Third largest burger chain in the world. Wendys has more than 6,500 locations worldwide. The company has grown from its humble beginnings in 1969 to become a global phenomenon thanks to the insatiable demand for its signature hamburgers and French fries. The story of Wendys rise to prominence is fascinating and motivational and will impress even those who aren’t particularly fond of the fast food chain. The tale is so interesting that even Wendy’s detractors might give Dave’s Double a shot.
Wendys has a Hidden Menu
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Customers who are looking to try something a little out of the ordinary will be pleased to know that Wendys coupons special menu isn’t exactly a closely guarded secret. Chicken nugget fatigue? Try one of the dishes from the hidden menu. You can get a Meat Cube burger that weighs in at a pound, or you can get a Barnyard Burger that combines beef, bacon, and chicken. Valley Crispy Chicken Club sandwich is a lighter alternative to many hidden menu items that are packed with protein.
Wendys Frosty was First
Wendy’s offers a wide variety of fan favorites. Including the original Frosty, on their menu. Since the beginning of Wendy’s in 1969. This bad boy has been around. The Frosty, “a cross between a milkshake and soft-serve ice cream,” was created because Wendys founder Dave Thomas “wanted a dessert on the menu that was so thick you had to eat it with a spoon,” as stated on the company’s official website.
Thomas added vanilla to the recipe so that the chocolate didn’t take over. The end result was a delicious chocolate dessert that went great with a burger. Even though this chocolate-and-vanilla Frosty was the standard for many years, the vanilla Frosty wasn’t introduced until 2006.
Wendys Expanded beyond Dave Thomas’s Expectations
There were only five menu items when Wendy’s first opened in 1969. Dave Thomas didn’t have high hopes for the first Wendys he opened in Columbus, Ohio because his ideas for the restaurant were met with criticism from some industry experts (per Funding Universe). He merely desired a modest, regional chain where his children could find summer employment.
Thomas’s business flourished quickly despite his low expectations. After a year, he opened a second Wendys, and by 1974, he was bringing in nearly $25 million annually. Even though Wendy’s had only been around for a little over a decade, by the end of 1976 there were already 500 locations across the country.
Real-world Wendy was Mocked for being the Restaurant’s Spokesperson
Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendys, had four children; he didn’t play favorites when he chose Melinda (Wendy) Thomas, then eight years old. She told People in 1990 that her father had wanted an “all-American mug” and a memorable name. “I got elected because of my red hair, freckles, and buck teeth.”
Wendy has admitted that she often feels self-conscious about her famous face.
She recalled, “There was constant teasing.” That’s the way things are, so to speak.
Wendys Logo doesn’t hide Anything
The new Wendys logo, introduced in 2013, underwent a round of criticism from some who claimed it contained a hidden message. Wendy’s collar appears to conceal the word “mom” in the photo. Some people read into this a reference to a comforting, homemade meal like Mom used to make, but it was all a coincidence.
“It has not escaped our notice that our Wendy cameo appears to be wearing the word “mom” on her ruffled collar. We promise you it wasn’t done on purpose “reported a company spokesman.
Founder of Wendys Dave Thomas didn’t Finish High School
When Dave Thomas’ background is considered, Wendy’s success becomes even more remarkable. Thomas, who didn’t finish high school, served in the Korean War and then went into the food service industry. After that, he found employment at KFC, where he conceptualized the chicken bucket we now know and love. After working his way up the ranks, Thomas left the company in 1969 to start Wendys. What happened after that is old news.
When Wendy’s became successful, Thomas, then 61 years old, decided to go back to school and get his GED. For the purpose of assisting other emancipated youth in obtaining their GED, he established the Dave Thomas Education Center.
Wendy’s Introduced value Menus First
These days, it’s common for fast food joints to offer “value menus,” or menus with items priced significantly lower than their regular counterparts. Wendy’s pioneered the now ubiquitous value menu back in 1989, nearly a decade before Burger King followed suit in 1998.
Denny Lynch, senior vice president of communications at Wendy’s, provided context for the company’s decision to lower prices on select menu items. He explained that, at the time, “all the hamburger chains were going after each other,” leading to “extreme measures” such as “99 cent Whoppers and Big Macs.” “These were not promotional prices or special one-time offers; they were posted on a permanent sign. In order to gain market share, competing chains were offering steep discounts on their best-selling products, which (Wendy) saw as a threat.”
Wendys value menu was developed to compete with establishments that were offering similar meals at lower prices. Lynch explained, “We had the idea of creating a whole menu with 99-cent items rather than selling one of our big items at 99 cents.” We aimed to have these more affordable items be sufficient for a full meal, as requested by our customers.
Wendys Square burger Patties are Purposeful
Wendy’s has become famous for its distinctively shaped hamburger patties. There’s a logic behind the patties’ non-round shape. In Michigan, at a restaurant called Kewpee Burger, Thomas first saw square patties and was inspired to try them. Thomas decided to use these patties so that his patrons could see for themselves how recently the meat had been prepared. The square patties protrude beyond the round bun, revealing the juicy meat beneath.
A Wendys Social Media post has been known to be pretty Sassy
If you have a problem with Wendys, don’t be surprised if they respond with some sass. When a customer accused the company of using frozen beef on Twitter in 2017, the business showed it was savvy on social media by quickly responding with evidence to the contrary. In response to Wendy’s boasting that they never freeze their beef, user @NHRide replied, “so you deliver it raw on a hot truck?”
After the user rudely claimed that McDonald’s was superior, Wendy’s fired back. If you “forgot refrigerators existed for a second there,” as they tweeted, you don’t have to involve them. The wit of Wendy’s response drove @NHRide to delete their account shortly after being called out.
Chili was Always Served
Wendys, like many other companies, had humble beginnings but has since blossomed into a global powerhouse. Insider reports that when the restaurant first opened in 1969, the menu consisted of just five items: hamburgers, french fries, Frosty’s, soft drinks, and chili. Wendy’s chili, for example, has become a staple of comfort food for many customers. No one would mistake this tomatoey, mild ground beef and bean chili for a five-alarm, prize-winning Texas version. however, patrons like it because it is friendly and inexpensive. One Reddit user proclaimed, “Baked potato and chili with a frosty from Wendy’s the greatest three-course cheap meal in all of the American fast food.” “That’s a terrible thing to say. Awful. In a word, terrible. I always order some to dip my fries in, “a different commenter put it this way.
Looking back, chili seems like a strange addition to the menu of a basic burger joint. Although it’s possible that its inclusion was motivated not just by culinary considerations, but by practical ones as well. That Wendys uses beef patties that have been cooked for too long to be served as burgers as ground beef in their chili is common knowledge (at least according to So Yummy!). These slightly burnt but still edible burgers are gathered, frozen, and added to future batches of chili. Plus, most customers don’t mind this at all. One Reddit user commented, “I think it’s a great way to repurpose their meat.”
