Wendy’s to Close 300 more stores in 2026

A.J. Pike

Dublin, Ohio - Wendy’s plans to close another 300 stores in 2026 on top of the 240 stores they closed in 2024 due to revenue and profit declines. The Dublin, Ohio-based company cites cutbacks by lower income consumers, conditions that it expects will persist for the near-term future. 

Wendy’s interim CEO, Ken Cook, confirmed the company is likely to close in the “mid-single range percentage” of its 6,011 U.S. locations, or roughly 300 store closures if it shuts 5% of its existing restaurants. Mr. Cook added that the closures will start in the 4th quarter of 2025 and involve underperforming locations and that the move will hopefully improve traffic and profitability at its remaining U.S. restaurants.  

Fast food chains have been struggling to lift sales as lower-income consumers feel increasingly squeezed by rising food costs.     

President Trump’s election pledge to lower inflation and the costs of food in grocery stores has not proved out to be the case, in fact, the opposite has occurred, to some extent, whereby many food costs such as meat, coffee, chocolate and certain oils have spiraled.

“When I win, I will immediately bring prices down, starting on Day One,” Trump declared at an August 2024 news conference surrounded by packaged foods, milk, meats and eggs.    

Both Wendy’s and McDonald’s have introduced value meals to entice diners, but Mr. Cook stated he doesn’t expect the financial strain on these households to ease any time soon. 

“We do see more pressure on the lower-income consumer,” he said. “We continue to see that in the third quarter and we expect to see it continue into the fourth.”

On the local scene, a #1 Dave’s Single hamburger at Wendy’s St. Croix location now costs $7.00, with a combo weighing in at $10.00.

On the overall Wendy’s U.S. franchised restaurants averaged just under $2 million in gross sales per year with a gross profit of approximately $1.4 million, leaving a net profit per store of $300,000 per year per franchise. 

“When we look at the system today, we have some restaurants that do not elevate the brand and are a drag from a franchise financial performance perspective,” said Mr. Cook. “The goal is to address and fix those restaurants. In some cases, that will mean making improvements to technology or equipment or transferring struggling locations to new operators. In others, it will mean closing the restaurants altogether.”