Wendy’s is an American international fast food restaurant chain founded by Dave Thomas on November 15, 1969, in Columbus, Ohio. The company moved its headquarters to Dublin, Ohio, on January 29, 2006.
As of 2016, Wendy’s was the world’s third largest hamburger fast-food chain with 6,650 locations, following Burger King’s 15,000+ locations and McDonald’s’ 36,615 locations. On April 24, 2008, the company announced a merger with Triarc Companies Inc., a publicly traded company and the parent company of Arby’s. Despite the new ownership, Wendy’s headquarters remained in Dublin.
Wendy’s menu consists primarily of hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, French fries and soft drinks. Hamburgers are available in small, medium and large sizes.
Wendy’s uses square hamburger patties – which they refer to as “patty melt patties” – as opposed to round ones. All Wendy’s restaurants have a drive-thru and around 80% have a dual-lane drive-thru.
In addition to its signature restaurant chain, Wendy’s also operates several thousand franchises. These include both standalone restaurants and those that are located within retail establishments such as grocery stores or gas stations. Franchisees pay Wendy’s an initial fee as well as ongoing royalties.
Wendy’s slogan is “You Know When It’s Real.”
