Wendy's

File:Dave Thomas 1998.jpg, the founder of Wendy's, in 1998]]

File:First Wendy's.jpg, on its last day of operation (2007)]]

Wendy's hamburgers are based on those of Kewpee Hamburgers in Dave Thomas's home town, Kalamazoo, Michigan; Kewpee sold square hamburgers and thick malt shakes. Thomas founded Wendy's in Columbus, Ohio, in 1969, selling square patties with corners that stuck out of the circular bun, giving the impression of plentiful meat.{{cite web|last1=Taylor|first1=Kate|title=Here's why Wendy's Burgers are Square|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/why-are-wendys-burgers-square-2016-9|website=Business Insider|access-date=September 14, 2016|archive-date=March 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303174228/https://www.businessinsider.com/why-are-wendys-burgers-square-2016-9|url-status=live}} The Columbus location later added a Tim Hortons. It was closed on March 2, 2007, after 38 years of business, due to declining sales.{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2008/12/22/story1.html|title=Fast food dies slow death downtown|last=Eaton|first=Dan|date=December 19, 2008|access-date=March 8, 2009|archive-date=August 29, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090829005932/http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2008/12/22/story1.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web |date=April 30, 2010 |title=Catholic Foundation opens new HQ at old Wendy's |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2010/04/26/daily38.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103055401/http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2010/04/26/daily38.html |archive-date=November 3, 2012 |access-date=November 19, 2010 |work=Business First}} Basketball star John Havlicek, an Ohio State University alumnus, was one of Thomas's earliest investors, which allowed him to retire comfortably.{{cite web |last=Powers |first=John |author-link=John Powers (journalist) |date=April 25, 2019 |title=John Havlicek, one of the greatest Celtics ever, dies at 79 – The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/obituaries/2019/04/25/john-havlicek-one-greatest-celtics-ever-dies/Dwh59K8YIZO9PZ0b3lMQ7J/story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802085839/https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/obituaries/2019/04/25/john-havlicek-one-greatest-celtics-ever-dies/Dwh59K8YIZO9PZ0b3lMQ7J/story.html |archive-date=August 2, 2022 |access-date=January 2, 2020 |website=The Boston Globe}}

Thomas named the restaurant after his fourth child Melinda Lou "Wendy" Thomas.{{cite web|url=http://www.kewpee.com/davethomas.php |title=Wendy's Founder, Dave Thomas, and the Kalamazoo Kewpee |access-date=June 4, 2008 |date=January 8, 2002 |publisher=WWMT |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701065215/http://www.kewpee.com/davethomas.php |archive-date=July 1, 2007 }} Photographs of her were on display at the original Wendy's restaurant until it closed.{{Citation needed|date=April 2018}} Thomas wrote that he regretted naming the restaurant after his daughter because once it became a fast food empire she "lost some of her privacy" with many people assuming she was the official company spokesperson.{{cite web |title=Why Wendy's founder named his burger empire after his daughter — and came to regret it |author=Nathaniel Meyersohn |website=CNN Business |date=June 11, 2022 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/11/business/wendys-founder-dave-thomas-daughter/index.html |access-date=June 11, 2022 |archive-date=June 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220611153138/https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/11/business/wendys-founder-dave-thomas-daughter/index.html |url-status=live }} In August 1972, the first Wendy's franchisee, L.S. Hartzog, signed an agreement for Indianapolis, Indiana.{{cite news |url=http://fastfoodgta.tripod.com/wendystimeline.htm |title=Fastfood Restaurants of the GTA – Wendy's Timeline |access-date=November 2, 2015 |archive-date=September 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930075225/http://fastfoodgta.tripod.com/wendystimeline.htm |url-status=live }} Also in 1972 Wendy's broadcast its first TV commercials, locally in Ohio, portraying an animated Wendy and dancing hamburgers.

The first Canadian restaurant opened in Hamilton, Ontario, in 1976.{{cite web |last=Ko |first=Tansy |date=July 8, 2016 |title=First Wendy's in Canada re-opens |url=http://www.chch.com/first-wendys-canada-re-opens/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160710150140/http://www.chch.com/first-wendys-canada-re-opens/ |archive-date=July 10, 2016 |access-date=July 10, 2016 |work=CHCH |publisher=Channel Zero}} In December 1976, Wendy's opened its 500th restaurant, located in Toronto. In March 1978, Wendy's opened its 1000th restaurant in Springfield, Tennessee.{{cite web |title=The Wendy's Story |url=https://www.wendys.com/wendys-story |website=wendy.com/wendys-story |publisher=Wendy's |access-date=September 30, 2020 |archive-date=May 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503025638/https://www.wendys.com/wendys-story |url-status=live }}

Wendy's founded the fried chicken chain Sisters Chicken & Biscuits in 1978 and sold it to its largest franchisee in 1987.{{cite web|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/wendy-s-international-inc-history/|title=History of Wendy's International, Inc. – FundingUniverse|access-date=May 30, 2015|archive-date=June 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150605102613/http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/wendy-s-international-inc-history/|url-status=live}} In the 1970s Wendy's opened in Australia, but by 1986 almost all of their Australian stores had been purchased by Hungry Jack's, the Australian franchisee of Burger King. On May 13, 2021, Wendy's opened a pop-up store in The Rocks in the Sydney central business district for a day.{{Cite web |last=Curran |first=Libby |date=May 13, 2021 |title=US Burger Chain Wendy's Is Handing Out Free Burgers and Desserts in The Rocks Today |url=https://concreteplayground.com/sydney/food-drink/us-burger-chain-wendys-is-handing-out-free-burgers-and-desserts-in-the-rocks-today |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210527114753/https://concreteplayground.com/sydney/food-drink/us-burger-chain-wendys-is-handing-out-free-burgers-and-desserts-in-the-rocks-today |archive-date=May 27, 2021 |access-date=May 27, 2021 |work=Concrete Playground}} In 1979, the first European Wendy's opened in Munich, West Germany.{{cite web|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/wendy-s-international-inc-history/|title=Wendy's International, Inc. History|publisher=fundinguniverse.com|access-date=September 22, 2015|archive-date=September 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923163609/http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/wendy-s-international-inc-history/|url-status=live}} Wendy's entered the Asian market by opening its first restaurants in Japan in 1980, in Hong Kong in 1982, and in the Philippines and Singapore in 1983.{{cite news |last1=Kachi |first1=Hiroyuki |date=December 11, 2009 |title=Wendy's Exits Japan Amid Stiff Competition |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703522904574589342577248268 |url-status=live |access-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925090345/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703522904574589342577248268 |archive-date=September 25, 2015}}{{cite book |last= M. Hawes|first=Jon |date= 2015|title=Proceedings of the 1989 Academy of Marketing Science (AMS) Annual Conference|location= Akron, OH, USA|publisher= Springer International Publishing|page=164 |isbn=978-3-319-17055-8}}{{cite web |date=February 24, 2011 |title=Wendy's/Arby's Group Announces Development Agreement with Wenphil Corporation |url=http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/02/23/idUS250084+23-Feb-2011+BW20110223 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925112607/http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/02/23/idUS250084+23-Feb-2011+BW20110223 |archive-date=September 25, 2015 |access-date=September 24, 2015 |work=Reuters}}{{cite web|url=http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/16/wen-wendy%E2%80%99sarby%E2%80%99s-group-opens-store-in-singapore/23017|title=(WEN) Wendy's/Arby's Group Opens Store in Singapore|publisher=stockbloghub.com|access-date=September 24, 2015|archive-date=February 16, 2016|archive-url=https://archive.today/20160216050144/http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/16/wen-wendy%E2%80%99sarby%E2%80%99s-group-opens-store-in-singapore/23017|url-status=dead}} In 1984, Wendy's opened its first restaurant in South Korea.{{cite news|last1=Schuman |first1=Michael |last2=Gibson |first2=Richard |date=November 27, 1998 |title=Following Wendy's Exit, Koreans Munch on Winner's |url=http://www.wright.edu/~tdung/wendy_korea.htm |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |location=Seoul, South Korea |agency=Reuters |access-date=September 23, 2015 |archive-date=September 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150917081756/http://www.wright.edu/~tdung/wendy_korea.htm |url-status=dead|via=Wright State University}}

File:Wendy's at Niagara Falls.jpg|left]]

The chain opened locations in West Germany in the 1980s in Mannheim, Heidelberg and Munich and other areas where the US maintained Army bases. When the troops were removed after German reunification in the early 1990s, these Wendy's stores were closed.

In response to a 1986 slowdown in the chain's performance, Wendy's took steps to ensure that stores met the required standards.{{cite web |title=Hoover's profile of Wendy's |url=http://www.answers.com/topic/wendy-s-international?cat=biz-fin |author=Hoovers.com |access-date=June 29, 2007 |publisher=Answers.com |archive-date=July 15, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715192437/http://www.answers.com/topic/wendy-s-international?cat=biz-fin |url-status=live }} Wendy's closed all its outlets in Hong Kong in 1986 and in Singapore in the following year.

File:Wendy's restaurant in Bentonville, Arkansas.jpg, featuring the new corporate design and logo]]

From 1988 to 1990, Wendy's expanded operations globally to Mexico, New Zealand, Indonesia, Greece, Turkey, Guatemala, as well as the U.S. Naval Base in Naples, Italy.{{cite web|url=http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2008/04/24/timeline.html|title=Wendy's timeline|publisher=The Columbus Dispatch|access-date=September 23, 2015|archive-date=September 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925051626/http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2008/04/24/timeline.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite press release |url= http://www.nku.edu/~fordmw/ProjectWendys.doc |last= Williams |first= Zach |date= December 4, 2002 |title= Wendy's An Operations Management Analysis |access-date= September 23, 2015 |archive-date= October 9, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101009035417/http://www.nku.edu/~fordmw/ProjectWendys.doc |url-status= dead }} In 1988, Wendy's expanded its bar to a full-blown buffet called the Superbar for $2.99; while popular it was difficult to maintain and was discontinued in 1998.{{cite news|last=Velasco|first=Schuyler|title=10 fast foods that have disappeared: 2. Superbar|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/2013/0821/10-fast-foods-that-have-disappeared/Superbar|access-date=March 11, 2014|newspaper=The Christian Science Monitor|date=August 21, 2013|archive-date=March 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310042517/http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/2013/0821/10-fast-foods-that-have-disappeared/Superbar|url-status=live}}

In 1989, Wendy's opened its first restaurant in Greece at Syntagma Square, Athens, the first foreign fast-food chain in the country. After opening 12 restaurants in 3 cities, the company abandoned the Greek market in 2002 due to differences with the local franchisee, although it was a very successful and profitable business at the time.{{cite web |date=December 1, 1996 |title=Το καρέ των ταχυφαγάδικων |trans-title=The frame of fast food restaurants |url=http://www.tovima.gr/finance/article/?aid=84213 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923170847/http://www.tovima.gr/finance/article/?aid=84213 |archive-date=September 23, 2015 |access-date=September 22, 2015 |publisher=tovima |language=el}}{{cite web |last=Christodoulou |first=Kostis |date=September 26, 2015 |title=Γιώργος Νίκας: Έφερε τα Wendy's στην Ελλάδα, πάει τον γύρο στην Αμερική |trans-title=Giorgos Nikas: He brought Wendy's to Greece, he is doing the rounds in America |url=https://www.news247.gr/weekend-edition/giorgos-nikas-efere-ta-wendy-s-stin-ellada-paei-ton-gyro-stin-ameriki.6374572.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511070304/https://www.news247.gr/weekend-edition/giorgos-nikas-efere-ta-wendy-s-stin-ellada-paei-ton-gyro-stin-ameriki.6374572.html |archive-date=May 11, 2021 |access-date=May 11, 2021 |publisher=news247.gr |language=el}} In 1996, the chain expanded in Argentina by opening 18 local restaurants. However, all of them closed only four years later due to the economic crisis in the country.{{cite web |date=November 29, 2000 |title=Wendy's se fue de la Argentina |trans-title=Wendy's left Argentina |url=http://edant.clarin.com/diario/2000/11/29/e-01901.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925090634/http://edant.clarin.com/diario/2000/11/29/e-01901.htm |archive-date=September 25, 2015 |access-date=September 22, 2015 |publisher=clarin.com |language=Spanish}} In 1998, Wendy's pulled out of South Korea by closing all its 15 restaurants and in 2000 exited from the UK, Argentina, and Hong Kong.{{cite web|url=https://www.thecaterer.com/articles/28286/wendy39s-uk-pull-out-nets-1631.5m|title=Wendy's UK pull-out nets £1.5m|publisher=the caterer|access-date=September 22, 2015|archive-date=September 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923173427/https://www.thecaterer.com/articles/28286/wendy39s-uk-pull-out-nets-1631.5m|url-status=dead}}

In 2001, Wendy's created Vermont-based Scioto Insurance Company to furnish insurance to Wendy's and other affiliates.{{cite web | url=https://www.captiveinsurancetimes.com/captiveinsurancenews/reporterarticle.php?article_id=3111&navigationaction=location&location=Chicago&page=12&newssection=industry | title=Illinois knows Wendy's captive is real }}{{cite web | url=https://www.winston.com/a/web/1178/1178.html | title=Winston & Strawn LLP:Jurisdictional Split on Taxes Based on In-State Trademarks }} Scioto owns a subsidiary, Oldemark LLC, which holds Wendy's intellectual property and licenses it back to Wendy's for royalties.{{Cite web | url=https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/us/Documents/Tax/us-tax-mts-alert-illinois-captive-insurance-company-102413.pdf | title=Illinois Appellate Court Rules in Favor of Captive Insurance Company | website=www2.deloitte.com | publisher=Deloitte}}

Garden Sensations salads were added in 2002.{{cite news|url=http://www.news-record.com/content/2010/07/09/article/wendys_launches_new_salad_line_tests_breakfast|title=Wendy's launches new salad line, tests breakfast|work=News & Record|agency=Associated Press|date=July 9, 2010|access-date=July 9, 2010|archive-date=July 12, 2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20100712065925/http://www.news-record.com/content/2010/07/09/article/wendys_launches_new_salad_line_tests_breakfast|url-status=live}} Wendy's signed a franchise agreement to re-enter the Singapore market in 2009, though that agreement was short-lived; in April 2015, Wendy's once again ceased operation in the country and closed all the restaurants.{{cite web|title=Wendy's closure in April 2015|date=May 2, 2015|url=http://popspoken.com/issues/2015/05/reactions-to-wendys-singapore-closure-drop-in-standards-caused-food-poisoning|access-date=July 31, 2015|archive-date=July 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723184716/http://popspoken.com/issues/2015/05/reactions-to-wendys-singapore-closure-drop-in-standards-caused-food-poisoning|url-status=live}}

On September 29, 2008, the company merged with Triarc Companies Inc., the publicly traded parent company of Arby's;{{cite news |title=UPDATE 2-Triarc completes $2.2 bln Wendy's acquisition |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/wendysarbys/update-2-triarc-completes-2-2-bln-wendys-acquisition-idUSN2933051520080929 |access-date=October 15, 2023 |work=Reuters |date=September 29, 2008 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Trevor |title=Triarc, Wendy's Seal Merger Deal |url=https://www.globalatlanta.com/triarc-wendys-seal-merger-deal/ |access-date=October 15, 2023 |work=Global Atlanta |date=September 30, 2008}} Wendy's headquarters remained in Dublin. Triarc then became known as Wendy's/Arby's Group, and later as the Wendy's Company following the sale of Arby's to Roark Capital Group.

In 2011, Wendy's returned to Japan and Argentina announcing a development agreement for 50 restaurants in the country.{{cite web |last1=Nakamoto |first1=Michiyo |date=December 28, 2011 |title=Wendy's re-enters Japanese market |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/f5c37efc-313e-11e1-aeec-00144feabdc0.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20151223191207/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f5c37efc-313e-11e1-aeec-00144feabdc0.html%23axzz3vAly2wXO |archive-date=December 23, 2015 |access-date=September 24, 2015 |work=Financial Times}}{{cite web|title=Wendy's/Arby's International Announces Argentina Development Agreement|url=http://ir.wendys.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=67548&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1520912|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127002310/http://ir.wendys.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=67548&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1520912|archive-date=January 27, 2016|access-date=September 23, 2015|publisher=Wendy's/Arby's Group, Inc.}} It also entered the Russian market for the first time with plans to open 180 restaurants over a 10-year period. However, only three years later, in 2014, Wendy's closed all its restaurants in the country.{{cite web |last1=Shah |first1=Khushbu |title=Wendy's Is Closing All of its Locations in Russia |url=https://www.eater.com/2014/7/30/6179075/wendys-is-closing-all-of-its-locations-in-russia |website=eater.com |date=July 30, 2014 |publisher=Vox Media, LLC. |access-date=December 22, 2022 |archive-date=March 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325001525/https://www.eater.com/2014/7/30/6179075/wendys-is-closing-all-of-its-locations-in-russia |url-status=live }}

In 2013, Wendy's opened the first restaurant in Georgia and made a deal to open 25 restaurants in Georgia and the Republic of Azerbaijan.{{cite web |last=Perkins |first=Carina |date=April 10, 2012 |title=Wendy's makes moves in Eastern Europe |url=http://www.globalmeatnews.com/Industry-Markets/Wendy-s-makes-moves-in-Eastern-Europe |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515155414/http://www.globalmeatnews.com/Industry-Markets/Wendy-s-makes-moves-in-Eastern-Europe |archive-date=May 15, 2013 |access-date=September 23, 2015 |work=globalmeatnews.com}} In September 2014, several pork-based products were introduced to be on sale until early November. These included a standard pulled pork sandwich with slaw and three sauce options, a BBQ Pulled Pork Cheeseburger and cheese fries with pulled pork, cheddar cheese sauce, onions, and barbecue sauce.{{cite web |date=September 29, 2014 |title=Can Wendy's' Focus on New Pork Items Beat Rising Beef Costs? |url=http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/148727/can-wendys-focus-on-new-pork-items-beat-rising-beef-costs |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711174014/http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/148727/can-wendys-focus-on-new-pork-items-beat-rising-beef-costs |archive-date=July 11, 2015 |access-date=May 30, 2015 |work=Zacks Investment Research}} In May 2015, Wendy's announced they would be expanding into India, with its first outlet located in Gurgaon.{{cite web |date=May 6, 2015 |title=Wendys, Worlds Third Largest Burger Chain to Open Outlet in India |url=http://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/wendys-worlds-third-largest-burger-chain-to-open-outlet-in-gurgaon-india-760768 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518083153/http://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/wendys-worlds-third-largest-burger-chain-to-open-outlet-in-gurgaon-india-760768 |archive-date=May 18, 2015 |access-date=May 30, 2015 |work=NDTV Food}}

In September 2016, JAE Restaurant Group acquired 97 Wendy's restaurants throughout the South Florida region.{{Cite news | url=https://hospitalitytech.com/jae-restaurant-group-acquires-97-south-florida-wendys-restaurants | title=JAE Restaurant Group Acquires 97 South Florida Wendy's Restaurants | work=Hospitality Tech | date=September 26, 2016 | access-date=February 3, 2019 | archive-date=February 4, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204070137/https://hospitalitytech.com/jae-restaurant-group-acquires-97-south-florida-wendys-restaurants | url-status=live }} JAE Restaurant Group is one of the country's largest franchisee owners. The Group owns 177 Wendy's Restaurants.

Wendy's Co. has been looking to remodel existing stores and upgrade the curb appeal of its locations. They have been doing this by adding fireplaces, more seating options, adding WiFi and flat-screen TVs, and digital menus.

In 2017, the company sold 540 of its restaurants. The divestiture was the second step in a three-step action plan to improve the brand. Other steps include new openings and remodeling of existing stores. In 2015, the brand opened 80 new restaurants and remodeled 450 of its existing locations. The brand's goal is to remodel at least 60% of its North American locations by year-end 2020.{{Cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/02/22/wendys-lays-out-2020-sales-restaurant-goals.html | title=Wendy's lays out 2020 sales, restaurant goals | first=Dan | last=Eaton | work=American City Business Journals | date=February 22, 2018 | access-date=February 3, 2019 | archive-date=April 23, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423202637/https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/02/22/wendys-lays-out-2020-sales-restaurant-goals.html | url-status=live }}

In December 2017, Wendy's announced a partnership with DoorDash for food delivery in the U.S.{{cite news |last1=Locklear |first1=Mallory |title=Wendy's will deliver your next Baconator through DoorDash |url=https://www.engadget.com/2017-12-01-wendys-deliver-baconator-doordash.html |access-date=June 19, 2021 |work=Engadget |date=December 1, 2017 |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624203843/https://www.engadget.com/2017-12-01-wendys-deliver-baconator-doordash.html |url-status=live }}

In October 2019, Wendy's announced that it was returning to the UK market, which it had served from 1980 to 1986, then again from 1992 to 2000. The first of 20 planned restaurants was due to open in 2020 in Stoke-on-Trent,{{Cite news | url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink/american-burger-chain-wendys-open-3464122 | title=American burger chain Wendy's to open 20 diners in Britain next year – and Stoke-on-Trent could be on the hit list! | first=Hayley | last=Parker | work=Stoke Sentinel | date=October 26, 2019 | access-date=October 28, 2019 | archive-date=October 28, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028102316/https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink/american-burger-chain-wendys-open-3464122 | url-status=live }} but it was later announced that the first location would be Reading, Berkshire.{{Cite news | url=https://www.thecaterer.com/news/wendys-uk-restaurant-opening-reading | title=Wendy's on track to open first UK restaurant in 20 years | first=Sophie | last=Witts | work=The Caterer | date=October 12, 2020 | access-date=January 10, 2021 | archive-date=January 25, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125100942/https://www.thecaterer.com/news/wendys-uk-restaurant-opening-reading | url-status=live }} The Reading restaurant opened on June 2, 2021.{{Cite news |last=Perrin |first=Isabella |date=June 2, 2021 |title=Wendy's first UK restaurant opens in Reading today |work=Reading Chronicle |url=https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/19342562.wendys-opens-reading-today/ |access-date=June 2, 2021 |archive-date=June 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602085037/https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/19342562.wendys-opens-reading-today/ |url-status=live }} Wendy's would open its first drive-thru location in the UK in Colchester in July 2023.{{Cite news|url=https://www.essexlive.news/whats-on/food-drink/first-wendys-drive-thru-uk-8590265|title=First Wendy's drive-thru in UK opening in new £65m Essex leisure park|first=Arike|last=Idris|work=Essex Live|date=July 11, 2023|access-date=July 11, 2023}}

In January 2021, Wendy's announced that after the bankruptcy of franchisee NPC Quality Burgers Inc., half of NPC's outlets would be bought by Flynn Restaurant.{{Cite news|date=January 8, 2021|title=Flynn Restaurant to buy half of Wendy's burger joints operated by bankrupt NPC|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-wendy-npc-idUSKBN29C2DJ|access-date=January 8, 2021|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107180119/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-wendy-npc-idUSKBN29C2DJ|url-status=live}}

In 2023, Wendy's announced it would be returning to Australia, with hundreds of locations set to open across the country. The chain previously operated in Australia from the 1970s until it was closed in 1986. However, the US Burger giant has already run into a potential issue with the trademark to Wendy's name already owned by a different fast food outlet named Wendy's Milk Bar, which opened in 1979 and has been operating in the country for over 40 years.{{Cite news|author=Jessica Yun|date=March 13, 2023|title=US burger giant Wendy's is coming. Australians are taking the fight to them|language=en|work=The Age|url=https://www.theage.com.au/business/entrepreneurship/burger-wars-global-giant-to-disrupt-australian-fast-food-industry-20230308-p5cqg7.html|access-date=March 13, 2023|archive-date=March 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312192116/https://www.theage.com.au/business/entrepreneurship/burger-wars-global-giant-to-disrupt-australian-fast-food-industry-20230308-p5cqg7.html|url-status=live}} In January 2025, Wendy's opened its first store in Surfers Paradise.{{Cite web |last=Poposki |first=Claudia |date=January 14, 2025 |title=Cult US burger chain Wendy's opens its first store in Australia |url=https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/eat/cult-us-burger-chain-wendys-opens-its-first-store-in-australia/news-story/4898bffe82fd9477743cc9bba4113deb |access-date=January 14, 2025 |website=News.com.au}}

In July 2024, Wendy's announced that they had signed an agreement with franchisees in the Republic of Ireland and would begin opening restaurants there beginning in early 2025, with the agreement stipulating that 30 new restaurants would open across the country over the following 10 years.{{Cite news |date=July 11, 2024|url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/whats-on/food-drink-news/wendys-hamburger-chain-ireland-restaurants-33218661|title=US fast-food chain Wendy's set to launch in Ireland next year|newspaper=Irish Mirror }} A few days later they announced the first five restaurants in Romania, scheduled to open in 2025. The franchisor for Romania is Canadian company JKC Capital, which operates 61 Wendy's restaurants in Canada and plans to invest $200 million over the next decade.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wendys.com/blog/wendys-arrives-in-romania|title=It’s Official: Wendy’s® Arrives in Romania

|website=wendys.com|access-date=March 25, 2025}}{{Cite web |title=EXCLUSIV Planul gigantului Wendy's pentru România, prima ieșire în afara SUA după mulți ani. Se vine cu investiții de cel puțin 200 milioane dolari. Detalii despre primele restaurante |url=https://www.profit.ro/povesti-cu-profit/retail/exclusiv-planul-gigantului-wendy-s-pentru-romania-prima-iesire-in-afara-sua-dupa-multi-ani-se-vine-cu-investitii-de-cel-putin-200-milioane-dolari-detalii-despre-primele-restaurante-21669350 |access-date=August 15, 2024 |website=Profit.ro |language=ro}}

File:Wendy's Locations Around The World.png

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

• India (since 2015){{cite web|url=https://www.indianretailer.com/restaurant/news/wendy-s-opens-first-restaurant-in-india-to-add-three-more.n9125|title=Wendy's opens first restaurant in India, to add three more|website=IndianRetailer.com|date=May 6, 2015|access-date=November 13, 2024 }}
• Indonesia (since 1990; acquired by Trans Corp as of 2013)
• Japan (1980-2009, 2011-2016, since 2016; co-branded as Wendy's First Kitchen){{cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20111226005001/en/Wendy%E2%80%99s-Enters-Japan-with-Grand-Opening-of-Tokyo-Restaurant|title=Wendy's Enters Japan with Grand Opening of Tokyo Restaurant|date=December 26, 2011|access-date=November 15, 2024 }}
• Kazakhstan (since 2021){{cite web|url=https://www.irwendys.com/news/news-details/2021/The-Wendys-Company-Announces-New-Development-Agreements-in-the-Central-Asia-Region/default.aspx|title=The Wendy's Company Announces New Development Agreements in the Central Asia Region|publisher=Irwendys.com/|date=June 24, 2021|access-date=November 13, 2024}}
• Kuwait (since 2015){{cite web|url=https://kw.wendysme.com/pages/about-us|title=Wendy's Middle East|publisher=Kw.wendysme.com/|date=May 2010|access-date=November 13, 2024}}
• Philippines (since 1983){{cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/presentation/60176124/Wendy-s-Philippines|title=Wendy's Philippines|access-date=November 13, 2024}}
• Qatar (since 2018){{cite web|url=https://www.gulf-times.com/story/597713/wendys-qatar-receives-huge-crowds|title=Wendy's Qatar receives huge crowds|publisher=Gulf-times.com|date=June 28, 2018|access-date=November 13, 2024}}
• Saudi Arabia (1989-1993, since 2017){{cite web|url=https://www.argaam.com/en/article/articledetail/id/432355|title=US restaurant chain Wendy's plans Saudi expansion|publisher=Argaam.com|date=June 22, 2016|access-date=November 13, 2024}}
• United Arab Emirates (since 2010){{cite web|url=https://wendys-uae.myshopify.com/pages/about-us|title=ABOUT US - Wendys UAE|publisher=Wendys-uae.myshopify.com|access-date=November 13, 2024}}
• Uzbekistan (since 2019; first location in Central Asia){{cite web| url=https://londonlovesbusiness.com/yerkin-tatishevs-kusto-group-enters-expanding-uzbekistan-consumer-market-with-wendys-restaurant-franchise/|title=Yerkin Tatishev's Kusto Group enters expanding Uzbekistan consumer market with Wendy's restaurant franchise|publisher=Londonlovesbusiness.com|date=December 13, 2019|access-date=November 15, 2024}}{{cite web| title=Kusto brings Wendy's to Central Asia| date=July 6, 2019| url=https://yerkintatishev.com/2019/07/06/kusto-brings-wendys-to-central-asia/| access-date=January 10, 2021| archive-date=January 26, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126031216/https://yerkintatishev.com/2019/07/06/kusto-brings-wendys-to-central-asia/| url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=US trade mission to Tashkent comes amid growing investment |newspaper=Caravanserai |date=June 26, 2019 |url=https://central.asia-news.com/en_GB/articles/cnmi_ca/features/2019/06/26/feature-01 |access-date=January 10, 2021 |last1=Yeniseyev |first1=Maksim |archive-date=October 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020174345/https://central.asia-news.com/en_GB/articles/cnmi_ca/features/2019/06/26/feature-01 |url-status=live }}

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• Georgia (since 2013; first location in the Caucasus)
• Romania (since 2025)
• United Kingdom (1979-1986, 1988-2001, reopened in June 2021)

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• Aruba (since 1992){{cite web|url=https://www.wendys.aw/about/|title=About|website=Wendy's Aruba|year=2024|access-date=November 13, 2024 }}
• The Bahamas (since 1983){{cite news|url=https://www.tribune242.com/news/2014/oct/20/2m-flagship-wendys-restaurant-opens-its-doors/|title=$2m flagship Wendy's restaurant opens its doors|publisher=Ellington|newspaper=The Tribune, Bahamas|last=Maycock|first=Denise|year=2024|access-date=November 13, 2024 }}
• Canada (since 1976, first location outside the United States)
• Cayman Islands (since 1989){{cite web|url=https://www.caymangoodtaste.com/restaurants/wendys#:~:text=The%20first%20Wendy's%20in%20Cayman,Roberts%20International%20Airport%20Departure%20Lounge.|title=Wendy's - Fast Food|publisher=Caymangoodtaste.com|access-date=November 13, 2024 }}
• Curaçao (since 2024){{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/wendyscuracao/|title=Wendy's Curacao|publisher=Facebook.com/wendyscuracao/|access-date=November 13, 2024 }}
• Dominican Republic (since 2007){{cite web|website=DR1.com|url=https://dr1.com/forums/threads/wendys-back.56792/|title=Wendy's Back|date=June 26, 2007|access-date=November 13, 2024 }}
• El Salvador
• Guatemala (since 2017){{cite web|url=https://www.irwendys.com/news/news-details/2018/Wendys-Opens-500th-International-Restaurant/default.aspx|title=Wendy's Opens 500th International Restaurant|publisher=Irwendys.com|date=January 9, 2018

|access-date=November 13, 2024}}

• Honduras
• Jamaica (since 2007){{cite web|url=https://pripsjamaica.com/places/3063/restaurants/wendys#:~:text=Description%3A,the%20restaurant%20around%20the%20island.|title=Description: Wendy's was obtained in 2007|publisher=Pripsjamaica.com|access-date=November 13, 2024}}
• Mexico (since 2001){{cite web|url=https://www.wendys.com/en-ca/wendys-story|title=The Wendy's Story - 6,000th Wendy's Restaurant Opens

|publisher=Wendys.com|access-date=November 13, 2024}}

• Panama
• Puerto Rico (since 1978){{cite web|url=https://www.wendys.com/blog/whats-it-like-to-be-wendys-international-franchisee|title=What's It Like to Be a Wendy's International Franchisee?|publisher=Wendys.com|date=October 29, 2019|access-date=November 13, 2024}}
• Trinidad and Tobago (since 1978){{cite web|url=https://trinidadexpress.com/business/local/wendy-s-changes-franchisee/article_93be367a-2340-11ed-befd-3b4915c364ee.html|title=Wendy's changes franchisee|publisher=Trinidadexpress.com|date=August 23, 2022|access-date=November 13, 2024}}
• United States (since 1969)

{{div col end}}

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Guam (since 2012){{cite news|url=https://www.postguam.com/news/local/wendy-s-set-to-open-in-dededo/article_4ec36a4f-34e2-5dea-8eee-f2ba7d9fa4e7.html|title=Wendy's set to open in Dededo|newspaper=The Guam Daily Post|last=Losinio|first=Louell|date=October 3, 2012|access-date=November 13, 2024 }}
• New Zealand (since 1988){{cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/wendys-new-zealand-bought-by-us-giant-ending-west-auckland-familys-35-year-run/S5L2DPY4QNAOLEKWIRQQP7SKSM/|title=Wendy's New Zealand bought by US giant, ending West Auckland family's 35-year run|publisher=New Zealand Herald|date=May 21, 2024|access-date=November 13, 2024}}
• Australia (since 2025){{Cite web |date=January 15, 2025 |title=Wendy's opens in Australia |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/wendys-australia-launch-fast-food-giant-to-launch-200-stores-in-major-expansion-from-2025/8045a308-742f-4281-b398-9ff8a85cdd7e|website=Nine News}}

{{div col end}}

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Argentina (1996–2000, since 2011){{cite web|url=https://www.sorrelmw.com/2011/02/10/wendys/|title=Wendy's returns to Argentina|publisher=Sorrelmw.com|date=February 10, 2011|access-date=November 13, 2024 }}
• Ecuador (since 2013){{cite web|url=https://www.qsrweb.com/news/wendys-to-develop-20-restaurants-in-ecuador/|title=Wendy's to develop 20 restaurants in Ecuador|publisher=Qsrweb.com|date=March 19, 2013|access-date=November 13, 2024 }}
• Chile (since 2015)

{{div col end}}

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Brazil (2016–2019; possible return after 2025{{cite web|url=https://revistapegn.globo.com/franquias/noticia/2025/03/wendys-quer-retornar-ao-brasil-apos-saida-repentina-mas-com-nova-estrategia.ghtml|title=Wendy's quer retornar ao Brasil após saída repentina — mas com nova estratégia|date=March 26, 2025|access-date=April 7, 2025|language=pt}})
• Costa Rica (2005–2015)
• Germany (1979–1990)
• Greece (1989–2002)
• Hong Kong (1982–1986, then again in 1992–2000)
• Hungary (1994–2002)
• Israel (operated for a few years from 1987){{cite news|url=http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-351091|title=Wendy's Burger Chain Seeks Franchisee to Renew Activity in Israel|newspaper=Globes|date=July 21, 1996|first=Zehava|last=Dovrat|access-date=February 7, 2018|quote=Wendy's has already tried its luck in Israel. It entered activities in Israel nine years ago through the Blue Square supermarket chain, then managed by Benny Gaon. The chain was operated by the franchise method and reached six branches. [People] in the industry say that the chain failed due to managerial problems and a poor marketing plan. In addition, [Israelis] simply didn't like the product.|archive-date=February 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207122245/http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-351091|url-status=live}}
• Italy (1990–1996)
• Malaysia (2008–2019)
• Netherlands (1980–1986)
• Russia (2011–2014)
• Singapore (1982–1987, 2009–2015)
• South Africa{{cite web|url=https://whichfranchise.co.za/burgers-are-king-and-south-africans-are-licking-their-lips/|title=Burgers are King and South Africans are licking their lips!|date=November 14, 2012|access-date=April 6, 2019|archive-date=December 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223142053/https://whichfranchise.co.za/burgers-are-king-and-south-africans-are-licking-their-lips/|url-status=live}}
• South Korea (1984–1998)
• Spain (1980–2000), known from the 90s as Welcome.{{cite web|url=http://www.hamburguesasenmadrid.com/2012/11/que-paso-conwendys.html|title=¿Qué pasó con Wendy's?|access-date=February 15, 2014|author=|date=December 23, 2012|editor=Hamburguesas en Madrid|language=Spanish|archive-date=February 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140218070409/http://www.hamburguesasenmadrid.com/2012/11/que-paso-conwendys.html|url-status=live}}
• Switzerland (1981–1983){{cite web|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1981/0702/070206.html|title=Swiss burghers in pickle over US fast-food invasion|newspaper=The Christian Science Monitor|date=July 2, 1981|access-date=February 2, 2021|archive-date=February 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207074942/https://www.csmonitor.com/1981/0702/070206.html|url-status=live}}
• Taiwan
• Thailand (1990s)
• Turkey (1988–1990)
• Venezuela (1997–2021){{cite web|url=https://elestimulo.com/elinteres/empresas/2021-03-26/wendys-cierra-en-venezuela-no-fue-renovado-el-permiso-de-operacion/|title=Wendy's cierra en Venezuela|access-date=October 12, 2023|author=|date=March 26, 2021|editor=|language=Spanish|archive-date=|archive-url=}}

{{div col end}}

• Ireland (planned for 2025){{cite web |last1=Staines |first1=Michael |title=US burger chain Wendy's is coming to Ireland |url=https://www.newstalk.com/news/us-burger-chain-wendys-is-coming-to-ireland-1406153 |website=Newstalk |access-date=April 3, 2023 |language=en |date=November 28, 2022}}

File:Mall culture jakarta76.jpg, Indonesia, during a children's birthday party]]

Wendy's offers two different hamburger patties, a "Junior" {{convert|1.78|oz|g|adj=on}} patty and a "Single" {{convert|4|oz|g|adj=on}} patty. The 4-ounce patties are sold in single, double, and triple configurations, and the 1.78-ounce ones in single and double. The previous size of {{convert|2|oz|g}} per junior patty was reduced in 2007 to save money. The chain's patties are known for being square instead of round; as more square patties can fit onto a single grill over round.{{Cite web |last=Valinsky |first=Jordan |date=February 26, 2022 |title=The surprising reason why Wendy's burgers are square {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/26/business/wendys-square-burgers-explanation/index.html |access-date=August 25, 2023 |website=CNN |language=en}} Originally, Wendy's had only two kinds of chicken sandwiches, fried and grilled. The spicy chicken sandwich started out as a promotion. It was later put on the menu full-time in 1996 because of its popularity and its ease of preparation; it used the same condiments as the standard fried chicken sandwich.

The Frescata line of sandwiches also went from being promotional items to main menu items; after going through several revisions, the Turkey and Swiss and the Ham and Swiss were put on the menu full-time. They were discontinued in mid-December 2007. Occasionally, some Wendy's restaurants offer a fried fish sandwich.

In 1988, Wendy's was the first fast-food chain to create a single-price-point "value menu" where all items listed on that menu were priced exclusively at 99¢. That menu was modified in 2007, with prices ranging from 99¢ to $2.00.

Wendy's served breakfast beginning in 1985, but that endeavor proved unsuccessful.{{cite web|author=David Zuckerman|date=July 1, 1985|title=Wendy's enters breakfast arena; chain faces fierce competition|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_v19/ai_3842394/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708034534/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_v19/ai_3842394/|archive-date=July 8, 2012|access-date=July 1, 2007|publisher=Nation's Restaurant News}} In mid-2007, Wendy's started serving breakfast again in its U.S. and some Canadian locations.{{cite web|url=http://www.billingsgazette.com/newdex.php?display=rednews/2005/03/08/build/business/52-wendys.inc|title=Wendy's considers new breakfast menu|author=

|publisher=Billings Gazette|date=March 8, 2005|access-date=July 1, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006080316/http://www.billingsgazette.com/newdex.php?display=rednews%2F2005%2F03%2F08%2Fbuild%2Fbusiness%2F52-wendys.inc|archive-date=October 6, 2007}} While approximately 12 Wendy's restaurants in the U.S. and its territories had been serving breakfast since 2006, Wendy's did not have a company-wide breakfast offering until 2020.{{cite web|author=Sue Stock|date=April 7, 2006|title=Wendy's to try breakfast at three local stores|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/104/story/426227.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070125143442/http://www.newsobserver.com/104/story/426227.html |archive-date=January 25, 2007|access-date=July 1, 2007|publisher=The News & Observer}}

The 2007 breakfast menu is different from the ones featured in 1985 and is structured similarly to the lunch/dinner menu, with "value meals" and various sides like blended fruit. Menu items include several breakfast sandwiches served on biscuits, "frescuits", and Kaiser rolls, breakfast burritos, and side orders of hash browns, muffins, and cinnamon sticks.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailysouthtown.com/business/442923,261BIZ2.article |title=Wendy's joins scramble to lure morning diners |author=Cheryl V. Jackson |publisher=the Chicago Sun-Times |date=June 26, 2007 |access-date=July 1, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013164702/http://dailysouthtown.com/business/442923,261BIZ2.article |archive-date=October 13, 2007 |url-status=dead }} To avoid problems encountered with the 1985 breakfast, the 2007 menu was designed for ease of operation, lower cost, and reduced preparation time.

In January 2016, Wendy's announced a transition plan to serve only cage-free eggs by 2020 in all U.S. and Canadian locations that serve breakfast.{{cite web|last1=Quirk|first1=Mary Beth|title=Wendy's Pledges To Use Only Eggs From Cage-Free Hens By 2020 In North American Locations|url=http://consumerist.com/2016/01/04/wendys-pledges-to-use-only-eggs-from-cage-free-hens-by-2020-in-north-american-locations/|website=consumerist.com|date=January 4, 2016|access-date=January 4, 2016|archive-date=January 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104195138/http://consumerist.com/2016/01/04/wendys-pledges-to-use-only-eggs-from-cage-free-hens-by-2020-in-north-american-locations/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Settembre|first1=Jeanette|title=Wendy's is the latest fast-food chain to join the cage-free egg movement|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/eats/wendy-joins-cage-free-egg-movement-article-1.2485029|work=Daily News|date=January 4, 2016 |location=New York|access-date=January 4, 2016|archive-date=January 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106094407/http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/eats/wendy-joins-cage-free-egg-movement-article-1.2485029|url-status=live}}

In September 2019, Wendy's announced it would launch a nationwide breakfast menu in March 2020, including a breakfast version of its Baconator, a Frosty-inspired coffee drink, and a honey butter chicken biscuit.{{cite web|url=https://www.today.com/food/wendy-s-rolling-out-breakfast-1st-time-ever-check-out-t162214|title=Wendy's is rolling out a totally new breakfast menu — check it out|website=Today|date=September 10, 2019|access-date=February 16, 2020|archive-date=February 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215150141/https://www.today.com/food/wendy-s-rolling-out-breakfast-1st-time-ever-check-out-t162214|url-status=live}} That menu includes 19 items.{{Cite web|url=https://www.deseret.com/entertainment/2020/3/2/21161883/wendys-breakfast-menu-new-list-baconator-frostyccino-march-2-national-mcmuffin-day-mcdonalds|title=Here's everything on the new Wendy's breakfast menu|last=Mann|first=Court|date=March 2, 2020|website=Deseret News|language=en|access-date=March 4, 2020|archive-date=March 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303144535/https://www.deseret.com/entertainment/2020/3/2/21161883/wendys-breakfast-menu-new-list-baconator-frostyccino-march-2-national-mcmuffin-day-mcdonalds|url-status=live}} It began offering new a cinnamon roll-like baked good via a partnership with Cinnabon in February 2024, and this came on top of other recent additions like a breakfast burrito that resembled something from Taco Bell and or a sandwich similar to the McMuffin from McDonalds, as CNN reported.{{Cite web |last=Valinsky |first=Jordan |date=February 14, 2024 |title=Wendy's newest breakfast item is made by another fast-food chain {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/14/food/wendys-cinnabon-breakfast-menu/index.html |access-date=February 16, 2024 |website=CNN |language=en}}

In February 2024, the company announced a plan to explore dynamic pricing, or surge pricing, where the cost of menu items would change throughout the day depending on timing of purchases and restaurant activity, in early 2025. Similar moves have been attempted by AMC Entertainment and Uber. Despite not receiving much attention when first discussed on the company's earnings call, the reaction was largely negative. The company decided against the move later that month and emphasized discounts it offers customers.{{Cite news |last=Avila |first=Joseph De |title=Wendy's Makes It Clear After Backlash: No Surge Pricing |url=https://www.wsj.com/business/wendys-dynamic-pricing-backlash-46985ebf |access-date=February 28, 2024 |work=WSJ |language=en-US}}

File:A Wendy's Hamburgers outlet in Manila, Philippines.jpg, Philippines]]

• Baked potato – No other major fast food chain offers baked potatoes, which Wendy's offers with a variety of toppings. Baked potatoes were added to the menu in 1983 as a lower-fat alternative to French fries.{{cite news |last=Laliberte |first=Marissa |title=Why Wendy's Is One of {{as written|the th|e}} Few Fast-Food Chains with Baked Potatoes |newspaper=Reader's Digest |location= |pages= |language= |publisher= |date=March 21, 2022 |url=https://www.rd.com/article/wendys-baked-potatoes/ |access-date=September 19, 2022 |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920173328/https://www.rd.com/article/wendys-baked-potatoes/ |url-status=live }}
• Chili – Wendy's has offered chili since opening its first restaurant. Cooked hamburger patties that are not sold promptly are chopped up and used in the chili, which is considered a lower-calorie menu option.{{cite news | last =Tober | first =Janice | title =This Is Why Wendy's Chili Is So Delicious | newspaper =Mashed | location = | pages = | language = | publisher = | date =May 19, 2021 | url =https://www.mashed.com/156521/this-is-why-wendys-chili-is-so-delicious/ | access-date =September 19, 2022 | archive-date =September 20, 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20220920173722/https://www.mashed.com/156521/this-is-why-wendys-chili-is-so-delicious/ | url-status =live }}
• Frosty dessert – a frozen dairy dessert created by Thomas at his first restaurant by blending chocolate and vanilla ice cream, and intended to be thick enough to require a spoon to eat.{{cite book | last = Llanas | first = Sheila Griffin | author-link = | title = Dave Thomas: Wendy's Founder | publisher = Abdo Publishing | series = | volume = | edition = | date = 2014 | location = | pages = | language = | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=_hVFBAAAQBAJ&dq=wendy%27s+frosty&pg=PA19 | doi = | id = | isbn = 9781629686059 | quote = | access-date = October 23, 2022 | archive-date = March 18, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230318165308/https://books.google.com/books?id=_hVFBAAAQBAJ&dq=wendy%27s+frosty&pg=PA19 | url-status = live }}
• Dave's – In late 2011, Wendy's altered the recipe for their Single, Double, and Triple burgers, which had been staples on the menu for decades, to rerelease each as part of the new Dave's Hot 'N Juicy line. They were constructed from the same basic patty (and the words "Single", "Double", and "Triple" were retained at the end of the new names), but the patty was now thicker, and its square edges had been rounded off slightly. The cheese began to be stored at a warmer temperature, allowing it to melt more entirely over the patty, alterations were made to the bun, and the selection of produce (red onions replaced white onions), and the condiments now consisted of ketchup and mayonnaise rather than ketchup, mayonnaise, and mustard.{{cite web|url=http://aht.seriouseats.com/archives/2011/09/reality-check-wendys-new-hot-n-juicy-review.html/|title=Reality Check: Wendy's New Hot 'N Juicy|access-date=May 30, 2015|archive-date=May 31, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150531015807/http://aht.seriouseats.com/archives/2011/09/reality-check-wendys-new-hot-n-juicy-review.html/|url-status=live}} They were updated in 2016 and renamed as simply Dave's, now using bakery-style buns.
• Big Classic – A sandwich (no longer available in US stores) that directly competed with the Burger King Whopper. Mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup, and onions served on a Kaiser-style roll. A second version with bacon was available, called the Big Bacon Classic, which was replaced with the Bacon Deluxe in 2009 when the Applewood Smoked Bacon was introduced.
• Baconator – Single Baconator is one quarter-pound patty topped with mayonnaise, ketchup, three strips of bacon, and two slices of cheese; Double Baconator has mayonnaise, ketchup, six strips of bacon, two {{convert|1/4|lb|g}} patties, and three slices of American cheese; and the Triple Baconator (1360 Calories or kilocalories) is three quarter-pound patties with nine strips of bacon, four slices of cheese, ketchup, and mayonnaise.
• Bacon Mushroom Melt – is a beef hamburger featuring smoked bacon, portobello mushrooms and cheddar cheese sauce. It was first available in the early 1990s and was very popular in some countries across the world like Greece and Philippines.{{cite news|last=Paler|first=Kyla|date=October 6, 2016|title=The Bacon Mushroom Melt gets a holiday upgrade|url=https://www.spot.ph/eatdrink/the-latest-eat-drink/68013/wendys-christmas-bacon-ham-mushroom-melt-burgers-a00173-20161006|website=spot.ph|access-date=September 21, 2018|archive-date=September 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921200121/https://www.spot.ph/eatdrink/the-latest-eat-drink/68013/wendys-christmas-bacon-ham-mushroom-melt-burgers-a00173-20161006|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Χατζηιωάννου|first=Χρήστος|title=Φέρτε πίσω τα Wendy's. Ποια μάρμαρα του Παρθενώνα; Εδώ μαζεύουμε υπογραφές για να γυρίσει το Bacon Mushroom Melt.|url=https://www.oneman.gr/keimena/diaskedash/oneman_food/ferte-pisw-ta-wendy-s.1965170.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013152946/https://www.oneman.gr/keimena/diaskedash/oneman_food/ferte-pisw-ta-wendy-s.1965170.html|archive-date=October 13, 2012|publisher=oneman.gr|language=el}}{{cite web|title=Wendy's Bacon Mushroom Melt Television Commercial 1991| date=September 20, 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YDD3bAiOhs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/7YDD3bAiOhs |archive-date=December 15, 2021 |url-status=live|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} In later years in some countries it is referred to as the Baconator Mushroom Melt{{cite web|title=Baconator Mushroom Melt|url=https://www.wendys.co.nz/menu/item?id=66%2F|website=Wendys|access-date=September 21, 2018|archive-date=December 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223185802/https://www.wendys.co.nz/menu/item?id=66%2F|url-status=live}} or the Bacon Portabella Mushroom Melt with an extra slice of cheese.{{cite web|title=News: Wendy's – New Bacon Portabella Mushroom Melt|url=https://www.brandeating.com/2012/09/news-wendys-new-bacon-portabella.html|website=Brand Eating|access-date=September 21, 2018|archive-date=September 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921191237/https://www.brandeating.com/2012/09/news-wendys-new-bacon-portabella.html|url-status=live}}
• Ciabatta Bacon Cheeseburger – Introduced in January 2014, the Ciabatta Bacon Cheeseburger is made with a quarter-pound beef patty, aged Asiago cheese, thick-cut applewood smoked bacon, rosemary garlic aïoli, and roasted tomatoes.{{cite news |last=Thorn |first=Brett |date=January 23, 2014 |title=Wendy's introduces Ciabatta Bacon Cheeseburger |url=http://nrn.com/food-trends/wendys-introduces-ciabatta-bacon-cheeseburger |newspaper=Nation's Restaurant News |access-date=January 2, 2015 |archive-date=January 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102062442/http://nrn.com/food-trends/wendys-introduces-ciabatta-bacon-cheeseburger |url-status=live }}{{cite news |date=January 27, 2014 |title=Wendy's Unveils Mediterranean-Inspired Cheeseburger |url=http://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/wendy-s-unveils-mediterranean-inspired-cheeseburger |newspaper=QSR Magazine |access-date=January 2, 2015 |archive-date=January 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102044557/http://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/wendy-s-unveils-mediterranean-inspired-cheeseburger |url-status=live }} At launch, the sandwich was priced at $4.79 in the United States and was part of a strategy to market higher-priced menu items to help position Wendy's as a premium fast-food chain.{{cite news |last=Wong |first=Venessa |date=January 23, 2014 |title=Wendy's Next Expedition in Bread: Ciabatta |url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-01-23/wendys-next-expedition-in-bread-ciabatta |newspaper=Bloomberg BusinessWeek |access-date=January 2, 2015 |archive-date=January 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103025439/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-01-23/wendys-next-expedition-in-bread-ciabatta |url-status=dead }} Wendy's advertised the sandwich as a limited-time product that would be withdrawn in March 2014.{{cite news|last=Mary|first=Vanac|date=January 27, 2014|title=Meet Wendy's Ciabatta Bacon Cheeseburger|newspaper=Columbus Dispatch|location=Columbus, Ohio|url=http://www.dispatch.com/content/blogs/the-bottom-line/2014/01/wendys-bringing-bacon-cheeseburger-back-with-ciabatta-bun.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140203073454/http://www.dispatch.com/content/blogs/the-bottom-line/2014/01/wendys-bringing-bacon-cheeseburger-back-with-ciabatta-bun.html|archive-date=February 3, 2014|access-date=January 2, 2015}}{{cite news |last=Hugh |first=Robert |date=January 27, 2014 |title=Wendy's rolls out its Ciabatta Bacon Cheeseburger |url=http://www.masslive.com/dining/2014/01/wendys_introduces_the_ciabatta.html |newspaper=The Republican |location=Springfield, Mass. |access-date=January 2, 2015 |archive-date=January 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102045807/http://www.masslive.com/dining/2014/01/wendys_introduces_the_ciabatta.html |url-status=live }} According to the company, the sandwich has 670 calories.{{cite web|title=CIABATTA BACON CHEESEBURGER|url=http://www.wendys.com/en-us/hamburgers/ciabatta-bacon-cheeseburger|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140203073327/http://www.wendys.com/en-us/hamburgers/ciabatta-bacon-cheeseburger|archive-date=February 3, 2014|access-date=February 3, 2014|website=wendys.com|publisher=Wendy's}} The debut of the burger received positive reviews. Syndicated fast food columnist Ken Hoffman called the burger "another winner" and "worth the carbs",{{cite news |last=Hoffman |first=Ken |date=February 10, 2014 |title=Drive-thru review: Wendy's Ciabatta Bacon Cheeseburger brings new, exciting tastes to burgers |url=http://gazette.com/drive-thru-review-wendys-ciabatta-bacon-cheeseburger-brings-new-exciting-tastes-to-burgers/article/1514188 |newspaper=The Gazette |location=Colorado Springs, CO |access-date=January 2, 2015 |archive-date=January 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102052953/http://gazette.com/drive-thru-review-wendys-ciabatta-bacon-cheeseburger-brings-new-exciting-tastes-to-burgers/article/1514188 |url-status=live }} while the Phoenix New Times declared it was "one of the better burgers in the entire fast-food industry."{{cite web |url=http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/bella/2014/02/wendys-ciabatta-bacon-cheeseburger.php |title=Wendy's Ciabatta Bacon Cheeseburger Makes Drive-Thru (Almost) Upscale |last1=Grence |first1=JK |date=February 26, 2014 |website=Phoenix New Times |access-date=March 3, 2014 |archive-date=November 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141124080501/http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/bella/2014/02/wendys-ciabatta-bacon-cheeseburger.php |url-status=live }} Reviewers at the Sioux City Journal offered more mixed evaluations, with only two of four taste testers saying they would be likely to try the burger a second time.{{cite news |last=Horlyk |first=Earl |date=February 6, 2014 |title=Fast food taste test: Ciabatta Bacon Cheeseburger |url=http://siouxcityjournal.com/weekender/food/fast-food-taste-test-ciabatta-bacon-cheeseburger/article_ac1a93c8-d3b0-515d-9fca-c260c9e660e8.html |newspaper=Sioux City Journal |location=Sioux City, IA |access-date=January 2, 2015 |archive-date=February 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200209164405/https://siouxcityjournal.com/weekender/food/fast-food-taste-test-ciabatta-bacon-cheeseburger/article_ac1a93c8-d3b0-515d-9fca-c260c9e660e8.html |url-status=live }}
• Black bean burger – Wendy's and a number of major fast-food chains have been targeted for decades for meatless entrees, typically, meatless 'veggieburgers' – and Wendy's response is the black bean burger (still in 'beta' testing in Salt Lake City, Utah; Columbus, Ohio; and Columbia, South Carolina).{{cite web|title=Wendy's – Quality Is Our Recipe|url=https://www.wendys.com/en-us/black-bean-burger12|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328142607/https://www.wendys.com/en-us/black-bean-burger12|archive-date=March 28, 2016|access-date=March 2, 2017}} Its major ingredients are black beans, wild rice, farro, onions, brown rice, carrots, quinoa, corn, green bell peppers, and red bell peppers; and the sauce and seasonings include red wine vinegar, chili peppers, cumin, cilantro, oregano, and sea salt.
• Biggie Bag, short for "Bigger Bag" refers to a Wendy's value meal originally introduced in March 2019.{{cite news |title=Wendy's Updates $5 Biggie Bag Deal with More Crispy-Fried Chicken |url=https://www.brandeating.com/2020/05/wendys-updates-5-dollar-biggie-bag-deal-with-more-crispy-fried-chicken.html |access-date=June 23, 2024 |work=Brand Eating |date=May 9, 2020}}{{cite news |title=New $5 Biggie Bag Arrives at Wendy's; Free with DoorDash Delivery Order Through March 24, 2019 |url=https://www.brandeating.com/2019/03/new-5-dollar-biggie-bag-arrives-at-wendys-free-with-doordash-delivery-order-through-march-24-2019.html |access-date=June 23, 2024 |work=Brand Eating |date=March 18, 2019}} They were reintroduced in April 2022 and nationwide in September 2022.{{cite news |last1=Lake |first1=Amber |title=Burger King and Wendy's Just Released Almost Identical Value Meals |url=https://www.eatthis.com/news-burger-king-and-wendys-premier-identical-value-meals/ |access-date=June 23, 2024 |work=Eat This Not That |date=April 14, 2022 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Lake |first1=Amber |title=Wendy's Just Brought Back This Popular Menu Favorite |url=https://www.eatthis.com/news-wendys-brought-back-this-menu-favorite/ |access-date=June 23, 2024 |work=Eat This Not That |date=April 13, 2022 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Moore |first1=Cortney |title=Wendy's brings back $5 Biggie Bag deal nationwide |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/wendys-brings-back-5-biggie-bag-deal-nationwide |access-date=June 23, 2024 |work=FOXBusiness |date=September 1, 2022}}

In 2015, Wendy's had two food safety incidents involving foreign objects in food at their restaurants in Gurgaon, India.{{Cite web |last=Sarkar |first=John |date=September 21, 2015 |title=Wendy's faces food safety issues |url=http://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/food-entertainment/food-services/wendys-faces-food-safety-issues/49039717 |access-date=September 15, 2022 |website=The Economic Times |language=en |agency=Times News Network |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630081631/https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/food-entertainment/food-services/wendys-faces-food-safety-issues/49039717 |url-status=live }}

In late August 2022, 97 people reported getting sick after eating sandwiches containing romaine lettuce at Wendy's restaurants in the U.S. states of Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Kentucky.{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/03/health/wendys-ecoli-outbreak-september/index.html |title=An E. coli outbreak associated with Wendy's restaurants has now sickened 97 people in 6 states |first=Rebekah |last=Riess |work=CNN |date=September 3, 2022 |access-date=September 15, 2022 |archive-date=September 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915074808/https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/03/health/wendys-ecoli-outbreak-september/index.html |url-status=live }} The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention never could officially identify the specific source of the E. coli outbreak, but Wendy's removed romaine lettuce from the affected restaurants.{{cite web |url=https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2022/o157h7-08-22/index.html |title=E. Coli Outbreak with Unknown Food Source |work=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |date=September 1, 2022 |access-date=September 15, 2022 |archive-date=September 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914223611/https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2022/o157h7-08-22/index.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Reiley |first=Laura |date=August 19, 2022 |title=CDC: Romaine on Wendy's sandwiches is likely source of E. coli |language=en-US |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/08/19/ecoli-midwest-romaine-wendy/ |access-date=September 15, 2022 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=October 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002155348/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/08/19/ecoli-midwest-romaine-wendy/ |url-status=live }} In October 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared the E. coli outbreak was over, stating that at least 109 people had been impacted. Of those cases, 52 people had been admitted to hospitals and 13 had developed hemolytic uremic syndrome.{{cite news |last1=Beach |first1=Coral |title=CDC says outbreak linked to Wendy's sandwiches is over with more than 100 sick |url=https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2022/10/cdc-says-outbreak-linked-to-wendys-sandwiches-is-over-with-more-than-100-sick/ |access-date=December 9, 2022 |publisher=foodsafetynews.com |date=October 4, 2022 |ref=Food Safety News |archive-date=December 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209171607/https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2022/10/cdc-says-outbreak-linked-to-wendys-sandwiches-is-over-with-more-than-100-sick/ |url-status=live }}

{{Update|section|Advertising|date=July 2013}}

File:Wendy's logo black.jpg

After successful early growth of the chain, sales flattened as the company struggled to achieve brand differentiation in the highly competitive fast-food market. This situation would turn around in the mid-1980s. Starting on January 9, 1984, elderly actress Clara Peller was featured in the successful "Where's the beef?" North American commercial campaign written by Cliff Freeman. Her famous line quickly entered the American pop culture (it was even used by Walter Mondale in a debate with Gary Hart in the Democratic primary election) and served to promote Wendy's hamburgers. Peller, age 83, was dropped from the campaign in 1985 because she performed in a commercial for Prego spaghetti sauce, saying "I found it, I really found it",{{cite news|last=Ap|date=August 12, 1987|title=Clara Peller, the Actress In 'Where's the Beef?' TV Ad|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/12/obituaries/clara-peller-the-actress-in-where-s-the-beef-tv-ad.html|access-date=April 6, 2019|archive-date=April 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406173421/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/12/obituaries/clara-peller-the-actress-in-where-s-the-beef-tv-ad.html|url-status=live}} a phrase alluding to the beef in the listener's mind.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

Peller was soon after replaced by Wendy's founder Dave Thomas himself. Soft-spoken and bashful, the "Dave" ads generally focused on Thomas praising his products and offering a commitment to quality service, although there would occasionally be "wackier" ads as well. Thomas ultimately appeared in more than 800 commercials, more than any other company founder in television history.{{cite web |url=http://www.wendys.com/dave/davethomas_biography.pdf |title=Dave Thomas Biography |publisher=Wendy's International |access-date=June 27, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070628165205/http://www.wendys.com/dave/davethomas_biography.pdf |archive-date=June 28, 2007 }}

After Dave Thomas' death in 2002, Wendy's struggled to find a new advertising campaign. After a round of conventional ads describing the food they serve, in 2004 they tried using a character they made called "Mr. Wendy" who claimed to be the unofficial spokesperson for the chain. These proved to be extremely unsuccessful. After seven months, Wendy's returned to an animated campaign focusing on the difference between Wendy's square hamburgers and the round hamburgers of competitors.

Wendy's marketing arm engages in product placement in films and television and is sometimes seen on ABC's reality show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, serving food to the more than 100 construction workers.

A 2007 Wendy's commercial featured the tune from the Violent Femmes song "Blister in the Sun". The inclusion of the song in the commercial provoked an internal conflict between members of the Violent Femmes, which resulted in a lawsuit between bassist Brian Ritchie and lead singer Gordon Gano that ultimately led to the band disbanding in 2009 (however, they would reunite in 2013).{{cite magazine|title=Violent Femmes Embroiled In Inter-Band Lawsuit|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1049850/violent-femmes-embroiled-in-inter-band-lawsuit|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 10, 2016|archive-date=September 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910073100/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1049850/violent-femmes-embroiled-in-inter-band-lawsuit|url-status=live}}{{cite web|date=January 25, 2013|title=Grinderman reform for Coachella|url=http://themusic.com.au/news/all/2013/01/25/grinderman-reform-for-coachella/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130219180543/http://themusic.com.au/news/all/2013/01/25/grinderman-reform-for-coachella/|archive-date=February 19, 2013|access-date=January 26, 2013|publisher=theMUSIC.au}}

With their "That's right" ad campaign, not a success, Wendy's unveiled a new ad campaign, featuring the animated version of their mascot voiced by Shanelle Workman highlighting certain menu items. The new ad campaign made its debut in late January 2008, with slogans: in the US:

"It's waaaay better than fast food. It's Wendy's." and in Canada, "It's waaaay delicious. It's Wendy's."{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/CLM11028012008-1.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080131210943/http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/CLM11028012008-1.htm|url-status=dead|title=CNN Money article on news feed|archive-date=January 31, 2008}} The company's slogan, "you know when it's real", was introduced in 2010.

In November 2010, a series of commercials aired featuring the company's namesake, Wendy Thomas, which marked the first time she had appeared in a Wendy's advertisement.{{cite news |first=Amanda |last=Finnegan |work=Las Vegas Sun |title=Las Vegas to serve as test market for Wendy's burger line; Ad campaign next week will feature daughter of founder Dave Thomas |url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/nov/05/las-vegas-serve-test-market-wendys-burger-line/ |date=November 5, 2010 |access-date=August 6, 2011 |archive-date=November 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121065755/https://lasvegassun.com/news/2010/nov/05/las-vegas-serve-test-market-wendys-burger-line/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |first=Maureen |last=Morrison |work=Advertising Age |title=Real Wendy Takes Star Turn in Wendy's Advertising |url=http://adage.com/article/news/real-wendy-takes-star-turn-wendy-s-advertising/147097/ |date=November 12, 2010 |access-date=August 6, 2011 |archive-date=August 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150827000701/http://adage.com/article/news/real-wendy-takes-star-turn-wendy-s-advertising/147097/ |url-status=live }} In April 2012, Morgan Smith Goodwin began appearing as the redhead in ads with the slogan "Now that's better."{{cite news|url=http://adage.com/article/news/wendy-s-unveils-tagline/233972/|title=Wendy's Unveils New Ad Tagline|last=Morrison|first=Maureen|work=Advertising Age|date=April 5, 2012|access-date=January 16, 2014|archive-date=May 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530151915/http://adage.com/article/news/wendy-s-unveils-tagline/233972/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://parade.condenast.com/334980/walterscott/is-the-actress-in-the-wendys-commercials-a-real-redhead/|title=Is the Actress in the Wendy's Commercials a Real Redhead?|last=Scott|first=Walter|work=Parade|date=September 6, 2014|access-date=October 19, 2014|archive-date=October 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019203546/http://parade.condenast.com/334980/walterscott/is-the-actress-in-the-wendys-commercials-a-real-redhead/|url-status=live}} In 2013, social media advertising featuring Nick Lachey directed at millennials promoted the Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger.{{cite news|title=Wendy's Believes This Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger Will Bring In The Millennials|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/wendys-betting-on-pretzel-cheeseburger-2013-7|access-date=July 11, 2013|newspaper=Business Insider|date=July 8, 2013|author=Kyle Russell|archive-date=July 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130711020730/http://www.businessinsider.com/wendys-betting-on-pretzel-cheeseburger-2013-7|url-status=live}}

A 2014 campaign to promote the Tuscan Chicken on Ciabatta sandwich entitled L'Estrella de la Toscana (or "Star of Tuscany" in English) was launched on television and social media.{{cite web|url=http://adage.com/article/news/wendy-s-sells-italian-chicken-sandwich-short-film/292709|title=Wendy's Sells Italian Chicken Sandwich With 'Short Film' – News – Advertising Age|author=Maureen Morrison.|date=April 18, 2014|access-date=May 30, 2015|archive-date=May 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518184746/http://adage.com/article/news/wendy-s-sells-italian-chicken-sandwich-short-film/292709/|url-status=live}}

• 1970–present: Quality Is Our Recipe
• 1977–1980, 1987: Hot-N-Juicy
• 1977: We fix 'em 256 ways (alternate slogan){{cite web|title=Wendy's 1977|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/wafflewhiffer/2191490334/in/set-72157603710787135/|access-date=May 30, 2015|work=Flickr|date=January 13, 2008|archive-date=June 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601130002/https://www.flickr.com/photos/wafflewhiffer/2191490334/in/set-72157603710787135/|url-status=live}}
• 1978–1979: Juicy hamburgers
• 1980–1981: Wendy's Has the Taste
• 1981–1982: Ain't No Reason to Go Anyplace Else
• 1982–1985: You're Wendy's Kind of People
• 1983–1985: That's fresh, that's class, that's Wendy's (Canada)
• 1983–1984: Parts is parts
• 1984–1986: Where's the beef?
• 1985–1988: Choose Fresh, choose Wendy's{{cite web|author=Philip H. Dougherty|date=June 26, 1986|title=Wendy's Spot Created By Lockhardt & Pettus|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0DE1DA1230F935A15755C0A960948260|access-date=December 29, 2007|work=The New York Times|quote=The group has a song Fresh that fits in well with the Wendy's theme, Choose fresh. Choose Wendy's.|archive-date=February 23, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223232422/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0DE1DA1230F935A15755C0A960948260|url-status=live}} (Originally used alongside "Where's the Beef?")
• 1987–1993: Give a little nibble was to be a catchy phrase that would capture the attention of consumers and help make Wendy's a major player on the fast-food scene once again. This television commercial was a flop and sent Wendy's hunting for a new advertising agency.{{cite news |title=Wendy's has a beef with "Where's the beef?" effect |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=June 18, 1987}} After a poorly received seven-week run, Wendy's pulled the television commercials{{cite news |title=Stakes are rising in the battle for JWT Group |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=June 16, 1987}} created by Dick Rich Inc.{{cite news |title=It's Now America's Not-so-Fast Food Industry |work=Philadelphia Inquirer |date=June 6, 1987}}{{cite news |title=Wendy's taps agency contenders |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=May 29, 1987}} The "nibble" spots were meant to emphasize Wendy's better-tasting hamburger. They showed customers ripping off chunks of meat from an absurdly large hamburger.
• 1988–1992: The best burgers in the business.
• 1989–1998: The best burgers and a whole lot more (also was printed inside the hamburger wrappers during the 1990s)
• 1996–1998: The Best Burgers Yet!!
• 1997–present: You can eat great, even late
• 2001–2005: It's hamburger bliss.
• 2002–2004: It's better here{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/2002/04/09/0409wendys.html |title=Wendy's Salad Days |author=Davide Dukcevich |work=Forbes |date=April 9, 2002 |access-date=December 29, 2007 |quote=Earlier this month, Wendy's released a new advertising tagline, "It's Better Here," as part of a campaign that purports to showcase Dublin, Ohio, where it has its headquarters. |archive-date=May 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514200131/http://www.forbes.com/2002/04/09/0409wendys.html |url-status=live }}
• 2003–2007: It's Always Great, Even Late. (Canada)
• 2004–2007: Do what tastes right. (Primary slogan)
• 2005–present: It's good to be square.
• August 2006 – March 2008: That's right.
• August 2006 – March 2008: Uh-Huh.
• 2007–2008: Hot Juicy Burgers
• August 2007 – October 2009: It's way better than fast food... It's Wendy's. (United States)
• August 2007 – October 2009: It's way delicious. It's Wendy's. (Canada)
• August 2007 – October 2009: {{Lang|fr|Carrément bon. C'est Wendy's.}} (EN: "Squarely good. It's Wendy's.") (Quebec, Canada)
• January 2010 – April 2012: You know when it's real.
• March 2012 – 2016: Now that's better.
• 2016–2019: Not just different, deliciously different.
• 2019–present: We got you.
• 2023–present: Square's the beef{{Cite web |date=February 24, 2023 |title=Wendy's 'Square's the Beef' campaign tweaks famous slogan |url=https://adage.com/article/marketing-news-strategy/wendys-squares-beef-campaign-tweaks-slogan-stars-reggie-miller/2475596 |access-date=March 24, 2023 |website=Ad Age |language=en}}

• 1994–present: It's the best time for... Wendy's (Philippines)
• 1994 (approx)–2002: Wendy's η τετράγωνη επιλογή (Wendy's the square option) (Greece)
• 2000 (approx)–present: Quality is our recipe (Indonesia, New Zealand, Chile & United States)
• 2000 (approx)–present: Wendy's cuadra contigo (Wendy's fits with you). The word cuadra (fit) is a reference to the Spanish word {{Lang|es|cuadrado}} that means square. (Venezuela)
• 2001 (approx)–present: El Sabor de lo Recién Hecho (The Flavor of the Freshly Made) (Honduras)
• 2007 (approx)–2009: Wendy's es Sensacional (Wendy's is Sensational) (El Salvador)
• 2007 –present: It's not just fast food; it's fresh food, made fast (Malaysia)
• 2008–present: Old Fashion Hamburgers (Dominican Republic)
• 2009–present: "Wendy's, sabor al cuadrado" (Wendy's, taste to the square) (Mexico)
• 2009–present: Es muuuuucho más que comida rápida, es Wendy's (It's waaaaay more than fast food, it's Wendy's.) (El Salvador)

{{criticism section|date=May 2025}}

Wendy's has been the target of protests and boycotts by advocates of the Fair Food Program (FFP) in the US due to corporate refusal to join the agricultural worker protection partnership,{{cite news|url=https://www.newsweek.com/wendys-farmers-women-hunger-strike-844647|title=Wendy's Faces Farmworker Hunger Strike Over Claims Chain Won't Support Actions to End Sexual Abuse|last=Goodkind|first=Nicole|date=March 14, 2018|website=Newsweek|access-date=June 3, 2023}} established in 2011.{{cite web|url=https://truthout.org/articles/farmworkers-push-wendys-kroger-and-publix-to-take-stance-against-forced-labor|last=Seidman|first=Derek|date=March 11, 2023|title=Farmworkers Push Wendy's, Kroger and Publix to Take Stance Against Forced Labor|access-date=June 3, 2023|website=Truthout}}

In 2016, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers began a US-wide boycott of Wendy's to pressure the company to join the FFP,{{cite web|url=https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/coalition-of-immokalee-workers-calls-on-delivery-companies-to-drop-wendys-until-it-joins-the-fair-food-program|title=USA: CIW calls on delivery companies to drop Wendy's until it joins the Fair Food Program; incl. company response|date=January 19, 2021|website=Business & Human Rights Resource Center|access-date=June 3, 2023}} supported by the Student/Farmworker Alliance.{{cite news|last=Chapman|first=Annabelle|title=FSU students fight for farmworker rights|website=FightBack!News|date=July 26, 2022|access-date=June 3, 2023|url=http://www.fightbacknews.org/2022/7/26/fsu-students-fight-farmworker-rights}} A key component of the predecessors to the FFP was commitment by buyers of agricultural products like tomatoes to pay growers a small amount more (such as one penny per pound), to be passed on to their field workers.{{cite news|title=One Penny More a Pound|date=December 4, 2010|newspaper=The New York Times|url-access=limited|access-date=June 3, 2023|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/04/opinion/04sat3.html}} Editorial. The FFP provides protections against exploitation to agricultural workers.{{efn|For context, about 15% of agriculture workers in the United States between 2019 and 2020 were migrant laborers,{{cite web|url=https://www.farmworkerjustice.org/about-farmworker-justice/who-we-serve|title=Who We Serve|website=Farmworker Justice|access-date=June 3, 2023|year=2023}} subject to protection under the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Workers Protection Act of 1983,{{cite web|url=https://farmlaw.ces.ncsu.edu/agribusiness-law/labor-and-employment/seasonal-and-migrant-labor-protections|last=Branan|first=Robert|access-date=June 3, 2023|website=NC State Extension|title=Seasonal and Migrant Labor Protections|publisher=N.C. Cooperative Extension}} and the number of people formally employed as guest workers through the H-2A visa program, with 258,000 positions certified in 2019,{{cite web |url=https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2021/september/use-of-h-2a-guest-farm-worker-program-more-than-triples-in-past-decade/ |title=Use of H-2A Guest Farm Worker Program More Than Triples in Past Decade |last1=Simnitt |first1=Skyler |last2=Castillo |first2=Marcelo |website=Economic Research Service |date=September 7, 2021 |access-date=June 4, 2023 |url-status=live |lang=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515152300/https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2021/september/use-of-h-2a-guest-farm-worker-program-more-than-triples-in-past-decade/ |archive-date=May 15, 2023|publisher=U.S. Department of Agriculture}} is likely exceeded by the number of undocumented immigrants working in U.S. agriculture, estimated at over 1 million between 2019 and 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.farmworkerjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NAWS-data-fact-sheet-FINAL.docx-3.pdf|title=National Agricultural Workers Survey 2019-2020, Selected Statistics|author=Farmworker Justice|publisher=Farmworker Justice|access-date=June 4, 2023}}}}

In response, Wendy's reported that it began to purchase tomatoes in 2019 solely from growers who use hydroponics and greenhouses to cultivate tomatoes, subject to Wendy's corporate code of conduct for its supply chain. Wendy's policy requires third-party reviews of farm labor practices.{{cite news|last=Navarro|first=Josh|title=Justice for Farmworkers: March urges Wendy's to join Fair Food Program|url=https://www.wflx.com/2022/03/31/justice-farmworkers-march-urges-wendys-join-fair-food-program|date=March 31, 2022|website=Fox 29 WFLX.com|publisher=Gray Television, Inc.|access-date=June 3, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Sainato|first=Michael|title=Why Wendy's is the source of unrest among US farm workers|website=The Guardian|date=April 28, 2022|access-date=June 3, 2023|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/apr/28/us-farm-wendys-fair-food-program}}

In 2016, Wendy's pledged to transition to 100% cage-free eggs by 2020 for their locations that served breakfast. They have since met this goal for all locations that served breakfast in 2016, but have not made progress on their other locations. As of 2024, about 9% of Wendy's eggs were cage-free, prompting demands from shareholders and nonprofits to update their cage-free commitment.{{Cite web |last=Wisner |first=Julia |date=March 27, 2025 |title=As 2025 Deadlines Hit, Subway, Wendy's, Crumbl Face Scrutiny Over Cage-Free Egg Failures Amid Bird Flu Crisis |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-humane-league-as-2025-deadlines-hit-subway-wendys-crumbl-face-scrutiny-over-cage-free-egg-failures-amid-bird-flu-crisis-302410035.html |url-status=live |access-date=May 9, 2025 |website=PR Newswire}}{{Cite web |title=Cage free eggs at THE WENDY'S COMPANY {{!}} PRI |url=https://collaborate.unpri.org/group/24576/stream |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=collaborate.unpri.org}}

On March 23, 2018, Wendy's released an EP titled We Beefin?, a reference to their 1984 slogan Where's the beef?{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Aaron |title=Wendy's Disses Its Restaurant Competition All Over 'We Beefin'?' EP |url=https://uproxx.com/hiphop/wendys-we-beefin-mixtape/ |access-date=February 11, 2019 |work=UPROXX |date=March 23, 2018 |archive-date=February 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212130736/https://uproxx.com/hiphop/wendys-we-beefin-mixtape/ |url-status=live }}

On October 3, 2019, Wendy's released a tabletop role-playing game titled Feast of Legends: Rise From the Deep Freeze,{{cite web|url=https://www.feastoflegends.com/|title=The Fight Against Frozen Beef | Feast Of Legends Wendy's Role-Playing Game|website=feastoflegends.com|access-date=October 20, 2019|archive-date=August 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813081151/http://feastoflegends.com/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |last=Griner |first=David |date=October 4, 2019 |title=5 Perilous Choices You'll Face in the Wendy's Role-Playing Game |url=https://www.adweek.com/creativity/5-perilous-choices-youll-face-in-the-wendys-role-playing-game/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=July 4, 2023 |website=Adweek |language=en-US}} in the style of Dungeons & Dragons. A short multi-part adventure was included, pitting Wendy's kingdom against the Ice Jester, a parody of Ronald McDonald, the clown mascot of Wendy's competitor, McDonald's. Critical Role was sponsored for a special event live stream of the game.{{cite web |last1=Hoffer |first1=Christian |title=Critical Role Is Teaming Up with Wendy's for a Special One-Shot |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/critical-role-wendys-dungeons-and-dragons/ |website=comicbook.com |date=September 30, 2019 |access-date=January 27, 2021 |archive-date=April 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415131126/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/critical-role-wendys-dungeons-and-dragons/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Girdwood |first1=Andrew |date=July 7, 2020 |title=Critical Role officially denies any wrongdoing with a consultant |url=https://www.geeknative.com/74499/critical-role-officially-denies-any-wrongdoing-with-a-consultant/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125053855/https://www.geeknative.com/74499/critical-role-officially-denies-any-wrongdoing-with-a-consultant/ |archive-date=January 25, 2021 |access-date=January 27, 2021 |website=Geek Native}}

• List of hamburger restaurants
• Wendy's High School Heisman (student-athletes in various sports)

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