One of America's Biggest Fast Food Chains Is Closing Hundreds of Restaurants
As customers increasingly choose healthier meals and rising costs make fast food less appealing, several major chains are facing serious challenges. The downturn in the industry has affected even some of the biggest names in American fast food.
Over the past year, well-known brands such as Jack in the Box and Starbucks have closed hundreds of locations, while KFC, Del Taco, and Pizza Hut have all reported declines in sales. This trend follows a difficult 2024 for casual dining chains, many of which went bankrupt in rapid succession.
Wendy’s Joins the Wave of Closures
Now, Wendy’s has become the latest major brand to announce widespread closures. During the company’s Q3 earnings call, interim CEO Ken Cook reported that Wendy’s plans to shut down a "mid single-digit percentage" of its restaurants in the U.S., as cited by CNN.
“Wendy’s is looking to close a mid single-digit percentage of its total stores,” said Ken Cook, interim CEO of Wendy’s.
At the end of 2024, Wendy’s operated just over 5,900 locations nationwide. If Cook’s statement is applied to that total, roughly 300 stores could soon close. This follows a smaller contraction the previous year, when Wendy’s shut down 140 locations.
Future Plans and Outlook
Despite these closures, Cook emphasized that the company remains strong overall. He noted that only a limited number of underperforming restaurants have affected broader performance. Wendy’s also intends to modernize many of its outlets and introduce new technology aimed at boosting sales in struggling markets.
Author’s Summary: Wendy’s plans to close about 300 U.S. locations amid industry struggles, focusing on efficiency, modernization, and technology upgrades to sustain long-term growth.