Buzz
When Wendy’s first launched in Columbus, Ohio, in November 1969, its menu featured just five items: hamburgers, chili, French fries, drinks, and the iconic Frosty—a thick milkshake priced at 35 cents. While marketed as chocolate, the Frosty was a mix of vanilla and chocolate, as founder Dave Thomas believed pure chocolate would be too overpowering alongside burgers. The standalone vanilla Frosty wasn’t introduced until 2006.
This summer, Wendy’s is sidelining the vanilla Frosty to spotlight a refreshing strawberry flavor, which debuted in Canada last year. The new flavor was such a hit that it’s already being tested in select U.S. locations.
“The demand was so high that we sold out halfway through the promotion,” Carl Loredo, Wendy’s chief marketing officer, explained to CNN Business.
This summer, Wendy’s is rolling out strawberry Frosties across the U.S., giving everyone a chance to experience the hype. However, this is a limited-time offering, as vanilla Frosties will return next season. According to Thrillist, the reason Wendy’s can’t offer vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate Frosties simultaneously is due to the machines’ limitation of producing only two flavors at a time.
While Wendy’s Frosty machines may not match the extensive flavor variety of Dairy Queen Blizzards, they outperform McDonald’s McFlurry machines, which are notorious for frequent breakdowns.
“As some competitors struggle to keep their ice cream machines operational, Wendy’s fans can enjoy this new strawberry delight all summer,” Loredo stated in a press release.
