A nine-week limited-time window starting Nov. 4, 2026, gives Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers operators a dual-track promotional strategy: three new frozen custard concretes developed in partnership with The Hershey Company, plus the return of the French Onion Steakburger that drew strong guest demand during its previous run. The program runs through Jan. 5, 2027, at participating locations nationwide via dine-in, drive-thru, and the Freddy's mobile app.
The New Custard Lineup
All three Hershey-branded items anchor the custard side of the promotion. The Peanut Butter Blossom Cookie Concrete layers vanilla frozen custard with cookie dough and REESE'S Peanut Butter Sauce, finished with HERSHEY'S Chocolate Chips — a nod to the seasonal peanut butter blossom cookie. The HEATH Caramel Cheesecake Concrete blends vanilla custard with a double portion of HEATH Toffee, caramel sauce, and cheesecake, topped with whipped cream and cinnamon streusel. The HERSHEY'S Snowfall Sundae combines vanilla custard with HERSHEY'S Chocolate Sauce, marshmallow sauce, and chocolate chips, finished with whipped cream and a cherry.
On the savory side, the French Onion Steakburger returns with two steakburger patties, melted Swiss cheese, grilled onions, crispy onions, and a French Onion aioli on a toasted bun. Rick Petralia, Executive Chef and VP of Training & Innovation at Freddy's, noted that the lineup pairs familiar comfort flavors with new custard executions: "These HERSHEY'S-inspired treats offer fresh takes on the timeless combinations of chocolate, peanut butter and caramel, while the return of our French Onion Steakburger gives guests the opportunity to enjoy a savory fan favorite."
Cross-Promotional Movie Tie-In
The partnership extends beyond the menu: guests who visit Freddy's during the promotional period will receive a buy-two-get-two-free ticket offer for Hershey, a film releasing in theaters nationwide on Nov. 25, 2026. That kind of entertainment cross-promotion is an increasingly common traffic-driving tactic in fast-casual marketing strategy, giving operators a built-in reason for guests to choose the brand over competitors during a window when holiday spending competes for share of wallet.
For a 600-plus unit franchise system like Freddy's, co-branded LTOs with nationally recognized confectionery names carry clear merchandising advantages. Hershey brand equity travels well on menu boards and in social media creative, lowering the cost of consumer education and supporting average check growth through premium custard builds. The strategy mirrors broader beverage and dessert innovation trends in fast casual, where operators use ingredient co-branding to signal quality and drive trial without expanding kitchen complexity.
Freddy's has more than 600 locations across the United States and Canada, and this promotion is positioned to capture holiday traffic at a traditionally high-volume period for frozen custard and seasonal comfort foods. Operators at participating locations can fulfill orders through the Freddy's app, online at freddys.com, and through standard in-restaurant and drive-thru channels.
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.
