Wendy’s mentioned Friday that it plans to shutter between 5% and 6% of its eating places within the first half of the yr.
The closures are half of a beforehand introduced turnaround plan, which the fast-food chain mentioned in November would come with closing tons of of eating places.
Twenty-eight stores closed throughout the fourth quarter as half of the plan, interim CEO Ken Cook mentioned throughout the firm’s earnings name. Wendy’s had 5,969 US eating places on the finish of yr, in keeping with the corporate’s earnings.
Decisions to shut “consistently underperforming restaurants” have been made with Wendy’s franchisees, who can as an alternative deal with stores that will return extra revenue, Cook added.
The firm has not introduced a listing of affected stores.
Wendy’s US gross sales are in a droop, with same-store gross sales falling once more over the past quarter of 2025 by 11.3%, in keeping with the corporate’s earnings. Same-store gross sales have been down 5.6% for the entire yr.
Cook mentioned Wendy’s has targeted an excessive amount of on limited-time promotions, however is now specializing in on a regular basis worth, together with adjustments to its Biggie meals.
Wendy’s expanded its Biggie choices in January to incorporate the $4 Biggie Bites, a $6 Biggie Bag and an $8 Biggie Bundle. That may enchantment to value-conscious shoppers who’re pulling again on discretionary spending, like consuming out, as a consequence of inflation pressures.
And final yr, Cook mentioned its newly launched hen tenders, known as “Tendys,” have been performing nicely amid same-store gross sales declines.