Freddy's Largest Franchisee Expands

The deal also includes HCI Hospitality's other restaurant holdings, JC's BBQ and Grill in Junction City, KS, and Powercat Sports Grill in Manhattan, KS. However, Booth Creek Wagyu, another brand in the HCI portfolio, will continue to be owned and operated by HCI founder Dave Dreiling. To ensure a smooth transition, HCI's CEO, Cam Blakely, will join JRI as the President of Operations for their Freddy's locations. JRI Hospitality, founded by Jason Ingermanson, has been a Freddy's franchisee since 2008. Prior to this acquisition, the Salina-based company already operated over 88 Freddy's units across 15 states. Ingermanson has a history of expanding his restaurant portfolio, having also developed the Kansas-based beverage concept Mokas Coffee, which recently began franchising. HCI Hospitality, based in Manhattan, Kansas, opened its first Freddy's location in Junction City, Kansas, in July 2010. Before the sale, HCI had expanded its Freddy's operations to include locations in Nebraska, Iowa, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The Freddy's brand itself has been on a significant growth trajectory. The chain surpassed the $1 billion sales milestone in 2024 with a nearly 7% year-over-year growth. As of September 2025, Freddy's had 560 locations across 37 states. The company has ambitious goals to reach 800 locations by 2026 and has recently expanded into Canada. The fast-casual brand was founded in Wichita, Kansas, in 2002 by brothers Bill and Randy Simon and their friend Scott Redler, naming the restaurant after the Simon brothers' father, a World War II veteran. In September 2025, private equity firm Rhône Group acquired Freddy's from Thompson Street Capital Partners, who had purchased the brand in 2021.