Wendy’s is celebrating its birthday nationwide by offering a free sweet treat for loyal customers.
The burger chain is marking the anniversary of its Nov. 15, 1969 founding by turning the date into an official brand holiday: Frosty Day.
For the second annual Frosty Day on Sunday, Nov. 15, Wendy’s Rewards members can score a free small Frosty with any app purchase.
To snag the deal, customers just need to log into the Wendy’s app, where the digital coupon will pop up. The offer is capped at one per customer, according to QSR Magazine.
Members can pick between Classic Chocolate or Vanilla, a Frosty Swirl—which mixes in brownie batter, caramel, or strawberry sauce—or a Frosty Fusion, loaded up with toppings like M&M’s or Oreos.
You can join the Wendy’s Rewards program online and through the mobile app. Newcomers to the Rewards program can tack on a free 10-piece order of nuggets with a purchase. Members earn 10 points for every dollar spent in store and on mobile online pickup orders.
Swirls blend in flavored syrup and Fusions pack both sauce and crunchy toppings — like last year’s popular limited-time Snickerdoodle Cookie Frosty Fusion made with vanilla Frosty, cinnamon sauce, and cookie bits.
Wendy’s is also getting ready to drop a mystery seasonal Frosty flavor soon, though details are still under wraps, QSR Magazine reported.
The holiday celebrates founder Dave Thomas opening the very first Wendy’s on Nov. 15, 1969, in Columbus, Ohio, where the Frosty debuted as one of five original menu staples.
In 1969, Thomas co-created the Frosty with Fred Kappus of the Kappus Company, drawing inspiration from the frosted malts served at Thistledown racetrack in Cleveland, according to Wendy’s.
Even bigger updates are around the corner. The burger chain is planning a richer, creamier Frosty recipe as part of a major menu revamp launching by 2027. The makeover comes amid a multiyear turnaround effort aimed at snapping a seven-quarter streak of declining sales.
Upgrades include “substantially thicker” and crunchier bacon to amp up flavor on classics like the Baconator, alongside the velvety new Frosty formula. After third-quarter sales dropped 5.7% year-over-year, the fast-food giant launched its new “Dave’s Way” plan to spark growth and overhaul its lineup.
Wendy’s introduced the dedicated Frosty Day celebration last year to honor its iconic frozen treat.
“Frosty has been at the heart of our menu since the very beginning – a treat that embodies the tradition, innovation and legacy Wendy’s continues to stand for today,” said Lindsay Radkoski, U.S. Chief Marketing Officer, in a press release. “So it’s only fitting that we officially claimed Nov. 15 as Frosty Day.”
The dessert has become a global hit, featuring unique international twists like the Biscoff® Frosty in the UK and the Caramel Toffee Frosty in Canada.
Still, Ohio holds onto its title as the Frosty capital, selling more of the frozen treats in 2024 than any other state.
