After 34 years of operations, the Wendy’s New Zealand burger chain is being sold by Danny and Dianne Lendich, who brought the brand into the country in 1988.
The franchise includes 22 restaurants with 12 stores in Auckland, eight in other parts of the North Island and two on the South Island.
Danielle Lendich, CEO of Wendy’s NZ, and the daughter of the founders, said that with her parents now in their 70s, now is the “right time” for a change.
“Operations are strong across the country and we’re experiencing record sales. Even during the worst of Covid, there was a huge demand.”
Danielle Lendich added the business will undergo store refurbishments, new equipment and technology upgrades in the meantime as the sale process begins.
Globally, the burger chain opened more than 90 stores in the first quarter of this year with plans to expand its presence across European markets and the rest of the world.