National Fast Food Chain With Dozens Of WI Locations Dramatically Downsizing

One of the nation's largest fast food chains, which operates numerous restaurants across Wisconsin, will be shuttering hundreds of eateries across the country.

Wendy's expects to close roughly 5 to 6 percent of its locations nationwide, including 28 restaurants that closed during the fourth quarter of 2025. With 5,969 locations across the country reported at the end of last year, that means nearly 360 Wendy's restaurants could shutter during the first half of this year.

"By closing consistently underperforming restaurants, we are enabling our franchisee partners to increase focus on locations with the greatest potential for profitable growth," Wendy's acting CEO Ken Cook said in an earnings call with investors on Friday.

The closure announcement comes on the heels of Wendy's shuttering 240 locations nationwide in 2024.

According to the chain's website, Wendy's currently has 57 locations across Wisconsin.

On a positive note, Wendy's said that new chicken tenders and an upgraded sauce lineup resonated with customers and boosted satisfaction last year. Menu additions feature a cheesy bacon cheeseburger, a chicken tenders ranch wrap and improved chicken sandwiches with bun upgrades, signaling a renewed focus on core burger and chicken platforms.

"In 2026, we will prioritize meaningful innovation across both hamburgers and chicken, focusing on launches that restaurants can execute with excellence while reinforcing our quality positioning," Cook said. "In addition to a new menu approach, we are elevating the effectiveness of our marketingand optimizing our mix by allocating more spend towards digital, social and streaming platforms."