The fast food brand is investing approximately $70m in its ‘build-to-suit’ programme in 2025 to accelerate restaurant expansion in the UK, as well as in the US and Canada.
The program is designed to deliver strong returns and enable faster investment payback for franchisees.
“We see huge potential in the UK market,” says Michael Clarke, managing director in Europe for The Wendy’s Company.
“This year, we will focus on accelerating our expansion efforts so more people across the UK can enjoy Wendy’s.
“We have a solid foundation in the market and believe we are well-positioned to accelerate our growth trajectory even further.”
Founded in Ohio in 1969, Wendy’s returned to the UK market in 2021 having left two decades previously to focus on its North American business.
The latest UK pipeline is part of Wendy’s broader international growth strategy, which will see 70% of Wendy’s expansion occur outside the US, with plans to reach 2,000 international restaurants by 2028.
Clarke says its franchisees are ‘at the heart’ of its expansion plans, both in the UK and internationally.
“We’re deeply committed to supporting our UK franchisees and making co-investments through our build-to-suit programme, which is a key incentive for them to grow with us,” he adds.
Wendy’s UK business reported a near 50% rise in turnover in its most recent financial results, although pre-tax profits fell slightly from £1.4m to £1.2m.