We are committed to continuously improving how we source our ingredients and demonstrating accountability for ethical business practices, sustainability and social responsibility.
Building on our long-standing ingredient sourcing programs and practices, we are formalizing our approach through our responsible sourcing goal: Wendy’s is committed to responsibly sourcing1 our top 10 priority food categories2 by 2030.
“Establishing our responsible sourcing goal has been a critical priority for us, as our most important impact and asset is our food. We want to ensure a responsible and transparent supply chain, particularly for our top 10 priority food categories, and continue to build on our long-standing sourcing practices and programs.”
Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer
Animal care considerations have been a core element of Wendy’s quality assurance and supply chain practices for decades and many of the requirements we’ve developed for our suppliers have set the standard for the quick-service restaurant industry. Two aspects that set our work apart are our longstanding relationships with progressive industry experts, many of whom serve on the Wendy’s Animal Welfare Council, and our audit-based approach to animal welfare. We are enhancing these relationships and auditing practices even further by bringing in new experts and leveraging the council to revamp the standards we apply to ourselves and our suppliers.
We only source our beef, pork, chicken, eggs and dairy from suppliers who meet or exceed our standards for quality, food safety and animal welfare (as outlined in the Wendy’s Animal Care Standards Program).
Wendy’s is proud to serve fresh, never frozen, North American fed-beef in restaurants in the contiguous U.S., Alaska and Canada. We only source beef with high quality grades, such as Prime or Choice, and we always cook our hamburgers fresh to order. In addition to advancing our commitments in the areas of beef antibiotic use and traceability, we’ve also been working with industry experts, including the Wendy’s Animal Welfare Council, to launch the Wendy’s Animal Care Standards Program.
Wendy’s only sources pork that is 100% Pork Quality Assurance® Plus (PQA Plus) Certified or the equivalent for our sausage and bacon. We also work closely with the pork industry and our progressive suppliers to ensure responsible sourcing through the Wendy’s Animal Care Standards Program on topics like antibiotic reduction and sow housing.
Wendy’s only sources chicken from suppliers who adhere to our smaller-bird size requirement as part of our commitment to quality and animal well-being. In 2017, Wendy’s invested nearly $30 million to begin sourcing chicken from smaller, younger birds.
Through the Wendy’s Animal Care Standards Program, we will continue to drive advancements in chicken welfare, including in the areas of housing and enrichments and stunning methods.
We only use fresh-cracked, Grade-A eggs on our breakfast sandwiches. And we require the suppliers we source from to uphold strong animal welfare practices and be third-party certified. We’ll continue to work closely with our suppliers and industry experts as part of our responsible sourcing goal and through the Wendy’s Animal Care Standards Program, which we will leverage to continue to study welfare-enhanced housing options and enrichments.
Dairy is a key ingredient in the Wendy’s Frosty®, cheese for sandwiches and salads and more. We work with dairy suppliers who prioritize dairy cow welfare, ensuring animal health by following best management practices as outlined in the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program, and who adhere to strict environmental standards. We also work with industry groups at the forefront of creating a more sustainable dairy industry through the use of renewable energy and other emerging technologies. Through the Wendy’s Animal Care Standards Program, we will continue to drive animal care and environmental advancements.
Wendy’s is proud to serve fresh, never frozen, North American fed-beef in restaurants in the contiguous U.S., Alaska and Canada. We only source beef with high quality grades, such as Prime or Choice, and we always cook our hamburgers fresh to order. In addition to advancing our commitments in the areas of beef antibiotic use and traceability, we’ve also been working with industry experts, including the Wendy’s Animal Welfare Council, to launch the Wendy’s Animal Care Standards Program.
Wendy’s only sources pork that is 100% Pork Quality Assurance® Plus (PQA Plus) Certified or the equivalent for our sausage and bacon. We also work closely with the pork industry and our progressive suppliers to ensure responsible sourcing through the Wendy’s Animal Care Standards Program on topics like antibiotic reduction and sow housing.
Wendy’s only sources chicken from suppliers who adhere to our smaller-bird size requirement as part of our commitment to quality and animal well-being. In 2017, Wendy’s invested nearly $30 million to begin sourcing chicken from smaller, younger birds.
Through the Wendy’s Animal Care Standards Program, we will continue to drive advancements in chicken welfare, including in the areas of housing and enrichments and stunning methods.
We only use fresh-cracked, Grade-A eggs on our breakfast sandwiches. And we require the suppliers we source from to uphold strong animal welfare practices and be third-party certified. We’ll continue to work closely with our suppliers and industry experts as part of our responsible sourcing goal and through the Wendy’s Animal Care Standards Program, which we will leverage to continue to study welfare-enhanced housing options and enrichments.
Dairy is a key ingredient in the Wendy’s Frosty®, cheese for sandwiches and salads and more. We work with dairy suppliers who prioritize dairy cow welfare, ensuring animal health by following best management practices as outlined in the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program, and who adhere to strict environmental standards. We also work with industry groups at the forefront of creating a more sustainable dairy industry through the use of renewable energy and other emerging technologies. Through the Wendy’s Animal Care Standards Program, we will continue to drive animal care and environmental advancements.
Potatoes and fresh produce are hallmarks of our menu. We are investing in new and innovative ways, like greenhouse-grown produce, to bring freshness, peak quality and flavor to every menu item.
From our Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee and cold brew to our soft drinks, Wendy’s works to provide responsibly sourced refreshment.
Our kitchens' ovens and fryers are put to good use daily, so we ensure we use the best ingredients from responsible sources.