Editing Culver's

{{Short description|Restaurant chain in the United States}}
{{about|the restaurant chain|other uses|Culver (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox company
| trade_name = Culver's
| name = Culver Franchising System, LLC
| logo = Culver's logo.svg
| logo_caption = 
| image = Culver's headquarters.jpg
| image_size = 
| image_alt = 
| image_caption = Headquarters in [[Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin]]
| type = [[Private company|Private]]
| industry = [[Fast food restaurant]]s [[Franchising]]
| foundation = {{start date and age|1984|07|18}} in [[Sauk City, Wisconsin]]
| founders = {{ubl|[[Craig Culver]]|Lea Culver|George Culver|Ruth Culver}}
| owner = Culver family
| num_employees = 25,000<ref>{{cite web|title=Culver's Fact Sheet|url=http://culvers-bece73af.s3.amazonaws.com/media-documents/Culvers-MediaKit-fact.pdf|publisher=Culver's Public Relations and Communications Department|access-date=March 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402110444/http://culvers-bece73af.s3.amazonaws.com/media-documents/Culvers-MediaKit-fact.pdf|archive-date=April 2, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| location = [[Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin]], United States
| num_locations = 1,000
| num_locations_year = April 2025
| revenue = {{profit}} $3.2 billion
| area_served = 26 U.S. states, mainly in the [[Midwest]]
| key_people = {{ubl|Julie Fussner ([[CEO]])|Craig Culver ([[chairperson]])}}
| products = {{ubl|[[Hamburger]]s|[[Frozen custard]]|[[Milkshakes]]|[[Cheese curds]]|[[Chicken sandwich]]es|[[Fish (food)|Fish]]|[[French fries]]|[[Salads]]}}
| website = {{Official website}}
}}

'''Culver Franchising System, LLC''', doing business as '''Culver's''', is an American [[fast-casual]] [[Chain store|restaurant chain]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bridges |first=C. A. |title=ButterBurgers, cheese curds, frozen custard and more: 10 things to know about Culver's |url=https://www.jacksonville.com/story/entertainment/dining/2021/05/10/culvers-butterburgers-locations-things-know-burger-chain-wisconsin-custard-root-beer-cheese-curds/5020189001/ |access-date=May 26, 2024 |newspaper=The Florida Times-Union |language=en-US}}</ref> The company was founded in 1984 by George, Ruth, [[Craig Culver|Craig]], and Lea Culver. The first location opened in [[Sauk City, Wisconsin]], on July 18, 1984, under the name "Culver's Frozen Custard and ButterBurgers." The privately held company is headquartered in [[Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin]]. The chain operates primarily in the [[Midwestern United States]], and has a total of 1,000 restaurants in 26 states<ref name="Locator">{{cite web |title=View All Locations |url=https://www.culvers.com/locator/view-all-locations |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830184426/http://www.culvers.com:80/locator/view-all-locations/ |archive-date=August 30, 2012 |access-date=October 25, 2023 |website=Culver's}}</ref> {{As of|2025|4||df=US|lc=y|post=.}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Klein |first=Danny |date=December 17, 2024 |title=Culver's Celebrates Opening of 1,000th Restaurant |url=https://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/culvers-celebrates-opening-of-1000th-restaurant/ |access-date=January 7, 2025 |magazine=QSR Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>   

==History==

Sauk City restaurateurs and husband and wife team George and Ruth Culver started their fast food careers as the owners of an [[A&W Restaurant|A&W]] on Phillips Boulevard ([[U.S. Route 12 in Wisconsin|U.S. Highway&nbsp;12]]) in 1961.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hngnews.com/sun_prairie_star/news/business/article_3292530a-6bc0-11e2-b536-0019bb30f31a.html |title=Craig Culver recalls Culver's origins|newspaper=[[Sun Prairie Star]] |date=January 31, 2013 |access-date=February 7, 2015}}</ref><ref name=chatter>{{cite news |last=Morrison |first=Sherman |date=January 20, 2015 |title=A Bit of Nostalgia: The Culver's Menu |url=http://www.franchisechatter.com/2015/01/20/a-bit-of-nostalgia-the-culvers-menu/ |website=Franchise Chatter |access-date=July 27, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jacksonville.com/story/entertainment/dining/2021/05/10/culvers-butterburgers-locations-things-know-burger-chain-wisconsin-custard-root-beer-cheese-curds/5020189001/|title=ButterBurgers, cheese curds, frozen custard and more: 10 things to know about Culver's|last=Bridges|first=C.|date=May 10, 2021|newspaper=[[The Florida Times-Union]]|access-date=December 19, 2023}}</ref> In 1968, they purchased a resort-styled restaurant at [[Devil's Lake (Wisconsin)|Devil's Lake]] called The Farm Kitchen. Their son, [[Craig Culver]], worked for a local [[McDonald's]] right out of college in 1973.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mashed.com/121017/untold-truth-culvers/|title=The Untold Truth of Culver's|last=Vigliotti|first=Jake|date=February 3, 2023|website=mashed|access-date=December 19, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wuwm.com/podcast/how-did-you-do-that/2019-08-27/how-craig-culver-built-a-thriving-restaurant-chain|title=How Craig Culver Built A Thriving Restaurant Chain|date=August 27, 2019|website=[[WUWM]]|access-date=December 19, 2023}}</ref> On July 18, 1984, George, Ruth, their son Craig, and his wife Lea opened the first Culver's Frozen Custard and ButterBurgers in Sauk City, Wisconsin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrn.com/companies/culver-s|title=Culver's|magazine=[[Nation's Restaurant News]]|access-date=December 19, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jsonline.com/story/money/business/2019/03/07/wisconsin-food-culvers-grows-700-stores-25-states/3090247002/|title=Wisconsin food: Culver's grows to 700 stores in 25 states|last=Taschler|first=Joe|date=March 7, 2019|newspaper=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]|access-date=December 19, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wisfarmer.com/story/news/2021/12/13/whats-scoop-origin-culvers-franchise/6469641001/|title=What's the scoop on the origin of the Culver's franchise|last=Allemand|first=Alyssa|date=December 13, 2021|newspaper=[[Wisconsin State Farmer]]|access-date=December 19, 2023}}</ref> Craig was [[CEO]] of Culver's from its inception until mid-2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.jsonline.com/business/curt-culver-to-retire-as-ceoof-restaurant-chain-b99442425z1-291396971.html/|title=Craig Culver to retire as CEO of restaurant chain|last=Romell|first=Rick|date=February 10, 2015|newspaper=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]|access-date=December 19, 2023}}</ref><ref name=culver>{{Cite web|url=https://madison.com/business/co-founder-of-culvers-to-retire-as-ceo-of-the-custard-and-butter-burger-chain/article_2b89ae67-f816-5b5b-acdf-641492d7c5d5.html|title=Co-founder of Culver's to retire as CEO of the custard|last=Adams|first=Barry|date=February 10, 2015|newspaper=[[Wisconsin State Journal]]|access-date=December 19, 2023}}</ref>
===Wisconsin===
[[File:Culver's restaurant.jpg|thumb|left|Culver's in [[Onalaska, Wisconsin]], featuring the traditional blue metal roof]]
[[File:Vice President Pence in WI (49391403211).jpg|thumb|A Culver's counter in [[Milwaukee]] (customer on the left is former [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Mike Pence]])]]

In 1988, the Culver family started franchising the restaurant.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Christians |first=Lindsay |date=2020-10-10 |title=How Culver's created its take on the veggie burger |url=https://captimes.com/entertainment/dining/how-culvers-created-its-take-on-the-veggie-burger/article_ab18d21a-f516-5c8a-8633-d175062ca36e.html |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=The Cap Times |language=en}}</ref> The family agreed, granting the franchisee a loose licensing agreement, charging no fees or royalties. Because the franchisee had invested very little of his own money, it was a simple matter for him to walk away a year later when he decided he no longer wanted to be in the restaurant business.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}

As a result of this experience, the Culver family established a set of standard franchising procedures that form the basis for those currently used by Culver Franchising System, Inc. Three years later, they tried again in [[Baraboo]], and business quickly doubled. Soon after, the increased recognition that the second store earned this small-town chain prompted expansion into the [[Middleton, Wisconsin|Middleton]], [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]] and [[Milwaukee–Racine–Waukesha Metropolitan Area|Milwaukee areas]].

===Midwest===
[[File:Culver's Drive-Thru Restaurant Menu.jpg|thumb|A car at the drive-thru order speaker and a [[Digital Outdoor Menu Board|DOMB]] at a Culver's restaurant in [[Shakopee, Minnesota]]]]
In 1993, Culver's was still a small, local chain, with only 14 restaurants across southern Wisconsin. Culver's first restaurants outside Wisconsin opened in [[Buffalo, Minnesota]], in September 1995, [[Roscoe, Illinois]], in December 1995, and [[Dubuque, Iowa]], in November 1997. In February 1998, the company opened the first Culver's outside the Midwest in Texas.

===Beyond the Midwest===

[[File:Culvers stores by state.svg|thumb|250 px|Number of Culver's stores per state, as of February 2023<ref name="Locator" />]]

[[File:Grand Junction, CO Restaurant.jpg|thumb|250x250px|A Culver's in [[Grand Junction, Colorado]]]]

The current franchising strategy is one of strategic expansion. The chain expanded into [[Colorado Springs, Colorado]], and [[Cheyenne, Wyoming]], in 2005, followed by an opening in [[Bowling Green, Kentucky]], in July 2006. Culver's shifted its attention to developing markets beyond the Midwest.

The Metro-98 prototype, developed in 2006 and first constructed in [[Fort Dodge, Iowa]], was much more compact than the traditional 120-seat format commonly built through much of Culver's expansion. While the Metro-98 has less seating to offer guests, it also reduced the amount of land needed for construction by around 20%.<ref>{{cite news|title=New design to save Culver's up to $150,000 per store|url=http://www.qsrweb.com/news/new-design-to-save-culvers-up-to-150000-per-store/ |access-date=March 23, 2015|website=QSR Web|date=April 13, 2006}}</ref>

In 2008, Culver's expanded to the [[Phoenix metropolitan area]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Ducey|first=Lynn|title=Smash hit: Gourmet burger places find meaty market in the Valley|newspaper=[[Phoenix Business Journal]]|date=February 24, 2012}}</ref> 

In 2011, Culver's expanded into Utah, when Kristin and Tom Davis of Wisconsin relocated to Utah and opened a 100-seat Culver's franchise in [[Midvale, Utah|Midvale]]. The couple signed a development agreement for four locations in the southern half of [[Salt Lake County]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Rattle|first1=Barbara |title=400-unit restaurant chain to make Utah debut in Midvale |journal=Enterprise/Salt Lake City |date=July 2010|volume=40|issue=3|page=1}}</ref>

At the end of 2011, 445 Culver's restaurants were open in 19 states. Culver's also opened in South Carolina in 2012; Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/24227547/former-college-football-coaches-put-skills-work-cannabis-chick-fil-a |title=From cannabis to Chick-fil-A, former CFB coaches find new careers |first=Adam |last=Rittenberg |newspaper=[[ESPN]] |date=July 30, 2018 |access-date=July 31, 2018}}</ref> in 2014; and North Carolina in 2015. On June 28, 2018, Culver's had announced that a location would be opening in Alabama. In January 2022, Culver's expanded into the state of Arkansas.

===Venture into casual dining===

Culver's Blue Spoon Cafe opened its first store in [[Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin]], in 2000 as a soup-sandwich-salad restaurant as Blue Spoon Creamery Cafe.<ref>{{cite news|last=Stevens|first=Shannon|title=Culver's to go upscale with Blue Spoon Creamery Cafe |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/1999/04/12/story1.html |url-access=subscription|access-date=March 23, 2015|work=[[Milwaukee Business Journal]] |date=April 11, 1999}}</ref> The name Blue Spoon comes from the color of the spoons used at the Culver's fast food restaurants. A second store in [[Middleton, Wisconsin]], was open for two years but closed in August 2010.<ref>{{cite news|last=Stocker|first=Michelle|title=Middleton's Blue Spoon Cafe Closes |url=http://host.madison.com/entertainment/dining/restaurants/middleton-s-blue-spoon-caf-closes/article_24c92b30-659d-5f76-8b35-f7fb0e11fd5a.html |url-access=subscription|access-date=March 23, 2015|publisher=[[Wisconsin State Journal]]|date=August 26, 2010}}</ref> The Prairie du Sac location closed in May 2020 during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fritz |first=Brock |date=May 6, 2020 |title=Culver's-owned Blue Spoon Café closes permanently in Prairie du Sac amid COVID-19 pandemic|url=https://madison.com/entertainment/dining/restaurants/culvers-owned-blue-spoon-caf-closes-permanently-in-prairie-du-sac-amid-covid-19-pandemic/article_9725f35a-5a35-5492-bd9c-278116a5434f.html |url-access=subscription|access-date=October 16, 2020 |website=[[Wisconsin State Journal]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=May 2, 2020 |title=Culver's: Pandemic leads to permanent closure of Blue Spoon Cafe |url=https://wkow.com/2020/05/02/culvers-pandemic-leads-to-permanent-closure-of-blue-spoon-cafe/ |access-date=October 16, 2020 |website=WKOW.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

===More recent developments===

In 2013, according to a survey by Franchise Business Review, "Culver Franchising System was rated No. 1 in franchisee satisfaction among restaurant franchises."<ref name=culver/>

On June 15, 2015, Phil Keiser became the second CEO of the franchise, until his death in October 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lamoreaux |first=Kim |date=February 25, 2015 |title=Keiser focused on brand as new Culver's CEO |url=https://wiscnews.com/keiser-focused-on-brand-as-new-culvers-ceo/article_e85209b6-ce51-572d-b6b8-83e2a29a4717.html |access-date=December 19, 2023 |website=[[WISC-TV]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Romeo |first=Peter |date=October 17, 2016 |title=Culvers' CEO Phil Keiser dies |url=https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/culvers-ceo-phil-keiser-dies |access-date=December 19, 2023 |website=[[Restaurant Business]]}}</ref> On January 1, 2017, Joe Koss became the third CEO of Culver's, until his retirement at the end of 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maze |first=Jonathan |date=November 29, 2016 |title=Culver's names company veteran to CEO post |url=https://www.nrn.com/people/culvers-names-new-ceo |access-date=December 19, 2023 |magazine=[[Nation's Restaurant News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Thorn |first=Bret |date=September 18, 2020 |title=Culver Franchising System president and CEO Joe Koss to retire |url=https://www.nrn.com/quick-service/culver-franchising-system-president-and-ceo-joe-koss-retire-end-year |access-date=December 19, 2023 |magazine=[[Nation's Restaurant News]]}}</ref>

In October 2017, Culver's sold a minority share to [[Roark Capital Group]], a private equity firm based in Atlanta. The Culver family retains majority ownership.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Newman |first=Judy |date=October 14, 2017 |title=Atlanta investment firm scoops up Culver's stock |url=http://host.madison.com/wsj/business/atlanta-investment-firm-scoops-up-culver-s-stock/article_08a9e2ef-0071-5e8b-b121-254c4ea59b4c.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=December 19, 2023 |newspaper=[[Wisconsin State Journal]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lawder |first=Melanie |date=October 16, 2017 |title=Family-owned Culver's sells minority stake to Atlanta private equity firm |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2017/10/16/family-owned-culvers-sells-minority-stake-to.html |access-date=December 19, 2023 |newspaper=[[Milwaukee Business Journal]]}}</ref>

On March 29, 2021, Enrique "Rick" Silva became the fourth CEO of Culver's.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sims |first=Bob |date=February 26, 2021 |title=Culver's appoints Enrique 'Rick' Silva CEO |url=https://www.meatpoultry.com/articles/24593-culvers-appoints-enrique-rick-silva-ceo |access-date=December 19, 2023 |website=Meat + Poultry}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ruggless |first=Ron |date=February 25, 2021 |title=Culver's Franchising names Rick Silva CEO |url=https://www.nrn.com/quick-service/culvers-franchising-names-rick-silva-ceo |access-date=December 19, 2023 |website=[[Nation's Restaurant News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Danley |first=Sam |date=February 26, 2021 |title=Culver's names new CEO |url=https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/18041-culvers-names-new-ceo |access-date=December 19, 2023 |magazine=[[Food Business News]]}}</ref>

In 2024, Culver's celebrated its 40th anniversary and Governor [[Tony Evers]] officially declared July 18 "Culvers Day" in Wisconsin.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kirwan |first=Hope |date=July 18, 2024 |title=Culver's celebrates 40 years of business |url=https://www.wpr.org/news/culvers-celebrates-40-years |access-date=September 20, 2024 |website=[[Wisconsin Public Radio]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 2, 2024 |title=Culver's celebrates 40 years of business |url=https://www.businessnorth.com/kuws_wisconsin_public-radio/culver-s-celebrates-40-years-of-business/article_eeb4bcea-5104-11ef-ad80-b378cc20454a.html |access-date=September 20, 2024 |website=[[BusinessNorth]]}}</ref>

On April 28, 2025, due to the retirement of Rick Silva in February 2025, Julie Fussner was appointed as the fifth CEO of Culver's. She is the first female CEO of Culver's. She was previously the [[chief marketing officer]], and had been with the company since 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Chad |date=April 28, 2025 |title=Culver's appoints Julie Fussner as first female CEO |url=https://www.wxow.com/news/wisconsin-news/culvers-appoints-julie-fussner-as-first-female-ceo/article_c2c9bc02-76af-50b7-8563-8db2af4e8a02.html |access-date=May 1, 2025 |website=[[WXOW]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrn.com/quick-service/culver-s-names-julie-fussner-as-ceo|title=Culver's names Julie Fussner as CEO|last=Kelso|first=Alicia|date=April 28, 2025|magazine=[[Nation's Restaurant News]]|access-date=May 1, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/leadership/culvers-names-julie-fussner-ceo|title=Culver's names Julie Fussner CEO|last=Maze|first=Jonathan|date=April 28, 2025|magazine=[[Restaurant Business]]|access-date=May 1, 2025}}</ref>

==Menu==

[[File:Culver's Double Butterburger with Cheddar.jpg|left|thumb|Culver's Double Butterburger with Cheddar]]

Culver's menu comprises [[butter burger]]s, chicken sandwiches, fish, salads, french fries, and cheese curds. For dessert, the restaurant offers its [[frozen custard]], served in either a dish, cone, or blended into a [[Ted Drewes|concrete mixer]], malt, or shake.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nelson |first=Dustin |date=February 19, 2020 |title=Stop Ignoring the Best Regional Fast Food Chain in the Country |url=https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/culvers-menu-items-sides-butter-burger|access-date=September 9, 2021 |website=Thrillist |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-22 |title=Full Culver’s Menu – Updated Prices and Items |url=https://culvarsmenu.com |access-date=2025-05-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Culver's Nutrition |url=https://www.culvers.com/menu-and-nutrition |access-date=2025-05-22}}</ref>

On October 15, 2021, in celebration of National Cheese Curd Day, Culver's sold a limited-time product: the CurderBurger, consisting of a large cheese curd on top of a burger patty.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Flury|first=Jade|date=October 16, 2020|title=Culver's sells out of Curderburger|url=https://www.wsaw.com/2021/10/15/culvers-sell-out-curderburger/|access-date=October 25, 2020|website=WSAW|language=en}}</ref> On April 1, Culver's released an [[April Fools' joke]] showing a large fried [[cheese curd]] in a burger bun, naming it the CurderBurger.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Culver's Cheese Curd Burger Was an April Fool's Joke & Now It's Real|url=https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/culvers-cheese-curd-burger-curderburger-2021|access-date=September 30, 2021|website=Thrillist|date=September 29, 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Viviani|first=Nick|title=Culver's teases cheese curd lovers with an April Fool's CurderBurger|url=https://www.wsaw.com/2021/04/01/culvers-teases-cheese-curd-lovers-with-an-april-fools-curderburger/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930200612/https://www.wsaw.com/2021/04/01/culvers-teases-cheese-curd-lovers-with-an-april-fools-curderburger/|archive-date=September 30, 2021|access-date=September 30, 2021|website=www.wsaw.com|date=April 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Rob |date=April 2021 |title=Yeah, I Ate That: Be honest. You'd eat a Culver's Curderburger if it was real |url=https://madison.com/entertainment/dining/yeah-i-ate-that-be-honest-youd-eat-a-culvers-curderburger-if-it-was-real/article_a4eb7a33-4d11-5e20-9e78-82963409b7ad.html |url-access=subscription|access-date=October 1, 2021 |newspaper=[[Wisconsin State Journal]] |language=en}}</ref> Soon after the post was made, a [[change.org]] petition was created to make the burger a reality, gathering over 600 signatures.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Rob |date=September 29, 2021 |title=The Culver's Curderburger is real, and it's coming Oct. 15 |url=https://madison.com/entertainment/dining/the-culvers-curderburger-is-real-and-its-coming-oct-15/article_91d83f1b-58f4-5da8-b809-d4da90fa8f6f.html |url-access=subscription|access-date=September 30, 2021 |newspaper=[[Wisconsin State Journal]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Cheese Curd + Butterburger = Curderburger. And Yes, This Time It's Real.|url=https://volumeone.org/articles/2021/09/29/283863-cheese-curds-butterburgers-curderburgers-and|access-date=October 1, 2021|website=Volume One |date=September 29, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Each location only got a limited number of cheese curd patties, and all [[Madison, Wisconsin]], restaurants sold out before noon.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tornabene|first=Juliana|title=Culver's Curderburger sells out quickly across Madison 🧀🍔|url=https://www.nbc15.com/2021/10/14/culvers-curderburger-available-one-day-only-friday/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211014235740/https://www.nbc15.com/2021/10/14/culvers-curderburger-available-one-day-only-friday/|archive-date=October 14, 2021|access-date=October 15, 2021|website=NBC 15|date=October 14, 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Simon |first=Alexandra |date=October 15, 2021 |title=You'll have to act fast if you want to try Culver's CurderBurger |url=https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/culvers-curderburger-national-cheese-curd-day/89-30c2db26-3738-484a-820d-244853365f03 |url-status= |access-date=October 15, 2021 |website=KARE 11 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Sponsorships==

Culver's sponsors sports teams, including the [[Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference]] (WIAC), [[Wisconsin Badgers]], [[Minnesota Golden Gophers]], [[Madison Mallards]], [[Green Bay Packers]], [[American Family Insurance Championship]], Culver's Cup Hockey Tournament, Jeff Trickey QB Camps, Isthmus Bowl and Wisconsin Junior Boys & Girls Golf Championships.<ref>{{cite news |title=Burger Chain Puts In Order For More Sponsorships |url=http://www.sponsorship.com/iegsr/2009/03/09/Burger-Chain-Puts-In-Order-For-More-Sponsorships.aspx |access-date=May 10, 2019 |work=IEG Sponsorship Report |date=March 9, 2009}}</ref> Culver's also sponsors the WIAC baseball championship.<ref>{{cite web |title=2019 WIAC Baseball Championship (Presented by Culver's) |url=https://wiacsports.com/sports/2019/4/1/BB_0401190212.aspx |website=[[Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference]] |access-date=May 10, 2019}}</ref> In 2025, Culver's sponsored the movie [[Green and Gold]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spice |first=Linda |date=December 30, 2024 |title=Culver's backs 'Green and Gold' movie set for national release: Quick Bites |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2024/12/30/culvers-backs-farmer-packers-movie-green-gold.html |access-date=March 15, 2025 |newspaper=[[Milwaukee Business Journal]]}}</ref>

==Official mascots==

The official Culver's [[mascot]] is an anthropomorphic custard cone named Scoopie, featured in various [[advertisements]], community events, and [[fundraisers]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Kramer |first=McKenzie |date=July 1, 2013 |title=LifeSource and Culver's Mascot, Scoopie, Promote Summer Blood Drive |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/libertyville/community/chi-ugc-article-lifesource-and-culvers-mascot-scoopie-prom-2013-07-01-story.html |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |access-date=July 27, 2016}}</ref> Three new characters have been added: Curdis the Curd and Goldie the Curd in 2018 and Sundae the Turtle in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Introducing the Cutest Curd Nerd: Curdis |url=https://www.culvers.com/stories/food-cravings/introducing-the-cutest-curd-nerd-curdis |access-date=June 19, 2020 |website=Culver's |language=en-us |archive-date=June 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620053417/https://www.culvers.com/stories/food-cravings/introducing-the-cutest-curd-nerd-curdis |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Curd Is The Word|url=https://www.culvers.com/curdistheword/table-for-two-how-to-have-the-perfect-cheesy-date-night |access-date=June 19, 2020 |website=Culver's |language=en-us}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[List of frozen custard companies]]
* [[List of hamburger restaurants]]

==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==

* {{Official website}}

{{Commons category|Culver's}}

{{Fast-food chains of the United States}}

[[Category:Companies based in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Restaurants in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Economy of the Midwestern United States]]
[[Category:Family-owned companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Fast-food chains of the United States]]
[[Category:Regional restaurant chains in the United States]]
[[Category:Restaurants established in 1984]]
[[Category:Fast casual restaurants]]
[[Category:Hamburger restaurants]]
[[Category:Ice cream parlors in the United States]]
[[Category:Fast-food franchises]]
[[Category:Frozen custard]]
[[Category:Privately held companies based in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:1984 establishments in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Culver's]]
[[Category:Wisconsin culture]]