Wendy’s is set to close hundreds of locations across the United States.
According to CNN, Ken Cook, interim CEO for the fast-food chain, announced Friday that a “mid single-digit percentage” of Wendy’s approximately 6,000 US locations could close, which equals about 200 to 350 restaurants.
The closures will begin this year and continue through 2026, but specific locations were not disclosed. Cook told CNN the locations are “consistently underperforming” and dragging down the chain’s overall performance.
Wendy’s closed 140 restaurants nationwide and at least 12 in Michigan in December 2024.
“These actions will strengthen the system and enable franchisees to invest more capital and resources in their remaining restaurants,” he said. “Closures of underperforming units are expected to boost sales and profitability at nearby locations.”
Wendy’s reported Friday that U.S. same-store sales declined 4.7% primarily due to commodity inflation, a decline in traffic, and labor rate inflation.
Rivals McDonald’s, Burger King and Shake Shack all posted positive earnings as customers gravitated toward their renewed effort to offering more affordable deals, according to CNN.
Despite the challenges, Cook remains optimistic.
A renewed focus on execution resulted in the successful launch of our new chicken tenders,” he said. We also launched Project Fresh, a comprehensive turnaround plan structured around brand revitalization, operational excellence, system optimization and capital allocation.”
“We are acting with urgency to execute the operational and brand initiatives to drive AUV growth in the U.S., creating value for our franchisees and shareholders.”
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
