Wendy's to Close Up to 350 Underperforming Locations

Wendy's interim CEO announced plans to close between 200 and 350 restaurants across the United States, representing approximately 3-6% of the chain's roughly 6,000 domestic locations.

The closures will target what the company describes as "consistently underperforming" locations that have been negatively impacting Wendy's overall financial results. The interim CEO shared the closure plans with analysts, noting the shutdowns will begin in the coming weeks and extend through 2026. The company has not released a specific list of affected locations.

This marks the second consecutive year of significant closures for the fast-food chain. In 2024, Wendy's shut down 140 restaurants, citing similar underperformance concerns.

The announcement follows a challenging quarter for Wendy's, with sales declining nearly 5% compared to the previous period. This contrasts with competitors McDonald's and Burger King, both of which reported positive earnings during the same timeframe.

The closures represent part of Wendy's broader effort to strengthen its restaurant portfolio by eliminating locations that fail to meet performance standards.