Wendy’s plans to open 50th UK restaurant this year

Wendy’s has revealed that the brand is on track to open its 50th UK restaurant in 2025, a year that will also see it establish its presence in Scotland, Ireland and Romania for the first time.

New Wendy’s restaurants will open in Blackpool, Glasgow, Grays (Lakeside), Watford, and York in the coming months, creating over 150 jobs, each with competitive salaries and benefits.

Wendy’s is also investing approximately $70M (£54m) in its Build-To-Suit program in 2025 to accelerate restaurant expansion in the U.S., Canada and the UK.

This model aims to accelerate the brand’s restaurant expansion in the UK, deliver strong returns, and enable faster investment payback for franchisees.

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.

Wendy’s currently has more than 7,000 restaurants with more than 1,300 of these located outside of the United States.

Michael Clarke, managing director, Europe for The Wendy’s Company, said: “We see huge potential in the UK market, with plans to add more than 150 new restaurants across the UK and surrounding countries by 2028.

“This year, we will focus on accelerating our expansion efforts so more people across the UK can enjoy Wendy’s craveable menu and exceptional customer hospitality. We have a solid foundation in the market and believe we are well-positioned to accelerate our growth trajectory even further.”

He added: “Wendy’s franchisees are at the heart of the brand’s expansion plans, both in the UK and internationally, and strong franchise partnerships enable us to grow at scale. We’re deeply committed to supporting our UK franchisees and making co-investments through our Build-To-Suit program, which is a key incentive for them to grow with us.”