Wendy’s, the Ohio-based fast-food chain, is rolling out a multiyear turnaround strategy after seven consecutive quarters of declining sales, the company announced Nov. 5.
U.S. same-restaurant sales fell 5.7% in the third quarter of 2026, which ended Sept. 27, compared with the same period a year earlier. International same-restaurant sales dropped 2.2% year over year, according to Wendy’s financial report.
The new plan, called “Dave’s Way” after company founder Dave Thomas, rests on five pillars: menu, marketing, operations, digital experience, and what the company calls “restaurants as the engine for growth.”
Bob Wright, Wendy’s president and CEO, described the effort in a video accompanying the announcement, calling Wendy’s the “quality leader” in the quick-service restaurant industry and saying the chain is “always worth what you pay.”
Menu Changes Underway
At the center of the strategy is a menu overhaul aimed at improving quality and value. Wendy’s confirmed to Fox News Digital that it has begun testing thicker, crispier bacon, upgraded salads, a richer and creamier Frosty, and whole-leaf lettuce on sandwiches.
The company is also working to cut “lower volume items that add complexity” from its kitchens, according to Wright. Franchisees will be permitted to drop breakfast service if they determine it does not support their restaurant’s economics, the company said during its quarterly earnings call. Wendy’s is additionally redesigning its menu boards to spotlight signature items.
“We have moved quickly to align the Wendy’s system to support the strategy, organize our leadership and teams around our priorities and put resources behind execution,” Wright said.
Wright said there are early signs of progress, adding that the “direction reinforces our conviction in the actions we are taking.”
Background
Wendy’s was founded in 1969 by Dave Thomas and now operates more than 7,000 restaurants worldwide, known for fresh beef and menu staples such as the Frosty and the Baconator.
The turnaround announcement comes after Wendy’s rejected a $1.4 billion buyout offer from Nelson Peltz’s Trian Fund Management, according to a prior Fox Business report.
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