Wendy’s Names Ken Cook as New Chief Financial Officer

Rebel Foods, the master franchise holder for Wendy's in India, has opened the brand’s 200th restaurant at Elan Miracle Mall, Sector 82, Gurugram. Covering 1,142 sq. ft. with seating for over 30 customers, the new location expands Wendy’s presence across more than 50 cities in India, including 15 dine-in restaurants. The opening strengthens Wendy’s retail footprint in India, particularly in the Delhi NCR region, and introduces the brand’s Global Next Gen restaurant design.

Ankush Grover, Co-Founder and CEO - India and MENA, Rebel Foods said, "Reaching 200 Wendy’s restaurants in just 40 months, India has emerged as one of the brand’s fastest-growing markets, reflecting the deep consumer love of fans across the country. Our partnership with Wendy's continues to thrive, and with localized innovative new menu additions like the Korean and Chimichurri Ranges, we’re changing the way India enjoys hamburgers.”

Chris Conway, SVP, MD, APMEA for The Wendy’s Company added, "We are building a high-performing, differentiated QSR brand in India. Growing to 200 restaurants demonstrates that Wendy’s is winning in the market by delivering what customers want: Fresh, Famous food and exceptional customer experiences. We deeply appreciate our strong partnership with Rebel Foods, whose growth vision has been key to our rapid expansion. As Wendy’s continues to expand, we look forward to bringing our high-quality food and hospitality to even more communities across India."

To mark the milestone, Rebel Foods is launching a month-long celebration from March 15. The initiative includes a superbike squad dressed as the Wendy’s mascot delivering orders across key cities, themed events at dine-in locations in Delhi, Bangalore, and Hyderabad, and special Rs 200 menu offerings. Limited-time packaging with milestone branding will also be introduced for delivery customers.

Wendy’s has also expanded its menu with the Korean Range, featuring savoury flavors in hamburgers and wraps, and India’s first Chimichurri Range, offering a herb-based twist to the classic hamburger. Since entering the Indian market in 2020, Wendy’s has introduced localized menu items and, with Rebel Foods’ digital-first approach, continues to expand through a combination of cloud kitchens, dine-in restaurants, and delivery services.

The Wendy's Company has announced the appointment of John Min as the Company's Chief Legal Officer and Secretary and Mary Greenlee as Senior Vice President, U.S. Operations. 

These appointments represent the continued evolution of the Company's leadership structure to drive accountability and accelerate growth. Min will report to President and Chief Executive Officer, Kirk Tanner, and Greenlee will report to President, U.S., Abigail Pringle. Min succeeds E.J. Wunsch, who was appointed as Wendy's President, International in June 2024.

"I'm pleased to welcome John and Mary to the Wendy's team. John's proven track record of managing complex commercial transactions, his extensive background in legal strategy and corporate governance and his unique global experience will be invaluable as we look to further solidify our development plans. Mary brings significant experience managing franchise relationships, generating significant market expansion and driving innovation from her career in the QSR industry, which align perfectly with our growth pillars,” shared Tanner.

Min most recently served as Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of Kellanova following the separation of Kellogg Company into two companies. He brings two decades of corporate legal experience and a wealth of expertise in leading high-performing teams, providing strategic legal counsel and managing compliance risks in diverse markets. Min will oversee Wendy's global legal department, playing a pivotal role in guiding Wendy's legal strategy and operations, as well as managing global risk and compliance functions. 

Greenlee has over 25 years of experience in the restaurant and beverage industries, bringing a deep understanding of franchise systems and strategic thinking to elevate performance. Greenlee will oversee the performance of Wendy's company and franchise operations to support the brand's strategic growth initiatives, including continuing to drive the restaurant economic model and building out the Company's U.S. footprint to ensure it reaches its full growth potential. Greenlee has held significant operational roles over her career, most recently serving as Vice President of U.S. Field Operations at Subway and Director of Business Development and General Manager of Coca-Cola Freestyle Strategy for Wendy's. Greenlee holds a B.A. in History from the University of Louisiana Monroe.

"This is an exciting opportunity to join an iconic brand," said Min. "I am honored to join such a talented team and contribute my experience to uphold and enhance Wendy's high standards of legal and ethical practices to support the Company's continued growth on a global scale."

"Wendy's has consistently set a standard for quality and creativity in the QSR industry, and I've long admired the brand's commitment to value and innovation," said Greenlee. "I look forward to working closely with the team to drive strategic growth, enhance operations and continue delivering an exceptional customer experience."

The Wendy’s Company (Nasdaq: WEN) has appointed Arthur B. Winkleblack as its new non-executive Chairman of the Board, succeeding Nelson Peltz, who will now serve as Chairman Emeritus in recognition of his leadership and significant contributions to the company over the years. Winkleblack, a Board member since 2016, has played an integral role in the company’s governance and strategy, serving as Lead Independent Director since October 2023.

In addition to his new role, Winkleblack chairs the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and serves as a member of the Audit Committee, where he has previously held the position of Chairman. He has also been appointed Chairman of the Executive Committee. 

Peltz, who has been the non-executive Chairman since 2007, is stepping down from his position to focus on other board commitments and future activities at Trian Fund Management. Commenting on his departure, Kirk Tanner, CEO of Wendy’s, expressed gratitude for Peltz’s many contributions. "Nelson has been an effective and collaborative leader, and Wendy's has greatly benefited from his strategic vision and operational skills. I wish him the best with his other commitments and look forward to continuing to work with him as a significant Wendy's shareholder," Tanner said.

Tanner added, "I am excited to work with Art in his new role and am confident that the entire Board and management team will continue to drive progress against the Company's strategic growth priorities." He emphasized the Board’s strong structure, which includes a majority of independent directors and a mix of diverse skills and experiences that align with the company's goals.

Nelson Peltz, CEO and a founding partner of Trian Fund Management, which owns 15.3 percent of Wendy’s outstanding shares, reflected on his tenure: "It’s been a pleasure working with the Wendy's Board for nearly two decades, and I’m proud of the company’s growth and transformation." Peltz expressed confidence in the company’s future leadership under Winkleblack and his partners Peter May and Matt Peltz, who will continue in their roles as Senior Vice Chairman and Vice Chairman, respectively.

With this leadership transition, Wendy’s remains focused on its strategic growth initiatives, backed by a well-structured and experienced Board.

Rebel Foods, the world’s largest internet restaurant brand and master franchise holder for Wendy’s in India, has announced the opening of a new Wendy’s dine-in outlet at V3S Mall, Laxmi Nagar, New Delhi. This expansion solidifies New Delhi as the largest Wendy’s market in India. With this new addition, Delhi NCR now hosts three Wendy’s outlets, including locations at Gaur City Mall and Kamla Nagar.

Rebel Foods operates Wendy’s cloud kitchens (delivery-only) and traditional restaurants across India, reinforcing its commitment to growing the brand’s presence. Wendy’s currently has over 100 locations in more than 20 cities across India. The new outlet is designed to cater to both take-away and dine-in customers, meeting diverse consumer needs.

The new V3S Mall outlet will feature self-ordering kiosks for a seamless and personalized experience. Customers can enjoy Wendy’s signature products like the OG Spicy Aloo Crunch Burger and Flavor Fresh Premium Burgers, along with globally renowned items such as the iconic Frosty. The outlet also provides easy takeaway options for customers on the go.

Ankush Grover, Co-Founder and CEO - India and MENA, Rebel Foods stated, “As we celebrate the launch of Wendy’s dine-in store at V3S Mall, Laxmi Nagar in New Delhi, we are excited to further expand our reach across the region. With our tech-driven approach to delivery and dining, our aim is to make Wendy’s a household name across India, and we are in the right direction to achieving that. The new store represents a significant step forward in our mission to make Wendy’s India’s newest burger obsession.”

Rebel Foods plans to continue building Wendy’s presence in India with a focus on digital expertise in delivery, automation, and innovation. Since Wendy’s launch in India in 2020, the menu has been customized to cater to Indian tastes, featuring items like the Spicy Aloo Crunch Burger, the crispiest fries, and the newly launched Flavor Fresh burger range, which includes unique options such as the Firebolt Tandoori Burger, Lord Cheesynator, and Nachoburg.

Iconic fast food chain Wendy’s has joined hands with ParTech, Inc. (PAR), a global restaurant technology leader and provider of unified commerce for enterprise restaurants for industry-leading loyalty and offer solution, PAR Punchh®, to advance its already successful loyalty program into the next generation of customer engagement.

Wendy’s will leverage PAR Punchh’s AI-driven platform and Punchh Enterprise Support to enhance its loyalty program for customers who visit any of their nearly 6,500 locations across the United States and Canada. 

With PAR Punchh’s advanced loyalty expertise and personalization engine, Wendy's aims to advance its loyalty program with best-in-class gamified experiences, targeted offers designed to bring great food for a great value to its customers, and exclusive promotions tailored to individual customer preferences.

The open architecture of PAR Punchh ensures seamless integration into Wendy’s existing app and online ordering systems, optimizing their technology stack for both current and future operations. This integration will enhance the omni-channel experience, digitally and at the restaurant.

In collaboration with PAR Punchh’s team of loyalty strategists, Wendy’s will craft a comprehensive strategy, aiming to elevate the guest experience and drive customer satisfaction.

“Loyalty is not a feature, it’s an outcome – driving more customer lifetime value. We believe that coupling our technology with our skilled team of loyalty strategists not only gives brands the tools to build guest loyalty, but also puts us in the driver seat with them to deliver results," said Savneet Singh, CEO of PAR Technology.
 

The Wendy's Company has appointed Matt Spessard as Chief Information Officer.

He will report to President and Chief Executive Officer Kirk Tanner and serve on the Wendy's Senior Leadership Team. Spessard will succeed Kevin Vasconi who has served as Chief Information Officer since October 2020.

Spessard has served as Senior Vice President, Global Chief Technology Officer for The Wendy's Company since August 2022. In this role, he was accountable for establishing the Wendy's System global technology vision and leading technological innovation and development to drive continued growth, competitive brand advantage and top-line revenue for the Company and franchisees.

As Chief Information Officer, Spessard will assume responsibility for all aspects of Wendy's global technology efforts, including Restaurant Technology, Data Management and Analytics, Enterprise Technology, Software Architecture and Engineering, and Information Security.

"Driving the growth of the digital business and harnessing technology in restaurants to improve the customer and crew experience are important pieces of our plan to accelerate sales and profitable growth across the global System," said President and CEO Kirk Tanner. "Matt's extensive experience in overseeing global technology initiatives at Wendy's positions him as the ideal leader to build growth on our already successful foundation."

Spessard joined Wendy's in May 2020 as Vice President, Restaurant Technology and assumed the expanded role of Vice President, Digital and Restaurant Technology in September 2020. Prior to that, he spent six years with Inspire Brands. He served in several roles of increasing accountability, including Vice President of Technology at SONIC. He also previously held various operations and technology leadership roles at YUM! Brands, Church's Chicken and Braum's Ice Cream & Dairy Stores.

Rebel Foods, the world's largest internet restaurant brand and the master franchise holder for Wendy's® in India has announced the launch of Wendy's® first airport dine-in store at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru.

The new store launched in association with Travel Food Services, marks the brand’s entry into the Indian airport retail sector. 

“As we mark the launch of Wendy's® first airport dine-in store at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, we're not just stepping into the Indian airport retail sector; we're entering a new era of culinary convenience,” shared Ankush Grover, Co-founder and CEO - India and MENA, Rebel Foods.

The cloud kitchen company exclusively operates Wendy's® cloud kitchen (delivery-only) and traditional restaurants across India and is now reinforcing its commitment to growing the brand presence across touchpoints. 

Wendy's® is currently present across 100+ locations in 20+ Indian cities and aims to reach 250+ locations over the next decade. The expansion comes as Karnataka has emerged as the second-largest Wendy's® market in India, following New Delhi. 

The new store is meticulously designed to serve both take-away and dine-in customers, operating 24x7 to accommodate the diverse schedules of travellers passing through the airport.

The new store will feature self-ordering kiosks to ensure a seamless and personalised experience. One can indulge in Wendy's® signature and flavour-fresh range, along with the globally renowned marquee products, including the iconic Frosty. The store will also allow passengers to enjoy burgers on the go with easy takeaway. 

Rebel will continue to build the brand’s presence in India with digital expertise in delivery, automation and innovation. Since its launch in India in 2020, Wendy's® has also customized its menu to cater to Indian tastes and preferences including the Spicy Aloo Crunch Burger, its crispiest fries and the newly launched Flavor Fresh burger range that has some unique and refreshing burgers like Firebolt Tandoori burger, Lord Cheesynator and Nachoburg.

Wendy’s is planning to expand its breakfast menu to help increase sales.

Currently, the Dublin-based fast-food chain’s breakfast menu is available in more than 300 restaurants across the United States. Wendy’s will expand its breakfast menu nationwide in 2020.

The burger brand will be adding breakfast items like the Breakfast Baconator, Frosty-ccino and Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit.

Todd Penegor, President and CEO, Wendy’s, said, “Launching breakfast in our U.S. restaurants nationwide provides incredible growth opportunities.”

“We are well-positioned to pursue it. We believe we have the right team and structure in place, and we put Wendy's fan favorites on our breakfast menu to set us apart from the competition,” Penegor added.

In order to support the expansion into breakfast, Wendy’s and its franchisees plan to hire about 20,000 crew members. The firm’s estimated investment in breakfast would be about $20 million.

The fast food chain has about 6,700 restaurants worldwide.

Want to invest in a fast food chain franchise? Visit Franchise India 2019, Asia’s Biggest Franchise & Retail Show, and give wings to your entrepreneurial dreams.

<p>वेंचर कैपिटल फंड हंच वेंचर्स यूएस आधारित बर्गर चेन वेंडी और भारत में फाइन डाइनिंग चेन जेमी के इतालवी ऑपरेटिंग दो कंपनियों में 100 करोड़ रुपये का निवेश करेगी। फर्म अंतर्राष्ट्रीय बाजार प्रबंधन (आईएमएम) के संयुक्त रूप से स्वामित्व वाली सिएरा नेवादा रेस्टोरेंट और डोलोमाइट रेस्टोरेंट में 50% हिस्सेदारी लेने के लिए निवेश कर रही है।</p>

<p>आईएमएम एक लंदन स्थित उपभोक्ता ब्रांड है, जो उद्यमी-रेस्टॉरिएटर जैस्पर रीड की अध्यक्षता में है।</p>

<p>रीड ने कहा, "वेंडी को अब भारत के लिए सही मॉडल मिला है और अगले 5-10 वर्षों में 300 वेंडी के आउटलेट खोलने की योजना बना रहा है। कंपनी इसी अवधि के दौरान लगभग 80 जेमी के ब्रांडेड रेस्टोरेंट&nbsp; खोलने की योजना बना रही है।"</p>

<p>हंच के संस्थापक करणपाल सिंह ने कहा, "हम सही खाद्य व्यवसायों की तलाश में हैं, जो स्केलेबल हैं और तकनीक, मीडिया और हमारे आतिथ्य ज्ञान जैसी अन्य संपत्तियों के साथ एकीकृत करने में सक्षम हैं। हम उन सभी अलग-अलग क्षमताओं का लाभ उठाना चाहते हैं।"</p>

<p>अब तक, हंच ने विभिन्न तकनीकी फर्मों में $ 150 मिलियन का निवेश किया है, जिसमें इंडियूट्स डॉट कॉम, हेल्थकेयर उद्यम और अन्य इकाइयों के बीच उच्च अंत कंसीयज सेवाएं शामिल हैं।</p>

<p>एमटेक ग्रुप कंपनी रोलटाइनर्स के बाद यह समझौता आया है, जिसने वेंडी में आईएमएम में अपनी 50% हिस्सेदारी बेच दी थी।</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

Venture capital fund Hunch Ventures will invest Rs 100 crore in two companies operating US-based burger chain Wendy's and fine dining chain Jamie's Italian in India. The firm is making the investment to pick up 50% stake in Sierra Nevada Restaurants and Dolomite Restaurants, jointly owned by International Market Management (IMM).

IMM is a London-based consumer brand headed by entrepreneur-restaurateur Jasper Reid.

Reid said, "Wendy's has now found the right model for India and is planning to open 300 Wendy's outlets in the next 5-10 years. The company plans to open about 80 Jamie’s branded restaurants during the same period."

Karanpal Singh, Founder of Hunch, said, "We have been looking for the right food businesses that are scalable and to be able to integrate with our other assets like tech, media and our hospitality knowledge. We want to leverage all those different capabilities."

So far, Hunch has invested about $150 million in various tech firms, which includes Indiaroots.com, healthcare venture, and high-end concierge services among other entities.

The agreement comes after Rollatainers, Amtek group company, had sold its 50% stake in Wendy's to IMM. 

Amtek group company Rollatainers has sold its stake in a company that holds the licence to run American quick-service restaurant chain Wendy’s outlets in India.

Rollatainers held half the stake in Sierra Nevada Restaurants, an equally owned joint venture with International Market Management (IMM), a London-based consumer brand headed by entrepreneur-restaurateur Jasper Reid. IMM bought the Indian partner’s stake in Sierra Nevada, becoming its sole owner.

Sanjay Chhabra, until recently a director at Sierra Nevada, confirmed the development. “The shareholding of Sierra Nevada is now entirely with IMM. Rollatainers got a fair value for the shareholding, and the JV is finding the right model in India,” he said, but declined to divulge the financial terms citing confidentiality conditions.

Reid said his company now owned 100% of the venture. “We can now grow,” he told ET.

The joint venture was formed in 2015, ahead of Wendy’s entry into India. The US chain that operates more than 6,600 restaurants globally had at the time announced plans to open close to 50 outlets in India by 2019, but has so far been unable to live up to the plans. It has just two stores as of now, having shut down three, and has rationalised prices from Rs 100 a burger to Rs 29 upwards and downsized store sizes.

A top executive directly aware of the developments said: “Tough market conditions including high taxation and steep rentals, and lack of necessary investments took a toll on the business.”

The Arvind Dham-controlled Amtek group has been swirling in financial crisis, as its debt-laden auto components business is saddled with heavy losses. Rollatainers’ core business is packaging.

“The Indian partners were not able to invest enough in the business, given their own financial crisis,” said another person. “The restaurants business requires heavy investments, swift innovation and ability to absorb costs specially if you’re in the QSR space, and playing the volumes game. That’s where Wendy’s lost to McDonald’s, KFC and Burger King — it could neither capitalise on the mass segment nor in the fine dining space.”

ET had reported early last year that Wendy’s was reconsidering its operating model in India and moving away from its existing franchise model with the Amtek group.

“Most global chains are India bound to be part of the burgeoning food service market. However, they are not playing an investment role and looking at royalties... The challenge is to find the right franchisee partner and there’s been a fair number of hits and misses,” said Rahul Singh, president of the National Restaurant Association of India.

Wendy's, one of the world's largest burger chains, rolls out its new star menu with some Gravylicious Rice Bowls and Delicious Desserts across restaurants.

The new appetizing rice bowl offerings are available in both Vegetarian and Non Vegetarian. The meal consists of a big, juicy bowl of Basmati rice cooked in a special spice combination of Cardamom, Cloves and Cinnamon served with rich masala gravy. It is topped with whole chopped cutlets, fresh tomatoes and onion rings with spice-rubbed baby potatoes and a garnish of cilantro.

The delectable new range of desserts includes the Rich Chocolate Brownie, Apple Pie and Masala Cake. The delicious deserts are served with a generous dollop of Wendy's famous Frosty.

Jasper Reid, Chief Executive, Wendy's India said, "With the rice bowls and new desserts we are even more of an all-day, every day restaurant. A menu for all times and occasions in a casual dining restaurant set-up but at the same price of a regular fast food joint. This is what we call QSR Plus+."

In order to make the brand more accessible, consumers can order the Wendy's menu online through Zomato, Swiggy and Food Panda.

The Wendy's system includes more than 6,500 franchise and Company restaurants in the United States and 28 countries and U.S. territories worldwide.