A well-known fast-food chain is set to close 350 of its stores after being established in 1969. Wendy’s, which has a global presence with over 7,000 outlets, including more than 5,830 in the United States, will be parting ways with a portion of its locations.
The burger-chain has revealed plans to shut down approximately five to six percent of its stores by 2026. One recent closure occurred at 4003 Wilmington Pike in Kettering, Ohio, where a notice on the door confirmed the permanent shutdown. Another store in the Drayton area, the Moraine location, also closed within a four-month timeframe.
While specifics on other store closures have not been disclosed by Wendy’s, CEO Ken Cook mentioned in a fourth-quarter earnings call that the company aims to enhance profitability and franchisee economics by closing consistently underperforming restaurants under its Project Fresh initiative. The closure of around six percent of locations is expected to drive profitability and focus franchisees on high-potential outlets.
The fast-food chain witnessed a 5.5% decline in global system-wide sales, primarily due to a 7.8% decrease in the US during the first quarter. Wendy’s first store was launched in Ohio in 1969 by its founder, Dave Thomas.