Wendy's to Close 300-358 US Stores by Mid-2026

Wendy's, the Ohio-based fast-food chain, announced plans Friday to close between 300 and 358 underperforming U.S. restaurants by the middle of 2026, as part of a broader turnaround strategy amid declining sales. The closures, targeting outdated or low-profit locations, follow an 11.3 percent drop in same-store sales for the fourth quarter of 2025 and a 5.6 percent decline for the full year. The company ended 2025 with 5,969 U.S. outlets, after shuttering 240 stores in 2024.

Interim CEO Ken Cook, who has led the company since July 2025 following the departure of former CEO Kirk Tanner to The Hershey Company, detailed the plan during an earnings conference call. The initiative includes closing 50 to 60 locations in the first half of 2026, building on the 28 stores shuttered in the final quarter of 2025. Cook emphasized collaboration with franchisees, who operate most Wendy's restaurants, to evaluate sites on a store-by-store basis. "We are working with our franchisees to make collaborative decisions to optimize performance across the U.S. system," he said.

The closures aim to streamline operations and redirect resources toward higher-growth areas, as Wendy's seeks to address...