Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers will open its first international location in Winnipeg, Canada, on Tuesday, according to a press release emailed to Restaurant Dive.
The fast-growing burger brand is developing its Canadian footprint through a master franchise agreement with North 49 Frozen Custard and Steakburgers, and the first unit has been in the works for some time.
Freddy’s has grown rapidly since its 2021 acquisition by Thompson Street Capital, according to its franchise disclosure document. In 2022, the brand said it was targeting a total unit count of about 1,000.
At the start of 2022, the chain had 421 total units. At the beginning of this year it had 550, with a net growth of 33 units in 2024 alone, according to the FDD. It expects to open another 70 units within the next fiscal year, per the FDD. The chain’s franchisee units have an average unit volume of almost $1.9 million. It outperforms national chains like Burger King, which had a franchised AUV of about $1.7 million in 2024, according to its FDD.
In August 2024, the chain opened a new training and support center in Kansas, dedicated to preparing managers and franchisees for further expansion of the brand. The Canadian development is in keeping with that overall strategy and comes at a moment of relative strength for U.S. fast casual brands, which have tended to outperform QSR and casual dining in recent years
