Freddy's Promotes Lindsey Kochanski to VP of Marketing

A Fast Promotion to the Top of Marketing

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers just handed the keys to its Brand Team to someone it hired two years ago. The Wichita, Kansas-based chain has promoted Lindsey Kochanski to Vice President of Marketing, putting her in charge of driving customer traffic, boosting sales, and finding operational efficiencies across a system that now spans 600 locations in the United States and Canada. It's a fast rise, and Freddy's wants people to notice.

From Coca-Cola to Steakburgers

Kochanski joined Freddy's in 2023 after close to 20 years building brand strategy chops in retail, foodservice marketing and digital programs. Before Freddy's, she spent years at The Coca-Cola Company working on integrated marketing plans, targeted campaigns and audience-specific tools. That's the kind of resume you'd expect from a global beverage brand, not a steakburger chain out of Kansas. But that's exactly the point. Freddy's wanted someone who could bring large-brand marketing discipline into a growing fast-casual operation, and it found that in Kochanski's mix of retail, foodservice and digital experience.

The CMO Makes Her Case

Erin Walter, Freddy's Chief Marketing Officer, made the case for Kochanski in plain terms. "Lindsey pairs a strong strategic vision with a thoughtful, collaborative approach. She understands how to translate brand strategy into programs that connect with distinct audiences and support our restaurants," Walter said. Walter didn't stop there. "Since joining Freddy's, she has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to excellence and a deep understanding of our brand. I'm confident her leadership will help us build on our momentum and drive meaningful growth." Notice what Walter is doing here: tying this promotion to results already on the board, not some hopeful bet on untapped potential.

person slicing chocolate cake on white ceramic plate

What Two Years Tells You About Freddy's

Two years from new hire to head of the Brand Team is quick by any standard. It says something about Kochanski, sure, but it also says something about how Freddy's operates internally. This is a company that moves fast when it sees talent deliver, and that's a cultural signal worth paying attention to if you're watching how fast-casual brands build their marketing benches. Freddy's didn't go outside for this hire. It looked at someone already inside the building and decided she'd earned a bigger seat.

Built on Hospitality and Steakburgers Since 2002

Founded in Wichita in 2002, Freddy's has built its identity on cooked-to-order steakburgers, all-beef hot dogs, shoestring fries and freshly churned frozen custard, all wrapped in what the company calls The Freddy's Way, an operational philosophy centered on genuine hospitality and fresh, premium ingredients. That approach has translated into real industry recognition: No. 6 on Fast Casual's Top 100 Movers + Shakers list, No. 85 on Entrepreneur's Franchise 500, and No. 60 on Technomic's Top 500. Those rankings don't happen by accident, and they don't sustain themselves without marketing leadership that can keep pace with growth.

Consistency Is the Real Test Ahead

That's really what this promotion is about. A 600-location franchise system spread across two countries needs more than good food to stay consistent. It needs someone steering brand strategy who understands how to connect with distinct audiences at scale, something Kochanski's mandate speaks to directly. As Freddy's keeps expanding its footprint, that consistency becomes the thing that attracts new franchisees and keeps loyal customers coming back for custard.

Expect Kochanski's fingerprints to show up fast. With traffic, sales and efficiency all sitting squarely in her new mandate, the next stretch will be the real test of whether Freddy's bet on fast internal promotion pays off at national scale. Given the trajectory so far, nobody at headquarters in Wichita seems worried.

A Fast Promotion to the Top of Marketing