Wendy’s shut down 28 U.S. locations in the last part of 2025, finishing the year with 5,969 restaurants across the country. The company expects to further reduce its count by 5–6 percent (about 298 to 358 spots) in the first half of 2026 as well.
No list of closing locations has been announced yet.
No list of closing locations has been announced yet.
During an earnings call in August, Wendy’s CEO Ken Cook said that the brand is “not happy with our sales performance.” And, after losing a sizable portion of its stock value in 2025, Wendy’s launched a new strategic plan, titled “Project Fresh,” it is intended to revitalize the brand through both menu offerings and marketing strategies.
They started with a new menu item: chicken tenders, with that Wendy’s has now entered into the fast-food chicken wars alongside Taco Bell, McDonald’s, and Sonic.
Additionally; some locations may scale back on breakfast items, or stop serving breakfast altogether.
Sources; My Brother with a bike, AllRecipes.com, TheStreet.com
