Wendy’s Announces Plans to Close Hundreds of Restaurants
Wendy’s is set to close a significant number of its restaurants across the United States. The chain's interim CEO revealed that the closures will affect approximately 200 to 350 locations out of the roughly 6,000 restaurants nationwide.
Reason for Closures
The CEO explained that these closures target “consistently underperforming” outlets, which negatively impact Wendy’s overall business results. This decision aims to improve the chain's performance by eliminating less profitable stores.
Timeline and Impact
- The closures are scheduled to begin soon and will continue throughout the next year.
- No specific list of affected locations has been released.
Previous Closure and Sales Trends
This move follows a similar announcement a year ago when Wendy’s closed 140 restaurants for comparable reasons. Most recently, Wendy’s reported a nearly 5% decline in quarterly sales, while competitors like McDonald’s and Burger King recorded positive earnings during the same period.
“These are ‘consistently underperforming’ locations that are dragging down the chain’s overall performance,” said the interim CEO.
Wendy’s strategy reflects ongoing challenges in the fast-food industry, with an emphasis on refining their operational footprint to boost profitability.
Summary: Wendy’s plans to close 200–350 underperforming U.S. restaurants over the next year to address declining sales and strengthen overall performance.