News

Freddy's co-founder steps into CEO role

October 5, 2017

Randy Simon, co-founder of Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, is now its CEO and president. Simon, who has been a multi-unit franchisee for a variety of concepts over the past several years, founded Freddy's 15 years ago with his brother and father in Wichita, Kansas. 

"I have enjoyed the past 15 years of our formation and growth and I'm thrilled that I am now in the position to devote even more of my time to Freddy's,” Simon said in a company press release. "Completing the sale and transfer of our 34 Panera locations this summer has freed me from the responsibilities that I was entrusted with by my Panera partners. I will now be able to focus singularly on the future of Freddy's as we move into the next chapter."  

Simon, a CPA, graduated from Wichita State University and initially gained experience in public accounting. In 1974, he partnered with Howard Wilkins to form Maverick Development Company and launch a Pizza Hut franchise that grew to 42 locations in Texas and New Mexico. Ten years later, Simon assumed the role president and chairman of the board until the sale of this entity in 2007. 

Maverick also developed and sold more than 30 Rent-A-Center locations in the Chicago area between 1985, and 1992. At that time, he turned his attention to Panera, jumping in as the second franchise group of the concept and participating in its record-setting nationwide growth with locations throughout Kansas and Missouri. In July, Flynn Restaurant Group closed on the purchase of Maverick’s Panera Cafes where Simon was serving as president and chairman of the board, according to the release.

"Over the past couple of months, I've enjoyed increased exposure to our Freddy's support team and franchise family," Simon said. "They've provided me time to transition out of the last 24 years in the Panera business and the space to patch the holes left from the loss of Freddy's original CEO and my brother Bill, who passed away last December. Bill really loved Freddy's. He had a profound ability to turn challenges into advancement opportunities. He left us in a great position and we are going to build on the foundation he worked so hard to create."
 
Freddy's has 274 Freddy's restaurants spanning  30 states.