American fast food chain Wendy’s is set to open ‘hundreds’ of restaurants across Australia.
Despite launching into a competitive market, the popular US chain has big plans for its expansion Down Under.
The restaurant, which has more than 7000 locations worldwide, is best known for its square hamburgers, French fries and ‘Frosty’ frozen dairy desserts. It’s also America’s third biggest burger behind McDonald’s and Burger King.
Eager customers have posted videos online to share their excitement, although where the first restaurant location will be is yet to be decided.
Wendy’s wants to open hundreds of stores in Australia and will have meetings with possible major franchisee holders this week
While hundreds seemed thrilled about the announcement others were skeptical.
Followers of the Daily Mail Australia TikTok page shared their thoughts on the matter, with one person writing: ‘I feel like this is going to be similar to when Starbucks tried to come here.’
More than 800 people agreed with the stance and liked the comment.
‘I don’t think these American companies understand Australia has a high standard for its food so I don’t know how well it will do,’ another wrote.
A third claimed: ‘I feel like it’ll be like Five Guys – overpriced and inedible.’
One happy customer wrote: ‘We need a change from KFC, Macca’s and Hungry Jacks.’
Another impatient customer said: ‘YES hurry up Wendy’s.’
Earlier this year Wendy’s chief development officer Abigail Pringle will hold virtual meetings with potential franchisee investors this week about the plan to crack into the market.
Wendy’s is best known for its square burgers, French fries and ‘Frosty’ dessert. A location is yet to be decided on – leaving foodies waiting in anticipation
The US$4.8billion (AUD $7.26billion) company wants to raise global restaurant numbers by 1,500 over the next two years and is eyeing Australia as a prime expansion market.
It differentiates itself from McDonald’s and Hungry Jack’s by having a strictly made-to-order policy and does not keep food warm using heat lamps.
‘We believe Australia is a lucrative market for long-term growth. We think that the Australian market could be hundreds of restaurants,’ Ms Pringle told The Australian Financial Review.
Ms Pringle, based in the Columbus, Ohio headquarters, has been with Wendy’s for 21 years and said the burger chain could even offer incentive’s such as co-investment to entice Australian franchisees.
‘We are putting money on our balance sheet, we are finding the land, we are designing, building and handing you the keys… We haven’t yet said that we’re going to do that in Australia, but all I would share with you is we are actively doing that in the US and in Canada.’
Chief development officer Abigail Pringle (pictured) said Australia is a lucrative market and the company coudl offer incentives such as co-investment to get the ball rolling
There is no set opening date or location for the first restaurant but with the Australian fast food market to expand by 32 per cent to $8.7billion over the next five years, according to Euromonitor data, Wendy’s is keen to get the ball rolling.
‘We have to be careful with what that timeline is exactly because we want to pick the right partner. And that takes a little bit of time. But we think that we can have hundreds of restaurants in the market over time.’
Ms Pringle said Wendy’s is looking at a master franchisee model in Australia – which means a partner company that would handle most of the Australian business.
Established examples includes Collins Foods which operates KFC and Taco Bell or Restaurant Brands which runs Pizza Hut and Carl’s Jr.
She also said the company will partner with local producers and farmers to serve up quality Australian ingredients.
American franchise Wendy’s is planning to open its first Australian store. The fast food chain first opened in Ohio on November 15, 1969
Founder Dave Thomas opened the first Wendy’s in Ohio on November 15, 1969 – and since then it’s become a global success.
The menu also offers chicken sandwiches, nuggets, vegetarian options, breakfast sandwiches, salads, along with an interesting range of sides – including chili con carne and stuffed potatoes.
Wendy’s recently expanded to the UK and Ireland and can be found across Europe, Asia and throughout the United States.
The menu also offers chicken sandwiches, nuggets, vegetarian options, breakfast sandwiches, salads, along with an interesting range of sides – including chili con carne and stuffed potatoes
It follows after cult restaurants Five Guys and Carl’s Jr expanded to Australia.
Five Guys has opened a second Australian store in the heart of the Sydney CBD.
It is a family-run burgers and fries joint that started in America in 1986, offering a menu all made from scratch.
Now, decades after Five Guys first opened, there are locations across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, along with Australia, and a planned expansion into New Zealand.
The first store opened in Penrith, 50 minutes west from the Sydney CBD, on September 20 last year.
Carl’s Jr launched in Australia in 2016 and has said it wants to open 200 restaurants across Australia by 2030.
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