Freddy’s LLC, parent to the Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers brand, has named Randy Simon as CEO and president, the company said Wednesday.
Simon succeeds his late brother and concept co-founder, Bill Simon, at the Wichita, Kan.-based limited-service burger brand. Bill Simon died of cancer in December.
“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 statement.
Simon (left), a certified public accountant, launched his restaurant career in 1974 when he formed Maverick Development Co. and eventually franchised 42 Pizza Huts in New Mexico and Texas. He later franchised the Panera Bread Co. brand in Kansas and Missouri through the Original Bread Inc. subsidiary of Maverick, where he served as president and chairman.
“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,” Simon added. “I will now be able to focus singularly on the future of Freddy’s as we move into the next chapter.”
Pan American Group LLC, a subsidiary of San Francisco-based Flynn Restaurant Group, bought those Panera units in July.
The Freddy’s concept was created by Bill and Randy Simon with business partner Scott Redler and named for the brothers’ father, Freddy Simon.
“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.”
Randy Simon said his brother loved the Freddy’s concept. “He had a profound ability to turn challenges into advancement opportunities,” he said. “He left us in a great position, and we are going to build on the foundation he worked so hard to create.”
Freddy’s ranked No. 119 among restaurant brands in the Nation’s Restaurant News Top 200 census this year, posting U.S. system-wide sales of $340.5 million for the fiscal year ended December 2016
Freddy’s has 274 restaurants in 30 states.
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