Wendy's

On November 15, 1969, Dave Thomas opened the very first Wendy’s restaurant in Columbus, Ohio. The restaurant quickly gained popularity for its square beef patties made from fresh beef and iconic Frosty® desserts.

On November 27, 1970, the second Wendy's restaurant was opened to the public.

In September 1975, the very first Wendy's restaurant outside of the USA opened up in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Residents loved the straight-sided hamburgers, leading to the establishment of more than 400 Wendy's locations in Canada today.

On December 7, 1976, Wendy's opened its 500th restaurant.

In April 1977, Wendy’s aired its first commercial, becoming the first quick-service chain with less than 1,000 restaurants to launch a national advertising campaign.

On August 22, 1978, Wendy's reached a milestone by opening its 1,000th restaurant.

Around November 29, 1979, Wendy's became the first restaurant to introduce a salad bar.

In May 1981, Wendy’s stock was listed on the New York Stock Exchange with the trading symbol “WEN”.

In October 1983, Wendy's introduced the humble baked potato to their menu, which became a popular staple item. Customers enjoyed options like the sour cream and chive baked potato or a loaded spud with chili and cheese.

In 1984, Clara Peller, an elderly actress, became famous for her line 'Where's the beef?' in a Wendy's commercial campaign, leading to a surge in popularity for the fast-food chain.

On February 13, 1985, 3,000th location of a certain entity opened.

Between January 1, 1988, and December 31, 1990, Wendy's started expanding its restaurants globally.

On October 21, 1989, Wendy's introduced the Super Value Menu, offering affordable and value-packed food options to its customers.

In July 1990, Wendy's debuted the Grilled Chicken Sandwich, adding a new item to their menu offerings. The sandwich became a popular choice among customers.

In 1993, Dave Thomas received his high school equivalency certificate and expressed regret for not finishing high school. This event led to the establishment of the Wendy’s High School Heisman program to recognize high school senior athletes who excel in academics and sports.

In December 1994, Wendy’s High School Heisman Program was launched, providing a platform for high school students to showcase their athletic and academic achievements.

In December 1995, Wendy's merged with Tim Horton's, forming a significant partnership in the fast-food industry.

In September 1996, Wendy’s introduced its spicy chicken sandwich to the menu, becoming the first major fast food chain to do so. The sandwich was well-received by fans for its spicy flavor and became a permanent menu item in 1996.

In October 2001, Wendy's celebrated the opening of its 6,000th restaurant, marking a significant milestone in the company's growth and expansion.

On January 8, 2002, the founder of Wendy's fast-food chain, Dave Thomas, passed away.

In October 2003, Wendy's started accepting credit cards as a form of payment.

In July 2004, Wendy’s introduced the Wendy’s Kids’ Meal®, a special meal option for children that includes a toy or other novelty item. This initiative aimed to attract families with young children to the restaurant.

Between March 17, 2005, and April 22, 2005, Anna Ayala was involved in a scandal where she claimed to have found a human finger in her chili at a Wendy's restaurant.

In November 2010, Wendy’s introduced a new version of their classic French fries called Natural Cut French fries, which were made from 100% Russet potatoes and seasoned with sea salt. The change was aimed at catering to Wendy’s fans who preferred more textured and flavorful fries.

In July 2011, Wendy’s made the strategic decision to sell off Arby’s and relocate its headquarters back to Ohio. This move allowed Wendy’s to focus on its core brand and operations, marking a significant shift in the company's direction.

In December 2012, Wendy’s restaurants underwent a global transformation known as Image Activation to modernize the brand and enhance the overall customer experience through new designs, product innovations, and engaging advertising.

In December 2013, Wendy’s opened its flagship restaurant near the Dublin, Ohio headquarters. The restaurant featured a new design and a community room dedicated to showcasing the history of Dave Thomas and Wendy’s.

Introduced in January 2014, the Ciabatta Bacon Cheeseburger featured a quarter-pound beef patty, aged Asiago cheese, applewood smoked bacon, rosemary garlic aïoli, and roasted tomatoes. Wendy's marketed it as a premium fast-food item priced at $4.79 in the United States.

In March 2014, Wendy’s launched a year-long marketing program focusing on foster care adoption. The campaign aimed to raise awareness about the challenges faced by children in foster care.

In October 2015, Wendy's introduced the 4 for $4 meal deal, revolutionizing meal deals by offering a combo meal including a hamburger, four-piece chicken nuggets, small fries, and a small drink for only $4. This value meal later expanded to include more menu options.

In January 2016, Wendy's initiated the Better Buildings Challenge, aiming to improve energy efficiency and sustainability in their buildings. This initiative reflects Wendy's commitment to environmental responsibility.

In February 2017, Wendy’s invested $30 million to improve the quality of the chicken it serves by changing cooking procedures and using smaller birds to provide customers with fresher, juicier chicken.

In December 2017, Wendy's partnered with DoorDash to offer delivery services, providing customers the convenience of ordering their favorite Wendy's meals right to their doorstep.

On October 3, 2019, Wendy's launched a tabletop role-playing game called Feast of Legends: Rise From the Deep Freeze, featuring a Wendy's kingdom against the Ice Jester, a parody of Ronald McDonald.

In March 2020, Wendy's introduced its breakfast menu nationwide in the United States with the slogan 'You Up for This?™', sparking excitement and competition in the breakfast industry.

'Wendy's Rewards' was launched in the United States in July 2020, offering customers loyalty benefits and incentives.

To celebrate National Hamburger Month in May, Wendy's offered a special promotion to its US customers. From May 26 until June 1, customers using the Wendy's app could purchase a Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger for just one cent with any purchase, without a minimum value requirement.

On November 15, 2021, Wendy's achieved a significant milestone by opening their 400th restaurant in Canada, located on Carling Ave. in Ottawa.

On November 16, 2021, Wendy’s opened its 1,000th international restaurant in Croydon, United Kingdom. This marked a significant milestone for Wendy's, showcasing their global expansion and success.

Wendy's was founded in 1969 and has always prioritized quality in their hamburgers, as reflected in their timeline.

As of November 2, 2023, there were 7,166 Wendy's outlets worldwide, with a majority being franchised locations.