To display our entire Franchise 500 2025 list, including category rankings, click here
Craig and Lea Culver – together with the parents of Craig, George and Ruth – opened the first Culver restaurant in 1984 in the hometown of Sauk City, Wisconsin. Their Butterburgers and Fresh Frozen Custard turned out to be hits, which led to the first successful opening of the Culver franchise in 1990 in Baraboo, Wisconsin. Business has only become higher. In 2024, Culver’s began to rejoice the fortieth anniversary of its existence, and now the seventh yr in a row is in the top ten Franchise 500 rating.
“After three record years of sales and traffic growth, exceeding industry trends, we maintain the pace for the next record year,” says Rick Silva, president and general director of Culver’s. In 2024, the company opened almost 60 latest locations, and by December plans to open restaurant number 1000. “Delivery by third parties contributes to the increase in sales and traffic,” says Silva – “but even our basic data on sales and traffic in our company [not counting delivery] they significantly exceed this category. “
The Culver digital strategy turned out to be particularly effective. Over the past few years, she has built a digital team, modernized their technology stack and implemented a consumer application offering the “Curdside” service – named after the beloved cottage cheese. The application signifies that take -out ordering is trouble -free and may be used to order take -out dishes from the table when you eat.
“Our work on the menu has also helped to achieve our results thanks to the introduction of a new premium bacon and additional promotions of products as part of the time limited offer,” says Silva.
Culver’s might not be as big as other brands from our top ten, but it uses its smaller range in his favor – deeply engaging in the communities in which it really works. The franchisees support their local areas through events related to the collection of funds, donations and sponsorship. At the corporate level, the Culver’s Foundation works to supply people with basic needs and to advertise the development of young people and family. His “The project “Thank you to farmers”.“, Whose implementation began in 2013, supports agricultural teaching programs encouraging intelligent agriculture.
In 2025, Culver plans to further develop in 26 states. There are possibilities west so far as Idaho and east, to Florida. In 2024, she received the Satisfaction Awards from the Franchise Business Review in many categories, including in the best franchises, the best food franchises and the best franchises for women.
“Our goal is to cooperate with current and new owners-operators to help them develop a healthy development of their activities,” says Silva. But there are possibilities for everyone. “We have a mentor program that provides team members and managers of our restaurants to property.”