Iconic fast-food chain set to open 400 branches in blow to McDonald’s

An American fast-food giant has announced plans to open 400 locations across the country.

The burger joint Wendy’s already has over 30 UK branches and is looking to expand across the North, Midlands, Southeast, Southwest and London.

The chain, which dates back to 1969, already has over 6,000 restaurants across the US.

Britons will now see new sites pop up in Newcastle, Rutland, Colchester, west London, and six more locations in the Southwest which haven’t been announced yet.

According to its UK managing director, Wendy’s aims to persuade Brits to swerve their usual takeaway options.

Michael Clarke said: “With more than 30 restaurants already open, these plans reflect our ambition to expand to 400 locations nationwide, enabling more people to enjoy our food. We’re excited to welcome new team members and invite consumers to cheat on their usual and try Wendy’s.”

The expansion into the Southwest is thanks to a development agreement with franchise organisation Khidmat Limited.

Its managing director, Farhat Abbas, was equally excited about the move. He said: “We believe that everyone in the UK should have access to Wendy’s food, and we’re excited to grow with a brand that has such loyal fans across the globe.”

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The company had their first British expansion in-between the 1980s and and early 2000s. However, all of these sites shut down in 2001 due to high property costs and other overheads that meant they struggled to expand the business.

But after two decades later, Wendy’s made its return to the UK, opening in Reading in June 2021, before also launching sites in places like Camden, Guildford, and Colchester.

Eight locations were already opened earlier this year – including in Middlesbrough, Liverpool and Sheffield.

The chain is most known known for its unique square-shaped burgers and Frosty iced treat, a mix of a milkshake and an ice cream.

Wendy’s recently teamed up with Paramount to create the Krabby Patty from SpongeBob Squarepants.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the hit cartoon show, Wendy’s sold a Krabby Patty meal, which consisted of a burger, fries, and a limited-edition pineapple version of the Frosty.

The Krabby Patty burger featured a quarter pound of beef, two slices of melty American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, and a top-secret Krabby Kollab sauce, all served on a toasted bun.