Owner Trian Partners announces SEC filings on the matter.
Author’s Note
This article is based on corporate postings and accredited media reports. All linked information within this article is fully-attributed to the following outlets: QSR.com, CNN.com, Wikipedia.org, and ScrapeHero.com.
Introduction
Earlier this year, NewsBreak published “Fast Food Chains Closing Locations in 2022,” my article focusing on rumored shutterings of popular fast food chains.
Among the chains covered was Wendy’s, which had just come off a highly-profitable 2021. As excerpted from the article, which hyperlinks and quotes a QSR.com article: See here for March, 2022 QSRMagazine.com article, “Wendy’s ‘Breakthrough Years’ Sets the Stage.” The article states: Breakfast, digital, and the company’s highest net new growth in two decades, carried Wendy’s to what CEO Todd Penegor called a “breakthrough year” in 2021. So how will the encore unfold? Penegor doesn’t see much of a slowdown on the horizon. Wendy’s delivered 121 net new restaurants last year, which marked six consecutive calendars of positive gains and, as noted, the highest figure in nearly 20 years.
It should be noted QSR stands for Quick Service Restaurant.
The company appears to currently be in fine shape financially. Why then the announcement of the possible sale or merger?
According to CNN.com, in their article entitled “Wendy’s Puts Up the ‘For Sale’ Sign as Costs Rise,” the issue becomes one that would favor their investors.
From the article: In a Tuesday filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Wendy's chairman, Nelson Peltz, said that his management fund, Trian Partners, wants to explore a possible sale or merger for the burger chain. Other options to increase shareholder value are also on the table, according to the filing. Wendy's (WEN) stock popped about 11% Wednesday morning as investors cheered the move by Peltz, who has sought to shake up Wendy's and other companies in the past. Peltz has been a director at the company since 2008. Before that, starting in late 2005, he launched a campaign against Wendy's management. Trian is the burger chain's largest shareholder.
Said “Tuesday filing” was May 24, 2022. The article goes on to state in recent weeks inflation has impacted the chain, and operationally higher commodity and labor costs have become an issue.
Let us explore further.
Wendy’s, 2022
For a comprehensive history and overview of the Wendy’s chain, see Wikipedia page here, which states, in part: Wendy's is an American international fast food restaurant chain founded by Dave Thomas on November 15, 1969, in Columbus, Ohio. Its headquarters moved to Dublin, Ohio, on January 29, 2006. As of December 31, 2018, Wendy's was the world's third-largest hamburger fast-food chain with 6,711 locations, following Burger King and McDonald's. On April 24, 2008, the company announced a merger with Triarc Companies Inc., a publicly-traded company and the parent company of Arby's. Wendy's headquarters remained in Dublin. Following the merger, Triarc became known as Wendy's/Arby's Group, and later as the Wendy's Company.
According to ScrapeHero.com, the number of Wendy’s locations have increased since the Wikipedia-listed 2018 number: There are 5,899 Wendy's locations in the United States as of May 16, 2022. The state with the most number of Wendy's locations in the US is Florida, with 526 locations, which is 8% of all Wendy's locations in America.
Again, the company is not facing challenges unlike other groups. The current challenges are the same, but as Peltz mentioned he is looking at the bottom line, and what will be most profitable for Trian’s investors.
Conclusion
We will bring you any updates about the Wendy’s news as it becomes available.
Thank you for reading.
Comments / 21