Wendy's, the quick-service restaurant brand that opened in Canada in 1975 promoting its iconic fresh beef, is now celebrating a milestone in its growth and showcasing an entirely new design for the opening of its 400th restaurant in the country . The new restaurant, located at 2545 Carling Avenue in Ottawa and owned by the franchisee of Wendy's Thakkar, not only marks a significant milestone, but also introduces the new design standard of the Wendy's International brand: reduced square footage through a simple design and Efficient with a lower construction cost and adaptable to a variety of environments including urban businesses, food courts, drive-thru-only establishments, and even shipping containers.

An important step

The opening of the 400th Wendy's restaurant in Canada marks a milestone and a testament to the brand's leadership in design innovation and recent growth as it strives to make the brand more accessible to more Canadians , in various ways.

"Wendy's is growing in popularity in Canada, recording nine-year sales growth in its restaurants and counting on the addition of more than 50 locations across the country in recent years," said Abigail Pringle, President - International and Head of Development at Wendy's. We have spurred this growth by highlighting the distinctive elements of Wendy's, including sourcing high quality Canadian ingredients such as fresh Canadian beef; the continued investment in innovation and menu quality such as our new hot and crispy fries, Strawberry Frosty and Canadian Greenhouse Lettuce; greening our packaging and investing in our digital and delivery services to reach more customers, more often. "

Keep up the momentum

But the brand does not stop at its 400th establishment.

"Looking to the future, and thanks to the commitment of current franchisees and the recruitment of future franchise partners, we have developed an ambitious plan to significantly accelerate this growth," adds the president. Expanding our presence also allows us to create more career opportunities while bringing more high quality, freshly prepared foods to customers across Canada. "

Wendy's is actively recruiting new franchisees across Canada, particularly in Quebec, one of the most populous provinces in Canada and where the possibilities are considerable, and in the Maritimes. These are two regions where Wendy's is currently less present and is seeking to establish itself.

Additionally, Wendy's is innovating to provide much more choice and convenience to customers in cities, including investing in its mobile app and delivery services, and a new development engagement with REEF to open and operate 700 delivery outlets over the next five years in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. The pilot project with REEF started in Canada in 2020, and to date, nine REEF delivery outlets are operational across the country.

Customer-centric design for Canada's 400th restaurant

Ottawa's state-of-the-art restaurant, which is the first Canadian stand-alone establishment to follow the new 2.0 Generation Global Brand Standard, is designed to optimize the Wendy's experience for customers, restaurant staff and delivery drivers. It has a window with two functions: one side is intended for drive-thru customers and the other, in the form of an external counter, is reserved for delivery drivers who come to pick up orders. This arrangement allows drive-thru customers to place their orders quickly, while promoting the speed of the delivery service. The interior features a new order routing system, modern finish, lighting and artwork, as well as the newest high efficiency HVAC system, which uses more fresh outside air rather than to recycle it.

Other restaurants inspired by this model are in development across Canada, including in Parksville, Vancouver Island, and a drive-thru, outdoor kiosk-only model in Trenton, Ontario.

For more information on how to join the Wendy's family and become a franchisee, contact the Wendy's Franchisee Recruitment team at wendys.franchising@wendys.com.