The Test Menu

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is running a limited-time Everyday Value Menu at participating locations across seven states, bringing four new items to the forecourt of its 600-plus-unit fast-casual footprint. The test covers Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, and Texas, with orders available via drive-thru, in-restaurant dining, and the Freddy's mobile app.

Four items anchor the value lineup. The Steakburger Taco — a thin-pressed patty with American cheese, lettuce, and jalapeño fry sauce wrapped in a grilled tortilla — starts at $3.49, as do two-piece Chicken Tenders (served with BBQ, ranch, or honey mustard) and an all-beef Hot Dog on a toasted bun. A Chili Cheese Dog upgrade runs an additional $1.50. The Chocolate Chip Custard Cookie, frozen custard sandwiched between two chocolate chip cookies and rolled in mini chocolate chips, is priced at $2.99. Pricing may vary by location.

Why It Matters

The move reflects a broader value reset playing out across the fast-casual and convenience foodservice segments. Consumer price sensitivity — documented in successive NACS State of the Industry surveys — has pushed operators to build dedicated value tiers rather than relying solely on combo deals or limited-time discounts. For convenience retailers running proprietary foodservice programs, the Freddy's test is a useful data point: snack-sized, sub-$3.50 items with broad condiment flexibility tend to outperform at the c-store roller grill and grab-and-go cold case alike, where the transaction is impulse-driven and speed-of-service is table stakes.

Freddy's Chief Marketing Officer Erin Walter framed the launch around experience as much as price. "Beyond price, we believe great value is about delivering the quality and experience that makes Freddy's special," Walter said, noting the menu is designed for guests stopping in for a quick bite, a snack, or a sweet treat.

Scale and Outlook

Founded in Wichita, Kansas, in 2002, Freddy's has grown to more than 600 locations in the U.S. and Canada, ranking No. 6 on Fast Casual's Top 100 Movers + Shakers and No. 85 on Entrepreneur's Franchise 500. The brand's cooked-to-order steakburgers, frozen custard, and shoestring fries have been central to its franchise expansion strategy, and a scalable value tier could become a standing menu fixture if the seven-state test drives incremental check counts. The chain has not announced a national rollout timeline.

Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.