Wendy’s is closing hundreds of U.S. restaurants as domestic sales slide

Core Insights - Wendy's plans to close hundreds of restaurants, representing 5% to 6% of its total U.S. locations, as part of a strategy to optimize its business following disappointing sales figures [1][1][1] Financial Performance - Total same-store sales for Wendy's fell by 10.1% in the last quarter, with U.S. same-store sales down 11.3%, compared to a 2% decline in international locations [1][1][1] - Global systemwide sales decreased to $3.4 billion, an 8.3% drop from the previous quarter [1][1][1] Store Closures - The company initially announced plans to close several hundred U.S. stores in November 2025, with 28 locations already closed in the fourth quarter of 2025 [1][1][1] - Wendy's expects to close between 300 and 360 locations, based on its U.S. operations of approximately 6,000 restaurants [1][1][1] - The closures are being conducted in collaboration with franchisees, who can identify underperforming locations [1][1][1] Strategic Focus - The interim CEO, Ken Cook, emphasized that the closures are part of a "system optimization" strategy to enhance franchisee profitability and overall brand performance [1][1][1] - The process of closing restaurants involves working with landlords to ensure mutually beneficial outcomes for both franchisees and the company [1][1][1]