(LOOTPRESS) – Wendy’s announced Friday that it plans to close between 5% and 6% of its U.S. restaurants during the first half of 2026 as part of a previously outlined turnaround strategy.
The fast-food chain said the closures will primarily affect consistently underperforming locations.
Interim CEO Ken Cook said during the company’s earnings call that 28 restaurants were already closed in the fourth quarter as part of the broader plan. Wendy’s ended 2025 with 5,969 restaurants across the United States, according to company earnings documents.
The company previously disclosed in November that it intended to shut down hundreds of restaurants in an effort to improve overall performance.
Wendy’s has not released a list of the stores expected to close.
The announcement comes as the chain faces declining sales. Same-store sales fell 11.3% in the fourth quarter of 2025 and were down 5.6% for the full year, according to earnings results. Company leadership said the closures will allow franchisees to concentrate on more profitable locations.
Cook acknowledged that the company had relied heavily on limited-time promotions and said Wendy’s is shifting its focus toward everyday value offerings.
In January, the company expanded its Biggie meal lineup, introducing $4 Biggie Bites, a $6 Biggie Bag and an $8 Biggie Bundle.
Executives said the changes are aimed at attracting cost-conscious customers amid ongoing inflation pressures that have affected discretionary spending.
Wendy’s also reported that its newly introduced chicken tenders, marketed as “Tendys,” have performed well despite the broader sales decline.
