Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers announced earlier this month that it was opening its 500th location in Burleson, Texas. The announcement comes after the fast-casual franchise utilized an AI-powered solution to simplify its software vendor selection process.
Freddy’s opened its first location in Kansas in 2004 and its 300th location in Indianapolis in 2018. The company has experienced rapid growth over the years, expanding its footprint across the United States and Canada.
With nearly 10,000 employees across the U.S. and Canada, Freddy’s has become a major player in the fast-casual dining industry. However, as the franchise expanded, the company faced challenges in selecting the right vendors to meet its growing needs.
Freddy’s IT Director, Sean Thompson, explained that the vendor software selection process was time-consuming and prone to human error. Additionally, reaching a consensus among all stakeholders involved proved to be a struggle. Thompson and his team were in search of a more efficient and collaborative solution.
They decided to utilize Olive, an AI-powered platform that simplifies the vendor selection process. Thompson and his team found that Olive addressed all of their previous challenges, including the lengthy timeframe, reduced the risk of human error, and facilitated stakeholder involvement.
Within just three days, Olive onboarded two dozen stakeholders who were able to provide input on the new point of sale (POS) system. Thompson praised Olive's user-friendly interface, which streamlined collaboration and expedited the process.
Thompson expressed his satisfaction with Olive, stating that he plans to utilize the platform whenever Freddy's has additional software solution needs in the future. He emphasized the cost-saving benefits of the new POS system, highlighting that the savings from the first two restaurants using the system would cover the investment in Olive.
The restaurant chain was inspired by Freddy Simon, a U.S. Army veteran who received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his service during World War II. After his military career, Simon spent 56 years working in the hospitality industry. His sons, Bill and Randy Simon, along with restaurateur Scott Redler, co-founded Freddy's Frozen Custard and Steakburgers.
Freddy’s menu offers a variety of options, including burgers, chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, and chicken tenders. For dessert, customers can choose from a range of frozen custard flavors.