Latest news with #Culvers
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What Is Culver's Signature Sauce Made Of?
Many fast food joints have a signature or secret sauce. From McDonald's Big Mac sauce to Raising Cane's Cane's sauce, a signature sauce can be an important aspect of a restaurant's identity that brings customers back time and time again. At Culver's, many people dip their chicken tenders or coat their beef burgers in the chain's signature sauce, which is quite different from other brands. While many restaurants' secret sauces consist of some variation of ketchup, mustard, mayo, and barbeque sauce, Culver's describes its sauce as "creamy and tangy with notes of buttermilk, Parmesan cheese, a touch of spice and just a hint of savory bleu cheese." Culver's doesn't fully explain what the sauce is made of, but the nutrition and allergen information gives a full ingredient list. The top three listed ingredients are soybean oil, cultured buttermilk, and Parmesan cheese, which makes sense given that buttermilk and Parmesan are the top two tasting notes. After that, the next ingredients are water, egg yolk, distilled vinegar, and blue cheese. It also contains small amounts of lots of different spices, including jalapeño and several other types of peppers, dried garlic, and onions. Because of this, the sauce is not safe for those with milk or egg allergies, but it is free from all other major allergens, including gluten. However, note that cross-contamination is almost always a possibility at a fast-food joint unless they take specific measures to avoid it, so be sure to ask the employees if you have a serious allergy. Read more: For Fresh, Not Frozen Fast Food, Try These 12 Popular Chains Unlike some chains that have had their signature sauces for most of their history, Culver's only released its signature sauce in 2023, according to a press release on the chain's website. In the article, director of menu development Quinn Adkins said, "When we set out to make a signature sauce, we wanted to make sure it was truly an 'only at Culver's' experience that perfectly complements our menu. Our signature sauce is unique – the flavor melds and changes depending on which menu offering it's accompanying." The signature sauce seems to be well-loved by customers. On an r/Culvers Reddit thread, user u/james_landon_wolf said "dude. that sauce is unnecessarily good. especially on pretzel bites." User u/kgiann added, "It somehow goes with most of the menu -- chicken tenders, burgers, fries, cheese curds, the cod." Others noted that it may put some off because of some notorious myths about blue cheese, but it's still a beloved sauce that perfectly complements the chain's menu, fulfilling the duty of a signature sauce. Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
This Culver's Side Dish Gets The Most Hate From Fans
Ah, Culver's, the blue awning-adorned gateway to frozen custard, ButterBurgers, and cheese curd heaven. You don't have to be a Midwesterner to understand why this Wisconsin-born business is one of the best regional fast food chains across the country. For starters, its sandwiches made with fresh beef are Andrew Zimmern's gold standard for fast food burgers, and its ice cream drinks landed at number one in Tasting Table's ranking of fast food milkshakes. However, with such an expansive menu of mains, sides, and desserts, there's bound to be a few duds, and Culver's fans agree that its mashed potatoes with gravy are the weakest side dish you can order. In one Reddit thread, a user called the dish "the worst mashed potatoes I've ever tasted," comparing them to the sad versions served at school lunches. Many commenters concurred, calling Culver's mash disappointing, lacking in seasoning, and too liquidy in consistency. One critic even wrote, "They taste the way an antique store smells." In another thread about the worst menu item from Culver's, four Redditors named the mashed potatoes as an offender, with one commenter likening them to an instant mash. In-depth reviews by taste testers also have not-so-nice things to say, calling the potatoes flavorless and not rich enough, and saying the gravy is reminiscent of lackluster store-bought versions. Why so much biting criticism? Looking at how Culver's mashed potatoes are made offers a solid explanation. Read more: 9 Items To Avoid Ordering From LongHorn Steakhouse Culver's proudly proclaims that its mashed potatoes are made of real Russet spuds and milk, but the latter is of the skim variety -- hardly the best choice for a rich, creamy texture -- and the only seasoning is salt. As for the chicken gravy, the first ingredient is water rather than chicken broth or stock. There's also more modified food starch than salt and onion powder and more xanthan gum than spices (ouch). It's clear why these spuds are one of the chain restaurant side dishes you should never order, especially when other Culver's picks are so much tastier. In a Reddit poll asking about the best Culver's side, only one vote went to mashed potatoes, while the fried cheese curds won first place. Culver's Wisconsin Cheese Curds have held a special place in customers' hearts since 1997 and are definitely more unique than the average fast food fry or onion ring, though the chain's versions of those two classics are also solid. In a Reddit thread asking about the best Culver's menu items, the fries and rings got hearty recommendations alongside those iconic curds. While it's not a side dish by itself, another customer favorite is Culver's signature sauce made of buttermilk, Parmesan, bleu cheese, and spice. Fans also wax poetic online about its Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese Sauce. These condiments are a surefire way to make the Culver's best sides even better. Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Daily Mail
12-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Culver's announces new chicken sandwich lineup
Culver's is diving beak-first into this summer's fast food wars — by launching three revamped chicken sandwiches just in time for this summer's fast food wars. The Wisconsin-based restaurant chain is debuting new Crispy Chicken, Spicy Crispy Chicken, and Grilled Chicken Sandwich recipes on June 16. The sandwiches feature an 'improved' chicken fillet with crunchier pickles, mayo, lettuce, tomato, and all-new toasted buns. The items were inspired by research and guest feedback. Each recipe was part of a multi-year development process to create new chicken sandwiches. Culver's will be celebrating its arrival by giving away free chicken sandwiches to the first 100 customers at each location on launch day. 'We know the love our guests have for chicken, so we wanted to give them new chicken sandwich options that are undeniably delicious,' said Kasey McDonald, Culver's head of culinary. The chain's new crispy and grilled chicken sandwiches will be available at all 1,000-plus restaurants. They cost between about $7.59 and $7.69 per sandwich, a partial factor as to why Culver's is one of the most overpriced fast food chains in America. Several restaurant chains have already introduced new items that are strikingly similar to one another. Chipotle is continuing to offer its limited-time Honey Chicken, which debuted around the same time as a short-lived KFC meal. McDonald's also showed off their competitive side by introducing a new lemonade at participating US locations. The beverage rolled out shortly after Chick-fil-A and Wendy's added new drinks to their menus. Burger King is also offering various specials and plans to offer deals in honor of Father's Day and National Onion Rings Day. Other fast-food chains that are competitively celebrating the summer season include Dunkin' and Sonic Drive-In.
Daily Mail
11-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Family-favorite fried chicken chain quietly changes their beloved menu items
Culver's is diving beak-first into this summer's fast food wars — by launching three revamped chicken sandwiches just in time for this summer's fast food wars. The Wisconsin -based restaurant chain is debuting new Crispy Chicken, Spicy Crispy Chicken, and Grilled Chicken Sandwich recipes on June 16. The sandwiches feature an 'improved' chicken fillet with crunchier pickles, mayo, lettuce, tomato, and all-new toasted buns. The items were inspired by research and guest feedback. Each recipe was part of a multi-year development process to create new chicken sandwiches. Culver's will be celebrating its arrival by giving away free chicken sandwiches to the first 100 customers at each location on launch day. 'We know the love our guests have for chicken, so we wanted to give them new chicken sandwich options that are undeniably delicious,' said Kasey McDonald, Culver's head of culinary. The chain's new crispy and grilled chicken sandwiches will be available at all 1,000-plus restaurants. They cost between about $7.59 and $7.69 per sandwich, a partial factor as to why Culver's is one of the most overpriced fast food chains in America. The first 100 customers at each Culver's restaurant will receive a free sandwich on launch day Several restaurant chains have already introduced new items that are strikingly similar to one another. Chipotle is continuing to offer its limited-time Honey Chicken, which debuted around the same time as a short-lived KFC meal. McDonald's also showed off their competitive side by introducing a new lemonade at participating US locations. The beverage rolled out shortly after Chick-fil-A and Wendy's added new drinks to their menus. Now that summer is approaching, fast-food chains have been upping their game, and some are offering specials that will last all season long. Wendy's launched its '100 Days of Savings' campaign last week that started with a $1 Dave's Single. Burger King is also offering various specials and plans to offer deals in honor of Father's Day and National Onion Rings Day. Other fast-food chains that are competitively celebrating the summer season include Dunkin' and Sonic Drive-In. Multiple fast-food chains have had a rocky start in the first quarter of this year. McDonald's experienced a 3.6 percent decline in sales, and Burger King's North American sales dropped by 1.3 percent. Wendy's sales dipped 0.1 percent this quarter after experiencing a massive increase in sales last year. However, Chipotle caught fans by surprise last April after reporting its first sales drop in five years. Culver's has not confirmed how much money it's made in 2025 so far, nor has it announced its financial outlook for this year.
Forbes
09-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Culver's: Over 1,000 Stores But Still Falling Under The Radar Screen
A food website recently pointed out that 'Culver's doesn't typically get mentioned alongside popular regional burger chains such as Whataburger and In-N-Out, but it probably should.' Indeed, it should. Culver's is a major franchising powerhouse, having recently surpassed its 1,000 location, and now has 1,004 stores with 997 of them or 99% franchised and only 7 company-owned. It also received a major investment from Roark Capital Group, an Atlanta, Ga. based private equity firm, with over $37 billion in equity, known for its investments in franchised restaurant chains as well as retail and consumer service sectors. Though many private equity firms invest in restaurant chains, expand them and sell them in several years for a profit, Roark started its investment in 2017 and has shared its expertise to help Culver's grow over 8 years and counting. And Culver's has been expanding at a steady pace since it opened 53 new locations in 2024, with 7 new locations so far in 2025. It expects to open another 50 or more locations by the end of 2025. Culver's is based in Prairie du Sac, Wisc., a Midwest town of 4,370 people but in proximity to Madison, the state capital, but far away from the two coasts which often generate more media coverage. A hamburger chain Culver's with over 1,000 mostly franchised locations doesn't get much national recognition but keeps growing at a steady pace. A New CEO Who Has Been Involved For 8 Years Julie Fussner, who was named CEO on April 28, 2025 of Culver's after being with the company since 2017 starting out in marketing and serving as CMO, is not perturbed about its lower profile on a national basis. 'Our focus is on being as well-known as possible in the local communities we're in,' she says. 'We don't advertise nationally. It doesn't make sense for us,' she notes. Moreover, she adds that its approach is working since 'volumes in the restaurants are high and we're growing.' Most restaurant owner/operators work in the restaurant and develops their local following, she says. Fussner adds that franchisees are permitted to own a small number of locations, if they stay within a close-by geographic area. She notes that even though it specializes in burgers, 'We're in the people business. When our owner-operators are present and engaged, they take care of their teams.' Burgers, Custard and Cheese Curds It's known for several menu items including ButterBurgers, frozen custard and Wisconsin Cheese Curds. Fussner says its name ButterBurgers emanates from its lightly-buttered toasted buns that adds flavor to its fresh beef seasoned on a grill. She says that its menu 'is inspired by where we come from in Wisconsin,' noting that fresh custard was invented in Milwaukee. But Fussner describes the brand's secret sauce as serving 'made-to-order meals with hometown hospitality.' She indicates that its staff is trained to provide a 'welcoming dine-in experience and small-town hospitality in every interaction.' More Americans are moving toward healthier menus, but Fussner notes that it offers a line of salads, with grilled chicken, soups, and seafood, though the cod is fried. Targets Mom And Dads Its target audience, she says, is 'the people who are making meal decisions, mostly moms and dads with families; however, we have a huge lunch business on weekdays, involving the person in the office, bringing the team to lunch.' Most of its outlets are located in the Midwest, but its footprint extends to the West and Southwest and of late, to the Southeast, so it's gone beyond Wisconsin's borders. Its shops are in various sites, ranging from its largest city Chicago, smaller cities, suburbs, and small towns. Fussner makes the case that Culver's has made a name for itself in the communities that it serves in a variety of ways: 1) Via local fund-raising efforts, 2) Engaging with its customers on social media via its Surprise and Delight programs, 3) Donating $6.5 million to the Thank You Farmers Project since 2013 to support agricultural education and support a climate-smart future. Fussner doesn't plan on changing Culver's culture now that she's been named CEO. Her focus, she indicates, 'is not to lose any of the foundation of what has made us successful.' She adds that operating a Culver's restaurant is 'difficult so identifying innovation or what we can do differently to deliver that exceptional experience is something we'd like to do,' She also expects to continue to open 50 to 55 outlets a year, and envisions seeing improvement in its digital experience, particularly in its loyalty program and plans to introduce new types of burgers on the menu. She sees the 3 keys to its sustained success as: 1) Continuing to identify present and engaged owner/operators, 2) Staying true to its roots regarding its menu, 3) Delivering outstanding hospitality for every guest at every location.
