Ted Drewes

What Ted Drewes does

Ted Drewes is a fourth-generation family-owned frozen custard business founded in 1929 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. The company operates three physical locations in St. Louis: a flagship walk-up custard stand on Historic Route 66 (Chippewa), an older walk-up location on South Grand (seasonal, summer only), and a gift shop and historical museum. Its core product is premium frozen custard made with at least 10% butterfat and 1.4% egg yolk solids, which forms the base for its signature offering, the Concrete — a thick blended treat created in 1959 that is dense enough to be served upside down. The menu also includes sundaes, malts, shakes, floats, and seasonal flavors, with over 30 toppings and mix-ins available, plus gluten-free and kosher-certified options.

The business generates revenue through multiple channels: direct retail at walk-up windows, wholesale distribution to regional grocery chains (Schnucks, Dierbergs), restaurants, cafes, schools, and churches; catering for events; nationwide UPS overnight shipping; bulk local pickup orders; a gift shop with Route 66-themed merchandise; and seasonal Christmas tree and holiday greenery sales sourced from a Nova Scotia farm. The primary customer segment is individual walk-up consumers (locals and Route 66 tourists), with secondary segments including wholesale partners, event organizers, and distant customers seeking shipped product. Pricing is per-unit at retail (undisclosed), with published wholesale tier pricing at $3.00-$3.75 per cup depending on volume.

The company employs 11-50 staff, primarily part-time and seasonal, and has remained independent with no external funding or acquisition. Its competitive position rests on nearly a century of brand equity, the iconic status of its Route 66 location, multi-generational family tradition, and the recognizable Concrete product.

Name

Ted Drewes

Legal name

Ted Drewes Inc.

Website

https://teddrewes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1929

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ted Drewes is a fourth-generation family-owned frozen custard business in St. Louis, founded in 1929, operating walk-up custard stands on Historic Route 66 and serving individual consumers, wholesale grocery partners, catering clients, and nationwide shipping customers with its signature Concrete frozen custard.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Frozen Custard Desserts

NAICS

Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (31152)

SIC

Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024)

akta.pro primary industry

Ice Cream & Gelato Shops (THAFAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Frozen Custard Manufacturing (AFAHAEAF), Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts Wholesale (AFAIAHAC)

Keywords

• Frozen custard retail
• Concrete ice cream
• Specialty desserts
• Wholesale frozen custard
• Dessert catering services

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Retail Frozen Custard Sales: Direct sales of frozen custard, concretes, sundaes, malts, shakes, floats, and cones at two walk-up custard stand locations. Core revenue stream with over 30 toppings and mix-ins available.
2. Wholesale Distribution: Bulk frozen custard sold to grocery stores (Schnucks, Dierbergs), restaurants, cafés, ice cream shops, catering services, schools, and churches. Products include pre-portioned cups and bulk frozen custard.
3. Catering Services: Catering for weddings, corporate events, birthday parties, and community celebrations. Options include pre-packaged cups, sundae bars, and concrete mixers.
4. Gift Shop Retail: Sale of Ted Drewes, Route 66, and St. Louis-themed merchandise including branded apparel, souvenirs, and specialty gifts. Both in-store and online shopping available.
5. Nationwide Shipping: Shipping frozen custard products anywhere in the continental United States via UPS overnight. Average shipping cost $120-$200 per package. Standard flavors always available; specialty flavors accommodated with advance notice.
6. Christmas Tree Sales: Seasonal sales of fresh-cut Christmas trees (Fraser Fir, Scotch Pine, Balsam Fir, Douglas Fir, White Pine) ranging 5-14 feet tall, plus holiday greenery including wreaths, garland, swags, and mistletoe.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Ted Drewes operates walk-up custard stands in St. Louis producing and serving premium frozen custard and frozen-custard-based treats, including the signature Concrete (a hand-mixed treat dense enough to be served upside down), sundaes, shakes, malts, floats, and ice cream sodas. Beyond retail, the company sells fresh-cut Christmas trees and holiday greenery seasonally, runs a wholesale frozen custard program for grocery and foodservice partners, offers nationwide UPS overnight shipping, provides event catering, and operates a gift shop and historical museum with Ted Drewes and Route 66 branded merchandise.

Product overview

Ted Drewes operates as a multi-location frozen custard stand business offering a unified product portfolio centered on frozen custard-based treats. The core product line includes traditional frozen custard (vanilla, chocolate, strawberry bases), which serves as the foundation for Concretes (thick blended treats that can be turned upside down), Sundaes, Malts, Shakes, Floats, and specialty beverages. The company also offers seasonal products including Christmas Trees and Holiday Greenery. Additional revenue streams include a Gift Shop & Historical Museum, Gift Cards, Bulk Orders for local pickup, Nationwide Shipping via UPS, Wholesale Programs for businesses, Catering Services, and Bus/Group Visit accommodations. Dietary accommodations include Gluten-Free and Kosher menu options. The business operates three physical locations in St. Louis (Chippewa on Historic Route 66, South Grand, and Gift Shop/Museum), with distribution through wholesale partners including Schnucks and Dierbergs grocery stores.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Frozen Custard Rich, creamy frozen custard made with egg yolks, milkfat (at least 10% butterfat), non-fat milk, sugar, pure honey, guar gum, carrageenan, dextrose, and natural vanilla — denser and richer than ice cream due to higher fat and egg yolk solids (minimum 1.4% egg yolk solids). Served in various sizes as the foundation for all treats. For retail walk-up customers, tourists, and wholesale buyers.
• Concretes
• Sundaes Frozen custard with flavor mix-ins served on top rather than blended into the custard. Available in Kiddie, Jumbo, and Super sizes with various topping combinations. For walk-up customers at the custard stands.
• Signature Specialty Concretes and Sundaes Pre-defined concrete and sundae combinations with specific mix-ins, including Cardinal Sin (hot fudge and tart cherries), Terra Mizzou (chocolate and pistachio nuts), Lemon Crumb, Fox Treat, and Crater Copernicus. For walk-up retail customers.
• St. Louis Inspired Concretes and Sundaes Local specialty concretes and sundaes celebrating St. Louis culture and landmarks, including City Red, Muny Mocha, Brennan Blend, The McGraw, Fragile Forest, The Route 66, Johnny Rabbitt, TeDads, and Lewis & Clark Trail Mix. For walk-up retail customers and tourists.
• Seasonal Concrete Flavors Limited-time flavor offerings reflecting seasonal celebrations, including Valentines Day, Shamrock, Carrot Cake Concrete, Uncle Sam, The Great Pumpkin, and Cindermint. For walk-up retail customers during holiday periods.
• Malts and Shakes Frozen custard blended with a choice of flavor, with malt added for malts and without malt for shakes. Rich, velvety beverages available in various flavors. For walk-up retail customers.
• Floats and Ice Cream Sodas House root beer or Coca-Cola paired with scoops of frozen custard for floats, and novelty carbonated beverages in favorite flavors topped with whipped cream and a cherry for ice cream sodas. For walk-up retail customers.
• Beverages
• Fresh-Cut Christmas Trees
• Holiday Greenery and Decor Fresh holiday greenery including wreaths with handmade bows, garland (Pine Garland, Mixed Garland, Western Cedar Garland), swags, pine tips, mistletoe, holly, mantelpieces, and tree care supplies. For walk-up retail customers during the holiday season.
• Gift Cards Physical and electronic gift cards available in customizable amounts, never expire, and accepted at all Ted Drewes locations. E-gift cards are delivered instantly via email. For consumer gifting.
• Gift Shop and Historical Museum Retail store and museum featuring exclusively curated Ted Drewes, Route 66, and St. Louis-themed merchandise including branded apparel, souvenirs, collectibles, and specialty gifts. The museum displays nearly a century of history through photos and memorabilia. For walk-up retail customers, tourists, and online shoppers (teddrewesgiftshop.com).
• Bulk Local Pickup Orders Frozen custard in larger quantities for local pickup in St. Louis, including 8oz frozen minis, pints, and pre-frozen minis. Bulk pricing: $3.75 per cup; 10% discount ($3.38 per cup) for orders of 50+ cups; 20% discount ($3.00 per cup) for 100+ cups of Vanilla, Chocolate, or Strawberry. For local event organizers, schools, churches, and group customers.
• Wholesale Frozen Custard Program Wholesale frozen custard for businesses including restaurants, cafés, grocery stores (Schnucks, Dierbergs), catering services, event businesses, and sports venues. Includes pre-portioned cups and bulk frozen custard. For business buyers reselling or serving the product.
• Nationwide UPS Frozen Custard Shipping Overnight shipping of frozen custard products anywhere in the continental United States via UPS. Standard cooler holds 15 8oz concretes or 8 pints. Average shipping cost $120–$200 per package. Standard flavors always available; specialty flavors accommodated with advance notice. Orders placed at least 48 hours in advance. UPS Ground available for Kansas City and Chicago at lower rates. For distant individual customers, gift purchasers, and corporate gifting.
• Catering Services Catering for weddings, corporate events, birthday parties, and community celebrations. Options include pre-packaged cups, sundae bars, and concrete mixers. For schools, churches, corporations, wedding planners, and individuals planning events.
• Bus and Large Group Visits Group visit service for tour buses and large groups with advance coordination. Bus groups of 25+ paying in a single transaction are eligible for a 10% group discount. For tour operators, school groups, and large organized group visits.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving frozen custard since 1929 (95+ years)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SchnuckscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional grocery chain partner selling Ted Drewes frozen custard products in their stores. Part of wholesale distribution network for St. Louis metro area customers.
• DierbergscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional grocery chain partner selling Ted Drewes frozen custard products in their stores. Part of wholesale distribution network for St. Louis metro area customers.
• UPSminorOthersShipping carrier used for nationwide frozen custard delivery. UPS overnight shipping required for product quality. Kansas City and Chicago routes use UPS Ground for lower rates.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Shake Shack: Premium fast-casual chain famous for its frozen custard-based concretes (the Shack Concrete was inspired by Ted Drewes-style custard). Comparable product format and walk-up window service, though with broader geographic footprint and stronger digital/marketing infrastructure.
• Graeter's: Fourth-generation, family-owned Cincinnati ice cream maker founded in 1870. Comparable because it is a multi-generational heritage ice cream/frozen dessert brand with retail shops, wholesale pints in grocery, and nationwide shipping, mirroring Ted Drewes' structure.
• Cold Stone Creamery: National franchise chain specializing in ice cream mixed with custom ingredients on a frozen stone. Comparable mix-in custom ice cream concept and walk-up retail format that competes for the same custom-frozen-dessert occasion.
• Culver's: National frozen custard and butterburger chain headquartered in Wisconsin. Directly comparable because frozen custard is its signature product, served in a similar walk-up/quick-service format with custom mix-ins, overlapping with Ted Drewes' core offering.
• Mitchell's Ice Cream: Family-owned San Francisco ice cream parlor operating since 1953 with retail shops and nationwide shipping. Comparable as a heritage, family-run ice cream shop that has built a multi-channel business (retail + shipping), similar to Ted Drewes' model.
• Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams: Premium craft ice cream brand with retail shops, wholesale pints in grocery, and nationwide shipping. Comparable premium positioning and multi-channel distribution model, though focused on ice cream rather than frozen custard specifically.
• Andy's Frozen Custard: Regional frozen custard chain concentrated in the Midwest, including St. Louis area locations. Directly competes in the same frozen custard category with walk-up window service, representing the closest geographic direct competitor to Ted Drewes' core product.

Broad incumbents

• Baskin-Robbins: Largest ice cream specialty chain in the world with broad flavor variety and walk-in shops. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the same ice cream/frozen dessert category, though Baskin's mass-market positioning differs from Ted Drewes' premium heritage focus.
• Dairy Queen (DQ): Largest soft-serve and frozen dessert franchise in the U.S. Comparable as a broad frozen dessert incumbent with walk-up windows and a wide menu, though DQ's product is soft-serve rather than true frozen custard and its scale far exceeds Ted Drewes'.
• Häagen-Dazs: Premium packaged ice cream brand with retail shops and grocery distribution. Comparable premium frozen dessert positioning and wholesale/grocery distribution model, though operates at far greater scale and lacks the local-heritage moat.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TedDrewes
• Instagraminstagram.com/teddrewes_frozencustard
• Xx.com/RealTedDrewes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ted-drewes-inc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ted Drewes