This inaugural site is planned to be the first of many for the U.K.
Wendy’s, the iconic U.S. burger franchise famous for its square buns, has opened the doors to its first U.K. location in Reading, London.
The organization identified Reading as its first port of call due to the area’s strong employee base and close proximity to a major transportation hub. Later on in the year, Wendy’s plans to open four additional locations in areas such as Stratford in East London, and Oxford.
“Our vision is to become the world’s most thriving and beloved restaurant brand, and we’re well on our way. Our restaurant opening in Reading is very exciting for Wendy’s as it marks the official launch of the brand in the U.K. and across Europe,” said Abigail Pringle, president, International and chief development officer for The Wendy’s Company.
“Our team is working on opening additional restaurants across the country, starting in the southeast, and establishing new franchisee partnerships to help us quickly scale and expand our brand presence, investing in the local economy and bringing more jobs to the area.”
The location is unmissable with a three-foot tall bronze statue of the Wendy’s signature Frosty dessert outside the entrance of the building.
“We know British consumers are craving great tasting food at an affordable price and that’s what we’re here to give them,” said Liz Geraghty, chief marketing officer, International for The Wendy’s Company.
“We’re very proud to serve hamburgers using fresh, British beef patties topped with fresh British produce. We use locally sourced ingredients wherever possible and all menu items are made to order and can be customised. Our salads are prepared fresh daily and our sandwiches are served hot off the grill – something different to the competition.”
Back in February, we spoke with Paul Hilder, SVP and MD of Wendy’s Restaurants Canada and United Kingdom about the brand’s ambitious U.K. launch. Make sure to check out our conversation here for more info about this exciting first step.
