Wendy’s Unit Growth Update: Strong Progress in 2025

Wendy’s is making significant strides in expanding our footprint. In the first half of 2025, we proudly opened 118 new restaurants globally, bringing our high-quality, craveable food to even more fans around the world. Demonstrating franchise confidence and reinforcing our strategy of accelerated expansion, the System is committed to growth.

“The progress we’ve made halfway through 2025 is only possible with the dedication of our franchisees and restaurant teams. Our mutual pursuit of excellence fuels our growth and the powerful partnerships we continue to build. As we welcome new franchisees who align with our vision, our focus remains the same: providing our fresh, famous food to local communities and fostering meaningful connections within them.” - Tatiana Lambert, Vice President, U.S. Chief Development Officer

Wendy’s is creating new opportunities for growth by providing franchisees with robust incentives, such as our Build-to-Suit development program. By minimizing financial barriers, the program offers comprehensive support throughout crucial startup phases, including site selection and construction. Designed to benefit both new and existing operators, Build-to-Suit empowers franchisees to expand more rapidly, allowing them to focus on what matters most: delivering Wendy’s fresh, famous food and hospitality.

International Growth 

From an international perspective, Wendy’s opened 23 restaurants across 15 countries in the second quarter of 2025, bringing our second quarter total to 44 global new restaurants opened across the globe. These efforts further strengthen our global presence in stronghold markets like Canada, India, and the UK, while also venturing into new territories, including our first restaurant in Romania.

Notably, Wendy’s finalized new development agreements to build 170 restaurants in Italy over the next ten years and 20 restaurants in Armenia over the next five years, adding up to 190 new locations. These partnerships reflect our ambitious plans to grow our global business with scale and speed, positioning us to achieve our goal of reaching 2,000 international restaurants by 2028.

Franchisee Spotlight: Sean Thomas 

As we focus on expansion, partnering with franchisees who share the same excitement for growth, passion for our brand and appreciation for our heritage is critically important. In the first half of the year, we were proud to welcome Sean Thomas, grandson of our founder Dave Thomas, and his team at Fifth and Broad Partners to our franchise System. This milestone marks the third generation of the Thomas family to join the Wendy’s brand, giving Sean the opportunity to follow in his family’s footsteps and pave the way for future franchise partners. Sean and his team operate 14 Wendy’s restaurants in Pennsylvania.

“We’re honored to carry forward what my grandfather started,” said Sean Thomas, Co- 
Founder and Managing Partner of Fifth and Broad Partners. “Wendy’s is more than a brand; it’s part of our family legacy. I’m excited to bring Wendy’s fresh, famous food to the local communities in Western Pennsylvania, all while upholding my grandpa Dave’s values and ensuring our restaurants reflect Wendy’s dedication to quality and innovation.”

Fifth and Broad Partners brings a long-term, hands-on ownership approach to restaurant management rooted in the same values that guided the opening of the very first Wendy’s restaurant at the corner of Fifth and Broad Street in Columbus, Ohio.
Sean’s journey is a full-circle moment, having worked at Wendy’s restaurants in high school and advancing to assistant manager. After pursuing other ventures, he joins the Wendy’s System with years of experience across many segments of the industry and fresh insights, eager to grow and continue carrying forward his grandfather’s legacy.

Looking ahead, Fifth and Broad Partners plans to reinvest in these locations, emphasizing 
employee development, community involvement, and exceptional customer experiences, while also committing to opening additional Wendy’s restaurants within the next three years.

Wendy’s Way Forward 

As Wendy’s continues to expand its footprint, we are paving the way for a future where tradition meets innovation. Rooted in our customer obsession, Wendy’s is leveraging real-time data-driven insights to guide the strategic decisions that empower our restaurant operators and teams to excel, resulting in a more convenient and personalized customer experience.

With our Global Next Gen restaurant format, Wendy’s is embracing cutting-edge technology and thoughtful design, incorporating flexible layouts and dedicated mobile pick-up points to meet the evolving needs of our customers. Digital advancements like self-order kiosks, digital menu boards, and in the U.S., Wendy’s FreshAi ®, the industry’s first generative-AI powered drive-thru assistant, ensure our franchisees are equipped to thrive in today’s competitive landscape. Our support extends beyond the restaurant, offering comprehensive marketing resources and ongoing operations guidance to set our franchisees up for success.

In building on Wendy’s rich heritage, our ambitious growth strategy guides our journey forward. As we move into the second half of the year, we are pleased with the progress made and will continue growing our footprint across the globe. We welcome franchise partners who share this passion for growth, and our development and franchise recruiting teams are always actively engaging throughout the year at various events. 

Tatiana Lambert, U.S. Chief Development Officer, will discuss Wendy’s approach to strategic development during a fireside chat at QSR Evolution on September 4, 2025. Additionally, our franchising and recruiting teams will be attending the Restaurant Finance & Development Conference on November 10-12 in Las Vegas.

We look forward to connecting with new franchisees and exploring new opportunities for growth. 

*This is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a franchise. It is for information purposes only. For more information about franchise opportunities, visit the link below.