Wendy’s introduced the Frosty frozen dessert when its first restaurant opened in Columbus, Ohio, in 1969.
Dave Thomas founded Wendy’s and named the chain after his daughter Melinda Lou “Wendy” Thomas. The original menu emphasized square hamburgers, fresh toppings, French fries, and the Frosty, a thick frozen dairy dessert designed to accompany the meal.
The Frosty became one of Wendy’s signature products. Its texture is thicker than a conventional milkshake but softer than hard ice cream, which has helped make it recognizable across the chain’s international menu.
People sometimes confuse the Frosty with Dairy Queen’s Blizzard because both are frozen fast-food desserts. They are different branded products from different restaurant companies. Wendy’s introduced the Frosty at the chain’s beginning, rather than adding it decades later as a limited-time item.