Wendy’s Sets Big Push in Italy

As part of its ongoing international expansion, The Wendy’s Co. (Dublin, Ohio) has unveiled plans to open its first 170 franchise units in Italy, along with 20 more in Armenia. These commitments support the burger chain’s goal to achieve 70% of its unit growth outside the United States and thereby reach 2000 international restaurants by 2028.

The Italian units will be run by Ascoli Piceno-based Your Food S.R.L, which has an agreement develop new Wendy’s restaurants across the country through 2035, starting with the first two in Milan next year. In Armenia, meantime, locally based Wen Restaurant LLC has a pact to open new Wendy’s restaurants across the country through 2030, starting with one in its home city of Yerevan.

“These agreements are yet another example of the success of our accelerated growth strategy,” said E.J. Wunsch, Wendy’s President, International. “With each new partnership, our momentum increases. And the best is yet to come. Wendy’s has never been better positioned to scale internationally, and we are proud to partner with Your Food and Wen Restaurant.”

Wendy’s has 1150-plus restaurants outside the U.S. and just under 6000 locales in its home country.