Andy's Frozen Custard

Andy's Frozen Custard is an American frozen-custard restaurant chain founded by John and Carol Kuntz in 1986. The business began in Osage Beach, Missouri, after the couple encountered frozen custard in Wisconsin and sought guidance from Leon and Doris Schneider, the operators of Leon's Frozen Custard in Milwaukee. The brand was named after the Kuntzes' son, Andy Kuntz, who later became closely associated with the company's operation and expansion. The company specializes in frozen-custard desserts rather than operating as a broad ice-cream or fast-food chain. Its menu is built around custard served in cups and cones, along with concretes, sundaes, shakes, malts, and other combination desserts. Concretes are a particularly recognizable format: thick servings of frozen custard blended with candy, cookie pieces, fruit, sauces, and other mix-ins. Stores commonly use a compact dessert-shop format with drive-through service, allowing the brand to focus on quick service and takeout as well as walk-up or in-store ordering. After its initial launch in Osage Beach, the operation expanded to Springfield, Missouri, which became the company's headquarters and an important center of the business. Andy Kuntz and his wife, Dana, learned the frozen-custard trade through the family operation and subsequently helped lead the company. John Kuntz died in 2008; public descriptions of the business state that Andy, Dana, and Carol continued running it afterward. Andy's has developed from a Missouri family business into a regional chain using both company-owned and franchised locations. The cited reference describes the chain as the largest frozen-custard-only chain in the United States and reports more than 190 stores across 15 states. The states identified in the reference are Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. Store counts and the precise balance between company-operated and franchised restaurants can change, so the reported scale should be understood as time-specific rather than permanent. The brand has also used local and institutional partnerships to build recognition. In 2009, readers of 417 Magazine selected Andy's as the best thing associated with the 417 telephone area code. In 2012, the company introduced the Boomer Bear Concrete in Springfield locations as a product supporting Missouri State University's athletics program and named after the university's mascot. Expansion activity included a 2015 multi-franchise agreement described as the largest in the company's history at that time, covering planned restaurants in Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee, and Central Florida. Andy's remains a privately operated American dessert chain. Its positioning combines a family-business identity with a focused product specialization, regional expansion, freshly served frozen custard, prominent drive-through access, and customizable blended desserts. Public information is more extensive about the brand's founding story, products, locations, and selected expansion announcements than about its ownership structure, financial results, detailed executive titles, or formal corporate organization.

Andy's Frozen Custard was established in 1986 by John and Carol Kuntz. The couple had first tasted frozen custard in Wisconsin and decided to develop a business around the dessert in Missouri. To learn the specialized production and operating methods required for a frozen-custard shop, they received mentorship from Leon and Doris Schneider, who had operated Leon's Frozen Custard in Milwaukee since 1942. The first Andy's shop opened in Osage Beach, Missouri, and was named after the Kuntzes' son, Andy. The business soon expanded to Springfield, Missouri. Springfield became the company's headquarters and a central base for its later growth. Andy Kuntz and his wife, Dana, became involved in learning and operating the family business, helping carry the brand into a new generation. Andy had grown up in Raytown, a Kansas City suburb, before moving with his parents to the Ozarks at age 14. The family also maintained a connection with the Kansas City market, where the reference describes a second residence and a group of Andy's locations. The death of John Kuntz in 2008 marked a change in the family's leadership structure. Public accounts state that Andy, Dana, and Carol continued to run the business. The available references do not provide a complete list of formal corporate titles or a detailed succession chronology, but they identify Andy Kuntz as the person associated with the company's ongoing operation. Andy's developed its identity around a narrow category specialization: frozen custard and desserts made from it. Rather than relying on a broad meal menu, the chain built its restaurants around custard cups and cones, concretes, sundaes, shakes, malts, and related frozen products. Its operating model commonly includes drive-through service, which supports quick visits and takeout while preserving the product's made-to-order and customizable character. The concrete format, in which custard is blended with selected mix-ins, became one of the brand's most identifiable offerings. The chain's regional profile was reinforced by local recognition and community-linked products. In 2009, 417 Magazine readers selected Andy's as the best thing about the 417 area code, an accolade tied to its Missouri roots. In 2012, the Springfield stores offered the Boomer Bear Concrete, connected with Missouri State University's athletics program and named after the university mascot. This initiative linked a menu item to a local institution while supporting the school's athletic identity. Andy's later growth combined company-owned restaurants with franchising. In 2015, the company announced a multi-franchise agreement described as its largest in the 29 years since founding. The planned development involved Tulsa and Oklahoma City in Oklahoma, Dallas in Texas, Nashville in Tennessee, and markets in Central Florida. The cited location information reports that the chain subsequently reached more than 190 locations across 15 states, including markets in the central, southern, and southwestern United States. It also identifies franchise development agreements for Phoenix, Arizona, and portions of North Carolina and Florida. The cited reference gives a time-specific count of 192 locations in 15 states as of May 2026. Because restaurant counts and planned openings are subject to change, this figure should not be treated as a permanent corporate statistic. The available material does not establish a current valuation, revenue figure, public listing, or detailed ownership structure. Andy's is therefore best characterized as an active, privately operated, family-associated American frozen-custard chain whose competitive identity rests on category specialization, regional familiarity, customizable desserts, and accessible drive-through service.

1. 2015Largest multi-franchise agreement announced at the time

   The company announced a multi-franchise agreement covering planned development in Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee, and Central Florida.

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2. 2012Boomer Bear Concrete introduced

   Andy's introduced a Missouri State University athletics-related concrete at its Springfield restaurants.

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3. 2009417 Magazine recognition

   Readers of 417 Magazine voted Andy's the best thing associated with the 417 telephone area code.

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4. 2008Death of co-founder John Kuntz

   John Kuntz died, after which Andy, Dana, and Carol Kuntz continued operating the business according to the cited reference.

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5. 1986Andy's Frozen Custard founded

   John and Carol Kuntz founded the business in Osage Beach, Missouri, naming it after their son Andy Kuntz.

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6. 1986Expansion to Springfield

   The operation expanded soon after its founding to Springfield, Missouri, which later became the company's headquarters.

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A family-founded American dessert chain focused on freshly served frozen custard, customizable blended desserts, and convenient drive-through service.

• Frozen CustardFrozen dessert1986

  The core product category of the chain. Frozen custard is a rich frozen dairy dessert traditionally made with egg yolks in addition to dairy ingredients. Andy's serves it in formats including cups and cones, with the product prepared for immediate consumption and used as the base for much of the wider menu.

• ConcretesBlended frozen dessert

  A dense frozen-custard dessert blended with mix-ins such as candy, cookies, fruit, sauces, or other toppings. Concretes allow customers to combine the chain's base custard with different textures and flavors and are among Andy's most recognizable menu formats.

• SundaesFrozen dessert

  Custard-based desserts assembled with sauces, toppings, and other additions. Sundaes extend the core custard offering into a more layered and topping-focused format and are part of the chain's broader range of frozen desserts.

• Shakes and MaltsFrozen beverage

  Thick cold beverages made from the brand's frozen-custard base and dairy ingredients. Shakes and malts provide a drinkable alternative to cups, cones, and blended concrete desserts while retaining the chain's focus on custard-based products.

• Boomer Bear ConcreteInstitutional collaboration dessert2012

  A concrete introduced at Andy's Springfield locations in 2012 in support of Missouri State University's athletics program. Its name references the university's mascot, making it both a menu product and a locally oriented partnership initiative.

• 2012Boomer Bear Concrete

  Springfield, Missouri

  Andy's created a named concrete connected to Missouri State University's athletics program and offered it at Springfield restaurants.

  Outcome. The product provided a localized menu and community-support initiative; the cited reference does not quantify its sales or long-term campaign results.

  Source
• 2009417 Magazine reader recognition

  Missouri

  The brand received local recognition when 417 Magazine readers voted it the best thing associated with the 417 area code.

  Outcome. The recognition reinforced Andy's regional identity; no quantified commercial effect is reported in the cited material.

  Source

• 2015Pursuit of large-scale franchise expansionStrategy

  Andy's sought to extend its regional footprint beyond its established Missouri and central U.S. markets.

  What changed. The company signed a multi-franchise agreement covering planned restaurants in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Dallas, Nashville, and Central Florida.

  Aftermath. The agreement was described as the largest in the company's history at that time. The available reference does not provide a complete accounting of how many planned restaurants ultimately opened.

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• 2015Andy's announces multi-franchise expansion agreement

  The company announced a multi-franchise agreement described as the largest in its 29-year history. The planned development covered Tulsa and Oklahoma City in Oklahoma, Dallas in Texas, Nashville in Tennessee, and markets in Central Florida.

  M&AOther
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• 2012Boomer Bear Concrete introduced in support of Missouri State athletics

  Andy's introduced the Boomer Bear Concrete at its Springfield, Missouri, restaurants. The product was created to support Missouri State University's athletics program and was named for the school's mascot.

  Product launchCampaign
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• 2009Andy's recognized by 417 Magazine readers

  Readers of 417 Magazine voted Andy's Frozen Custard the best thing associated with the 417 telephone area code.

  Other
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• 2008John Kuntz dies as the family continues operating Andy's

  Co-founder John Kuntz died in 2008. Reference material states that Andy Kuntz, Dana Kuntz, and Carol Kuntz continued running the business afterward.

  Leadership change
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1. Andy's Frozen Custard
2. Andy's Frozen Custard official website