Wendy's

Wendy's defines its brand with "fresh, never frozen" beef. Founded by Dave Thomas in 1969 in Columbus, Ohio, it operates 7,100+ locations across 30 countries, generating $11 billion in global system sales. Wendy's pioneered the value meal concept in 1989, a move that still drives 35% of its U.S. orders under $5. Its Twitter/X account has become a social media phenomenon, amassing 3.8 million followers. The chain's digital sales grew 50% year-over-year in 2024. Wendy's fresh-beef supply chain covers 95% of its U.S. locations.