There's a big change coming at Wendy's – we know that

Whether you want to start your day with a Frosty Cream Cold Brew or nibble on a Baconator cheeseburger for dinner, chances are you'll have to drive a little further to get the Wendy's menu items you're craving. In its third-quarter earnings call last month, Wendy's announced plans to close more than a hundred restaurants.

In the earnings call, Kirk Tanner, president and chief executive officer of Wendy's, said the company will “double down on operational excellence” in the coming months. Part of the chain's plan to ensure customers receive the same quality of experience at every Wendy's restaurant includes a decision to “close additional restaurants this year that are outdated and located in underperforming shopping districts.”

Wendy's is closing 140 locations

According to the call, Wendy's plans to close 140 locations nationwide by the end of the year to make room for newer restaurants “in better locations with significantly improved sales and profitability.” In addition to the closures, the fast food chain plans to open 250 to 300 new restaurants.

“We expect total closures in 2024, including additional closures in the fourth quarter, to be offset by new restaurant openings this year, leaving our net business unit growth approximately flat year-over-year,” Tanner said. “By the end of 2024 we will have opened more than 500 new restaurants in the last two years and are confident that we will achieve increased growth in 2025 and the years to come.”

Still, Tanner said, Wendy's is seeing growth and seeing popularity in its new menu items, such as the Spongebob-inspired Krabby Patty Kollab Burger and Pineapple Under the Sea Frosty. In fact, Tanner shared that Wendy's will continue to introduce new and returning menu items in the coming months, including an all-new Salted Caramel Frosty flavor and the return of a guest favorite: the Mushroom Bacon Cheeseburger.

Wendy's has not announced which locations will be affected by the closures.

These changes to the Wendy's landscape are part of a mosaic of restaurant changes and closures. Earlier this year, TGI Fridays announced plans to close nearly 40 of its U.S. restaurants due to underperformance, and the number of Pizza Hut restaurants has been shrinking since 2020.

Founded in 1969, Wendy's operates approximately 7,000 restaurant locations worldwide. Regardless of any closure plans, customer satisfaction remains the fast food chain's goal, Tanner said. “Looking forward, we are focused on continuing to grow the love for Wendy's by delivering on our new brand promise: fresh, iconic dishes tailored just for you, every time, every restaurant, every customer, every day.”