Wendys returns to the UK with Reading store opening
The US fast food giant hasn't been in the UK for 20 years
Last updated 2nd Jun 2021
US fast-food giant Wendy’s has returned to the UK after a 20-year gap by opening a store in Reading.
We'll soon be able to purchase Breakfast Baconators, towering triple-stacked beef burgers and Chocolate Frosty desserts at hundreds of restaurants the firm is planning to establish in the UK in the coming years.
With 30 to 50 employees per restaurant, the company is aiming to create around 12,000 jobs at up to 400 sites.
Wendy’s became the second-largest burger restaurant in the US after it said it “de-throned” Burger King last year.
They say their current success in the US is why they feel ready to return.
The Reading restaurant will be followed by four more at locations including Oxford and Stratford in East London later in the year.
Wendy’s will also be partnering with Uber Eats to provide delivery options.
Wendy's Tony Barr, Senior Director, International Marketing said their research found a gap in the market: "The thing that we saw was that UK customers sadly had much lower expectations than their American counterparts, so in the US and Canada people expect a lot more and that's partly because there's more competition. You might think of us as offering the premium quality of a hamburger like 'Five Guys' but at closer to McDonalds prices".
Tony explained why they chose Reading for their launch rather than the glitz of London's West End:
"We wanted our first restaurant to be representative of where we're going to be in the rest of the UK, and Reading's really representative of the rest of the UK it's a university town, lots of businesses based there and it draws a lot of people into the retail area from across Berkshire"
On the company's expansion Tony says they haven't been deterred by the pandemic:
"We're coming to the UK for the longterm, we'd already taken into account when we decided to come to the UK what changes Brexit might make to our supply chain and our business, certainly Covid is something that has lasted longer than any of us anticipated, wanted or were prepared for. The timing is just something you manage, we remain very optimistic"
The restaurant offers huge American portions, including the whopping Pretzel Bacon Pub Triple which is more than 1,500 calories.
As part of the launch, Wendy’s has said Britons will be offered exclusive new additions including vegetarian options.