shape. This equipment makes grilling less labor intensive, the company said. The restaurant’s digital pickup area also has a custard freezer to provide easier access for mobile and delivery orders without disrupting dine-in orders. The back-of-house includes a bagging station with an easy-to-read display and a shared expo counter, providing a shift leader the ability to manage each area of operations from one area.
Freddy’s is also expanding its reach with non-traditional locations. On March 30, the company opened its first Major League Baseball location at Busch Stadium serving fan favorites to St. Louis Cardinals fans. Last year, it opened its second casino location. The company also operates in airports and college campuses.
