Mountain Mudd Espresso drive-thru specialty coffee, a brand of CHS, has been named to Entrepreneur’s 32nd annual Franchise 500 list.

The Franchise 500 reflects such factors as financial strength and stability, growth rate, size, number of years in business, startup costs, litigation, percentage of terminations and availability of financing.

“We are very honored to be recognized on the Franchise 500 list for the first time,” said Gary Braaten, president of Mountain Mudd operations for CHS, an energy, grains and foods company. “Our mission is to become the premier drive-through specialty coffee retailer globally, and we are strategically pursuing continued growth in the U.S. and abroad, so we look forward to achieving a higher ranking in the future.”

Mountain Mudd ranks as  No. 470 in the 2011 Franchise 500, which reflects Mountain Mudd’s addition of six foreign franchises since 2008.

Because Mountain Mudd offers economical, everyday indulgences, it fits a trend shaping the franchising outlook. “Belt tightening also has sparked a new, smarter focus on giving consumers what they crave: affordable products and services they can’t live without, whether that’s a value meal for seniors or a luxury massage for less,” according to Entrepreneur’s January 2011 issue.