The Wendy’s Company (NASDAQ: WEN) is planning to close hundreds of its US-based fast-food eateries to help steady the company’s financial strength.
In an earnings call on Friday with financial analysts, Interim CEO Ken Cook said a “mid-single-digit percentage” of the company’s roughly approximately 6,000 US locations could be closed. While not providing a specific number, industry observers suggest that between 200 to 350 restaurants could be shuttered.
Cook stated the impacted locations were “consistently underperforming” and their closures would start before the end of this year and continue into 2026. He did not provide a list of which locations would be closed.
“These actions will strengthen the system and enable franchisees to invest more capital and resources in their remaining restaurants,” Cook said. “Closures of underperforming units are expected to boost sales and profitability at nearby locations.”
This is the second time in a year that Wendy’s began closing scores of restaurants. Last November, the company announced it was closing 140 eateries in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Photo courtesy of Wendy’s
