Dublin, Ohio — Dublin, Ohio-based fast food giant Wendy’s is planning to close hundreds of its U.S. stores next year as part of a broader effort to revive its home market. According to Wendy’s interim CEO Ken Cook during the company’s quarterly earnings call, Wendy’s is expected to close a “mid-single-digit percentage” of its 6,011 U.S. restaurants, which could approximate to about 300 stores.
In its latest fiscal quarter, Wendy’s global sales were down 2.6 percent and sales at U.S. locations fell 4.7 percent. As reported by several media publications, such as MSN, The Street and CBS News, the company blamed the drop in U.S. sales on fewer customer visits, as “Americans become more conscious about their spending.”
Additionally, Cook stated that the company is “acting with urgency to return to growth” by implementing major changes across its business, including understanding their customers, streamlining operations and strengthening its relationship with franchises.