Freddy’s signs its first Southeast Asia deal: five units in the Philippines with OMG Holdings
Announced on 5 October 2026, the five-unit development agreement with OMG Holdings OPC is Freddy’s first in Southeast Asia, with the first restaurant anticipated in 2027. The brand operates more than 580 locations across the United States and Canada.
The deal
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers announced on 5 October 2026 a five-unit development agreement for the Philippines with OMG Holdings OPC. It is the brand’s first development agreement in Southeast Asia. The first restaurant is anticipated to open in 2027. Freddy’s operates more than 580 locations across the United States and Canada.
Chief Development Officer Andrew Thengvall described the Philippines entry as a milestone for the brand and a step in its broader international development strategy. Financial terms were not disclosed, and the release did not name the target cities or a store opening schedule beyond the first restaurant.
Why the shape of this deal matters
Five units is small, and that is the point worth noticing. A franchisor entering a new market has two broad choices. One is a master franchise covering a country or a region, often with a three-digit unit commitment and a long exclusivity period. The other is a multi-unit development agreement for a handful of sites with no territorial monopoly attached.
The second shape has been getting more common for first entries into Southeast Asia. It lets the franchisor test whether its unit model survives local rent, local supply chain and local labour before it hands over exclusivity it cannot take back. It also lets the local partner size its capital exposure to something it can finance without a syndicate.
The cost of the smaller shape falls on the partner. Five units rarely carry the overhead of a proper country support structure, so the first years run lean, and renewal depends on performance rather than on contract length.
The signal for other operators
For groups across the region shopping for brands, the readable signal is that a 2027 opening date on a 2026 signature is now a normal timeline. Site search, licensing, build-out and a supply chain for frozen custard in a tropical market take most of a year before a door opens. Anyone promising a faster first unit is making a claim worth testing.
This is market information, not investment advice.
Compiled from public sources for information only, not investment advice.