Dave Thomas founded Wendy's in 1969 after selling his KFC franchises back to Sanders.

On November 15, 1969, the first Wendy's restaurant opened in Columbus, Ohio.

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

In 1971, Wendy's pioneered the modern conception of the drive-thru, setting the stage for a new era in fast food service.

In 1972, Wendy's aired its first TV commercials locally in Ohio, featuring an animated Wendy and dancing hamburgers.

By the end of 1974, Wendy's net income exceeded $1 million, marking a significant milestone in the chain's growth.

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 1982, Dave Thomas stepped back from overseeing day-to-day operations at Wendy's. Despite this, the company continued to grow and expand.

In October 1983, Wendy’s added baked potatoes to their menu, which became a popular choice among customers seeking a lighter side or a complement to their chili.

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.

By 1986, almost all of Wendy's Australian stores had been purchased by Hungry Jack's, the Australian franchisee of Burger King.

In 1987, Wendy's sold Sisters Chicken & Biscuits, a fried chicken chain it had founded in 1978, to its largest franchisee.

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 October 1990, Wendy's adopted adoption as its national charitable cause after President George H.W. Bush requested Dave Thomas to be the spokesperson for the 'Adoption Works…For Everyone' initiative.

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 November 1994, Wendy’s celebrated its 25th anniversary.

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 1998, Wendy's withdrew from South Korea by closing all 15 of its restaurants. Additionally, Wendy's also exited from the UK, Argentina, and Hong Kong in 2000.

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.

In November 2004, Wendy’s introduced kid-friendly offerings in its Kids’ Meal, allowing parents to choose mandarin oranges and milk as healthier alternatives to French fries and soda.

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.

Wendy's headquarters relocated to Dublin, Ohio, on January 29, 2006.

On June 28, 2006, a total of 375 job cuts were announced.

On February 5, 2007, plans for introducing breakfast menu were announced to be implemented slowly.

Wendy's announces that it is exploring the sale of the company, indicating a potential shift in ownership and business strategy.

On October 2, 2007, the original Wendy's restaurant closed its doors.

On September 29, 2008, Wendy's merged with Triarc Companies Inc., the parent company of Arby's, leading to the formation of Wendy's/Arby's Group.

The Bacon Deluxe was introduced in 2009 as a replacement for the Big Bacon Classic, featuring Applewood Smoked Bacon. It was a variation of the Big Classic sandwich that included mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup, onions on a Kaiser-style roll. The Bacon Deluxe was no longer available in US stores.

In March 2010, Wendy’s launched the Community Ambassador Grant Program. This program aimed to support community initiatives and projects, contributing to local development and welfare.

In July 2010, Wendy's revamped its salad lineup with new options including Apple Pecan Chicken, BLT Cobb, Spicy Chicken Caesar, and Baja. The Apple Pecan Chicken salad remains a popular choice on the menu.

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 October 2011, Wendy’s introduced Dave’s Hot ‘N Juicy® Cheeseburgers to its menu, offering a new and improved burger option for customers.

In December 2011, The Wendy’s Company moved its common stock listing from the New York Stock Exchange to NASDAQ, trading under the symbol “WEN”.

In April 2012, Morgan Smith Goodwin started appearing as the redhead in Wendy's advertisements with the slogan 'Now that's better.'

In July 2012, Wendy's introduced the Son of Baconator®, a delicious burger featuring bacon, beef patty, and other fresh toppings.

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 April 2014, The Dave Golf Tournament took place. The tournament may have been organized in honor of Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy’s.

In September 2015, Wendy's introduced the Wendy’s Kids’ Meal focused on Creative Play, emphasizing the importance of imaginative and interactive activities for children.

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 August 2016, Wendy’s held its First Top 200 General Manager Conference, bringing together top managers to discuss strategies and initiatives for the company.

In October 2016, Wendy's reintroduced the Taco Salad to its menu, providing fans with a nostalgic taste of the 90s. The salad featured Wendy's signature chili, hand-diced tomatoes, and shredded cheddar, with additional toppings like tortilla chips, sour cream, and salsa on the side.

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 March 23, 2018, Wendy's released an EP titled We Beefin?, a play on their 1984 slogan Where's the beef?

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.

In December 2020, Wendy's launched a new Community Giving Program to give back to the community.

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.

Recent reports indicate shake ups at the top of Wendy's, with the resignation of the brand's US chief finance officer as part of a major company restructuring.

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

On February 14, 2024, John Li was appointed as the Vice President of Culinary Innovation at Wendy's.

On March 18, 2024, Wendy's introduced the Cinnabon® Pull-Apart as a new menu item.

On March 19, 2024, Wendy's offered special deals as part of their March Madness promotion.

On March 22, 2024, Wendy's introduced a new Orange Dreamsicle Frosty. Customers can enjoy this new menu item at participating Wendy's locations.