Freddy’s partners with Hershey for three new custard desserts as French Onion Steakburger returns November 4

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers has announced a partnership with The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) to introduce three limited-time frozen custard desserts while bringing back its French Onion Steakburger for the 2026 holiday season. The promotion, announced on October 28, will begin November 4 and continue through January 5, 2027, at participating Freddy’s restaurants. The new desserts combine Freddy’s vanilla frozen custard with recognizable ingredients from Hershey‘s, Reese’s and HEATH, while the returning steakburger adds a savory option intended to appeal to existing customers. The launch follows Freddy’s opening of its 600th restaurant earlier in October and illustrates how the expanding franchise chain is using branded ingredients, returning menu favorites and entertainment promotions to attract customers during a competitive holiday trading period.

The new dessert lineup includes the Peanut Butter Blossom Cookie Concrete, HEATH Caramel Cheesecake Concrete and HERSHEY’S Snowfall Sundae. Each product combines Freddy’s established frozen custard base with different flavors and toppings associated with the confectionery manufacturer’s brands.

The French Onion Steakburger returns alongside the desserts. Its recipe includes two steakburger patties, Swiss cheese, grilled onions, crispy onions and French Onion aioli served on a toasted bun.

Freddy’s Executive Chef and Vice President of Training and Innovation Rick Petralia has positioned the promotion around familiar flavors presented in new formats. The company has not disclosed the financial terms of its partnership with Hershey, menu development expenditure or the revenue contribution it expects from the limited-time products.

What are the three new Hershey-branded frozen custard desserts launching at Freddy’s in November 2026?

The Peanut Butter Blossom Cookie Concrete is inspired by the traditional holiday cookie associated with peanut butter and chocolate. Freddy’s version combines vanilla frozen custard with cookie dough and Reese’s Peanut Butter Sauce, finished with Hershey’s Chocolate Chips.

The product brings together several recognizable dessert elements in a thick frozen custard format. Its commercial appeal may come from combining established chocolate and peanut butter flavors with a seasonal cookie theme rather than relying on an unfamiliar ingredient combination.

The HEATH Caramel Cheesecake Concrete offers a different flavor profile. It combines vanilla frozen custard with a double portion of HEATH Toffee, caramel sauce and cheesecake, finished with whipped cream and cinnamon streusel.

The combination emphasizes caramel, toffee and cheesecake textures. It may appeal to consumers seeking a richer frozen dessert, while providing a recognizable brand association through HEATH.

The HERSHEY’S Snowfall Sundae uses vanilla frozen custard topped with Hershey’s Chocolate Sauce, marshmallow sauce and Hershey’s Chocolate Chips. Whipped cream and a cherry complete the dessert.

Unlike the two concrete products, the Snowfall Sundae is presented as a layered frozen custard dessert rather than a blended preparation. This gives Freddy’s an opportunity to offer different product formats within the same promotional campaign.

The company has not announced standardized national selling prices or complete nutritional information in the release. Actual pricing and availability may vary among participating locations, making it inappropriate to provide unverified calorie counts or price comparisons.

Why is Freddy’s bringing back the French Onion Steakburger alongside its new holiday dessert range?

The return of the French Onion Steakburger adds a familiar savory product to a promotion otherwise centered on new frozen custard desserts. The burger includes two steakburger patties, melted Swiss cheese, grilled and crispy onions, and French Onion aioli on a toasted bun.

Its return allows Freddy’s to market a product that some existing customers already recognize while introducing desserts that have not previously appeared in the same form. This combination may reduce the risk of relying entirely on unfamiliar menu items.

Limited-time menu programmes often balance returning favorites with new products. A returning item provides a familiar reason to visit, while new desserts can create additional curiosity among customers who may already know the standard menu.

For Freddy’s, the pairing also reflects its dual identity as a steakburger and frozen custard restaurant. A dessert-only promotion might attract customers interested in a sweet treat, while a returning signature-style burger can appeal to guests purchasing a full meal.

There may be opportunities to encourage customers to buy both a main course and a dessert during the same visit. However, the announcement does not establish that Freddy’s is offering a discounted combination meal or a special bundle involving these products.

The financial effect will depend on whether the promotion increases visits, raises average transaction values or shifts spending from regular menu items to the seasonal range.

Existing customer recognition may improve initial interest in the burger, but the company has not provided a forecast for the number of units it expects to sell during the promotional period.

When will Freddy’s Hershey desserts and French Onion Steakburger be available, and how can customers order them?

The limited-time products are scheduled to become available on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, and remain on the menu through Tuesday, January 5, 2027. The promotion therefore extends across Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s celebrations and the early January period.

Freddy’s says the products will be offered at participating locations through drive-thru service, restaurant dining and eligible pickup or delivery orders. Customers can also order through the Freddy’s mobile application or its website where those channels are supported.

The availability window provides a defined period for the company and its franchisees to evaluate customer response. A promotion lasting roughly two months can generate sales data across several holiday occasions, although variations in local demand may influence results.

The announcement does not guarantee that every restaurant will participate or that every item will remain in stock throughout the period. Product availability may be affected by ingredient supply, local operating arrangements and demand.

Freddy’s also has not published a uniform national price for the new products. Individual customers should therefore refer to the prices displayed by their participating restaurant or ordering channel.

The launch’s operational requirements include consistent ingredient availability, employee training and accurate menu communication. These factors are important because promotional products can create additional preparation steps for restaurants already handling a regular menu.

A successful rollout will depend on whether the new items can be prepared efficiently without significantly slowing service or adding excessive food waste.

How does the Hershey movie-ticket promotion connect restaurant visits with the November 25 film release?

The restaurant campaign includes a promotional offer connected with the film Hershey, which is scheduled to open in American cinemas on November 25, 2026. Freddy’s has announced that guests visiting during the promotion can receive an offer to buy two movie tickets and obtain two additional tickets free.

The film is based on the life of Milton Hershey, the founder of the confectionery business, and examines the personal and business story behind the brand. Its release during Thanksgiving week creates a connection between the restaurant promotion and a period when families may be considering entertainment outings.

The ticket offer adds a different incentive from an ordinary menu discount. Instead of reducing the listed price of the food, the campaign associates a restaurant visit with a separate entertainment experience.

This may appeal to families or groups considering a cinema visit during the holiday season. It also provides an additional reason for customers to engage with Freddy’s promotional materials beyond the new desserts.

However, the release does not disclose every condition governing redemption, participating cinemas or any ticket purchase limits beyond the stated offer. Customers will need to consult the applicable promotional terms before making purchasing decisions.

The cinema offer should also be distinguished from the commercial arrangement involving Hershey ingredients. The announcement connects the restaurant campaign with the film, but it does not disclose a separate financial agreement or sponsorship payment associated with the ticket promotion.

For Freddy’s, the potential advantage is broader customer engagement during a season when restaurant operators compete with numerous retail and entertainment promotions.

The financial benefit will depend on redemption, customer visits and the cost of administering the offer. No ticket distribution target or associated restaurant sales forecast has been announced.

Why does partnering with The Hershey Company offer a different marketing advantage from launching unbranded frozen desserts?

Hershey’s, Reese’s and HEATH have established consumer recognition within the American confectionery market. Using these brands in a limited-time frozen custard range gives Freddy’s an immediate connection with flavors customers may already associate with chocolate, peanut butter and toffee.

This can reduce the need to explain unfamiliar ingredients in a new dessert. The product names communicate the expected flavor profile while connecting the offering with established confectionery identities.

For Hershey, the arrangement provides additional consumption occasions outside conventional packaged candy purchases. Ingredients used in restaurant desserts reach consumers through a different channel and can potentially reinforce awareness of the underlying brands.

The partnership also creates opportunities for joint marketing. Restaurant advertising can highlight the confectionery brands, while Hershey gains visibility through menu boards, digital ordering platforms and other Freddy’s customer interactions.

However, ingredient branding does not automatically produce higher sales. Customers must consider the complete dessert attractive at its selling price, and the restaurant must maintain suitable quality and preparation standards.

The commercial arrangements may involve purchasing ingredients, use of trademarks and related promotional rights. The companies have not disclosed the detailed financial terms, including any licensing payments or marketing expenditure shared between the partners.

For Hershey investors, the announcement is one of many customer and channel relationships supported by a much larger confectionery business. Its financial significance cannot be quantified without knowing ingredient volumes, margins or promotional economics.

For Freddy’s franchisees, the benefit will depend on whether branded desserts increase demand sufficiently to offset the additional ingredient, labor and inventory requirements.

How does the holiday menu launch fit Freddy’s expansion beyond 600 restaurants in North America?

Freddy’s announced the opening of its 600th restaurant on October 12, 2026, in Beaufort, South Carolina. The location is operated by established franchisee Charleston Custard and uses an endcap restaurant format without a drive-thru.

The restaurant includes seating for approximately 65 guests and an outdoor patio. The design reflects Freddy’s broader effort to introduce more flexible development formats suitable for a wider range of commercial properties.

Chief Executive Officer Chris Dull has identified smaller-format and alternative building configurations as important to the company’s future expansion. The approach allows franchisees to consider sites that may not accommodate a conventional standalone restaurant.

The latest milestone provides a larger distribution platform for national menu promotions. A product launched across hundreds of participating locations has greater potential consumer reach than an equivalent promotion operated by a small regional chain.

However, restaurant count does not establish how many outlets will carry every promotional item. The company has specified availability at participating locations rather than guaranteeing identical menus across the entire system.

The business operates through a franchise-heavy model, meaning individual operators bear substantial responsibility for restaurant-level execution. A national marketing concept must therefore be translated into practical procedures that work across different locations and operating conditions.

Freddy’s has also identified domestic expansion opportunities across the Northeast, Midwest, Pacific Northwest, Northern California and Florida. International development is another longer-term focus, including a previously announced agreement involving five locations in the Philippines.

The holiday promotion supports brand activity within the existing network, while franchise development creates opportunities for additional restaurant openings. These are related growth strategies but should be assessed through separate performance measures.

What does Freddy’s private-equity ownership mean for evaluating the financial success of its new menu?

Freddy’s was acquired in September 2025 by investment funds affiliated with Rhône, a global private equity firm. The transaction followed a period of ownership by Thompson Street Capital Partners, which acquired the restaurant chain in 2021.

At the time of the sale, Freddy’s had more than 550 locations across the United States and Canada and reported more than $1 billion in systemwide sales over the preceding year. That measure reflects sales generated across the restaurant network rather than revenue earned solely by the franchisor.

The distinction is important because franchise systems commonly generate corporate revenue through royalties, fees and selected operating activities. Restaurant sales at franchised locations do not all become revenue to the company that owns the brand.

Freddy’s subsequent expansion to 600 restaurants provides evidence of further unit growth. However, restaurant openings alone do not establish improvement in comparable-store sales or profit margins.

The new Hershey partnership could support systemwide sales by increasing demand for frozen custard and attracting additional visits. The financial value would depend on franchisee profitability and the contractual revenue that flows to the brand owner.

Rhône’s investment strategy may place importance on restaurant growth, brand development and consistent operating economics. Nevertheless, neither Freddy’s nor Rhône has disclosed a financial forecast connected with the holiday menu.

The company’s privately held status also limits the financial information available compared with publicly traded restaurant chains. Investors cannot assess the promotion through quarterly Freddy’s earnings disclosures in the same way they can evaluate a public restaurant operator.

The more meaningful performance indicators would include comparable-store sales, average transaction values, dessert attachment rates and restaurant-level operating margins. Those figures have not been released for the forthcoming promotion.

What do Hershey’s 2026 earnings reveal about the commercial scale behind the confectionery partnership?

The Hershey Company reported second-quarter 2026 consolidated net sales of approximately $2.79 billion, increasing 6.6% from the corresponding period of 2025. Organic sales growth at constant currency was approximately 3.6%.

Net income increased to approximately $457.7 million, while diluted earnings per share reached $2.26. Adjusted diluted earnings per share increased 57% to $1.90.

For the first six months of 2026, Hershey reported sales of approximately $5.89 billion, representing growth of 8.7%. The results demonstrate the scale of the broader confectionery and snacking business supporting the partnership.

The company has continued investing in its brands, product development and merchandising despite challenging input costs and changes in consumer demand. Restaurant partnerships can form part of those broader marketing efforts by providing additional ways for consumers to encounter established confectionery products.

Hershey’s July guidance projected full-year 2026 reported sales growth between 4.5% and 5%, with organic sales growth between 3% and 3.5%. The guidance predated the latest Freddy’s promotion and should not be interpreted as incorporating a separately disclosed financial contribution from it.

Hershey is scheduled to release its third-quarter financial results on October 29, 2026. Those results will cover a period ending before the Freddy’s new menu becomes available in November.

The restaurant collaboration is therefore unlikely to be identifiable within the historical third-quarter figures. Its potential financial effect, if material, would arise during the subsequent promotional period.

The announcement does not provide sales volumes, ingredient purchase commitments or royalty arrangements. Consequently, no reliable estimate can be made of the collaboration’s contribution to Hershey’s consolidated revenue or earnings.

Can holiday menu innovation increase customer visits without reducing Freddy’s restaurant margins?

Limited-time products can encourage customers to visit sooner, return more frequently or add an extra item to an order. For Freddy’s, the combination of savory and dessert products provides opportunities to reach customers seeking different dining occasions.

The use of familiar confectionery ingredients may support trial because consumers already understand the flavors. At the same time, a returning steakburger may attract customers who previously enjoyed the product.

However, menu innovation can affect restaurant operations. New ingredients may require additional storage, inventory management and staff training, while complex preparation could influence order times during busy periods.

The economic outcome also depends on food costs. Products involving branded ingredients, multiple toppings or larger portions may have different costs from standard menu items.

A higher menu price can offset some additional expenditure, but customers must regard the product as good value. Freddy’s has not provided nationwide prices, preventing a reliable comparison of product-level profitability.

Promotional sales may also replace purchases of existing items rather than add entirely new revenue. A customer choosing a holiday concrete instead of a standard dessert creates a different commercial outcome from a customer buying an additional item.

The film-ticket promotion introduces a further consideration because any associated promotional costs must be balanced against incremental customer activity. The companies have not disclosed how those costs are allocated.

The strongest evidence of a successful launch would include higher comparable-store sales, increased visit frequency and profitable dessert attachment without excessive preparation or waste costs.

What will determine whether Freddy’s Hershey partnership becomes a repeatable restaurant growth strategy?

The November 4 launch provides Freddy’s with an opportunity to evaluate whether branded frozen custard products attract sufficient demand across participating locations. The campaign continues until January 5, allowing the restaurant chain to assess performance through the major holiday period.

The three dessert products also provide an opportunity to compare customer preferences for different flavors and formats. Chocolate and peanut butter, caramel and cheesecake, and marshmallow with chocolate create distinct menu propositions.

Customer purchasing patterns could inform future innovation, including whether particular ingredients or dessert formats warrant a return. However, the announcement does not establish that any of the three new products will become permanent menu items.

The French Onion Steakburger provides another measure because it is a returning product. Demand may help management assess whether reintroducing familiar menu items creates enough customer interest to justify repeated promotional appearances.

For franchisees, operational consistency will be central. An attractive menu concept can lose commercial value if ingredient availability, preparation times or product quality vary substantially across restaurants.

The larger restaurant network gives Freddy’s greater promotional reach, but also increases the importance of effective supply-chain coordination. Maintaining a consistent customer experience across hundreds of locations can support confidence in future national launches.

The Hershey partnership also creates potential opportunities for additional branded dessert products. Nevertheless, no extended partnership term or subsequent product launch has been disclosed.

The campaign represents a defined commercial experiment combining menu innovation, confectionery recognition and entertainment-related customer engagement. Its longer-term value will depend on whether Freddy’s can translate that activity into profitable restaurant sales and sustained customer demand.

What are the key takeaways from Freddy’s new Hershey desserts and French Onion Steakburger promotion?

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers announced a partnership with The Hershey Company on October 28, 2026, introducing three new frozen custard desserts and returning its French Onion Steakburger. The limited-time menu begins November 4 and continues through January 5, 2027, at participating restaurants. The desserts are Peanut Butter Blossom Cookie Concrete, HEATH Caramel Cheesecake Concrete and HERSHEY’S Snowfall Sundae.

The promotion also includes an offer allowing eligible guests to buy two tickets and receive two additional tickets free for the film Hershey, scheduled for nationwide release on November 25. Freddy’s recently opened its 600th restaurant and is owned by funds affiliated with Rhône, while Hershey reported second-quarter revenue growth of 6.6% to approximately $2.79 billion. Neither company has disclosed the promotion’s expected sales contribution, national product prices or partnership economics. The commercial test will be whether branded desserts and a returning burger increase restaurant traffic, average transactions and franchisee profitability during the holiday season.