Wendy's to Close Hundreds of U.S. Locations

The fast-food chain plans to shutter up to 350 underperforming restaurants in the first half of 2026.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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Wendy's announced during its Q4 earnings call that it will be closing upwards of 350 U.S. locations, or 5-6% of its total restaurants, during the first half of 2026 as part of its 'Project Fresh' turnaround plan. The company cited a focus on 'consistently underperforming restaurants' to enable its franchisee partners to grow more profitable locations.

Why it matters

Wendy's is one of the largest fast-food chains in the U.S., so the closure of hundreds of locations will have a significant impact on the company's footprint and customer access. The move is part of a broader strategy to optimize Wendy's restaurant portfolio and position the brand for long-term growth.

The details

During Wendy's Q4 earnings call on February 13, 2026, Interim CEO and CFO Ken Cook announced the company's plans to close 5-6% of its U.S. restaurants, which equates to upwards of 350 locations, in the first half of 2026. The closures are part of Wendy's 'Project Fresh' turnaround plan introduced in October 2025. A Wendy's spokesperson stated the brand is shuttering 'consistently underperforming restaurants' to allow franchisees to focus on locations with the greatest potential for profitable growth.

  • Wendy's Q4 earnings call was held on February 13, 2026.
  • The restaurant closures are expected to occur during the first half of 2026.

The players

Wendy's

A major American fast-food hamburger chain with over 5,900 locations in the U.S. as of the end of Q4 2025.

Ken Cook

Wendy's Interim CEO and CFO who announced the restaurant closure plans during the Q4 earnings call.

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What they’re saying

“We are closing consistently underperforming restaurants to enable our franchisee partners to increase focus on locations with the greatest potential for profitable growth.”

— Wendy's Spokesperson

What’s next

Wendy's has not provided specifics on which individual locations will be closed, but the company says the closures will occur during the first half of 2026 as part of its 'Project Fresh' turnaround plan.

The takeaway

Wendy's is taking a strategic approach to optimizing its restaurant portfolio by closing hundreds of underperforming locations. This move aims to position the brand for long-term growth by empowering franchisees to focus on the most profitable restaurants in the system.