Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q3 2025, the company achieved a 12.8% year-over-year growth in system sales, with food revenues increasing by 24.2% year-over-year [4][12] - Adjusted Corporate EBITDA improved by 10.4% year-over-year, while Adjusted Net Loss improved by 11.5% [5] - The average monthly transacting customers reached 3.85 million, a 16.7% increase from the same quarter in 2024 [12] - Company-owned and operated store revenues dropped by 5.5% year-over-year due to planned store closures [12][14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Same-store sales growth for company-owned and operated stores was 3.3%, contributing to overall positive performance despite revenue drops [4][12] - Revenues from the franchise and retail business increased by 25.0% year-over-year, with the number of franchise stores rising from 382 to 479 [12][13] - Delivery revenues increased by 23.1% year-over-year, benefiting from promotional offers from delivery aggregators [4] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The largest loyalty club members reached 27.9 million, reflecting a 22.3% year-over-year growth [7] - The coffee sector faced intensified competition from rapidly expanding tea beverage categories, impacting market dynamics [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on enhancing operational efficiencies, supply chain capabilities, and rigorous cost controls to support sustainable profit growth [17] - Strategic initiatives include expanding into special channel stores, such as high-speed train stations and airports, which have shown strong performance [29] - The company aims to improve gross margins through supply chain optimizations and new product launches [26] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged challenges in the industry but emphasized resilience and continuous improvement in business execution [18] - The company expects to generate positive operating cash inflows and become more self-sustainable in supporting long-term growth [24][26] Other Important Information - The company successfully issued approximately $89.9 million in senior secured convertible notes and restructured existing convertible notes to focus on store network development [19] - The average payback period for sub-franchisees is two to three years, indicating attractive unit economics [6][18] Q&A Session Summary Question: Company's liquidity status and long-term financing plan - Management highlighted the successful issuance of $89.9 million in convertible notes and the extension of due dates for existing notes, allowing focus on daily operations and reducing leverage [22][23] Question: Pressure on store contribution margins and future margin profile - Management noted that lower margins were due to higher delivery revenue mix and aggressive subsidies from delivery platforms, expecting this to be temporary [26] - Plans to improve gross margins include supply chain optimizations and new product launches, aiming for double-digit store level margins next year [27] Question: Performance of strategic special channel stores - Special channel stores have performed well, generating mid- to high-teens EBITDA margins with a payback period of around two years [29]

Core Insights - Wendy's plans to reduce the number of promotions for the remainder of the year after experiencing challenges with too many initiatives during the summer [1][2] - The company reported earnings per share of $0.29, a 7.4% increase year-on-year, and revenue of $560.9 million, a 1.7% decrease, both exceeding analysts' expectations [3] - Foot traffic to Wendy's locations decreased by 3% compared to the same quarter last year, although this was an improvement from a 4.7% decline in Q1 [8] Promotions and Strategy - The interim CEO highlighted that the summer promotions, while appealing, overwhelmed restaurant teams and confused customers [2] - Future focus will be on chicken innovation and a new beverage lineup, including a collaboration with Netflix for the second season of "Wednesday" [3] Technology and Innovation - Wendy's is expanding its use of voice AI for drive-thru orders, aiming to implement this technology in up to 600 restaurants by the end of 2025 [9] - The company has been testing innovative drive-thru solutions, including food delivery robots in underground tunnels [9] Market Reaction - Following the earnings report, Wendy's shares increased by approximately 1.5% [4]