COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Wendy’s, headquartered locally in Dublin, may end up closing hundreds of locations through the end of the year and into 2026.
Interim CEO Ken Cook said on an investor call Friday that the fast-food chain would be working with franchisees to improve profitability, which includes identifying underperforming stores and making changes at those locations, including possible closures.
Cook said he estimates a “mid-single-digit percentage” of U.S. locations would be impacted by closures. Wendy’s has more than 5,800 locations nationwide, which means there could be between 150 and 300 store closures.
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“When we look at the system today, we have some restaurants that do not elevate the brand and are a drag from a franchisee financial performance perspective,” Cook said. “The goal is to address and fix those restaurants.”…