Wendy's to create 400 jobs as it beefs up UK expansion

US burger brand Wendy’s is set to create over 400 jobs in a major expansion across the UK this year.

The chain, famous for its square burgers, returned to the UK in 2021 after a 20-year hiatus.

It has since opened around 30 restaurants, delivery kitchens and drive-through locations, with a further nine due to launch this year.

These will include its first bricks and mortar site in Liverpool, a restaurant in Middlesbrough, and a second high street location in Sheffield.

Wendy’s latest franchisee, GH Burgers, will open its first restaurant in London's Wood Green later this year.

Restaurants will also launch in Southend-on-Sea, Colchester, Cambridge and Newcastle.

The new sites have already started recruitment and Wendy’s said it expected them to collectively create over 400 jobs.

Michael Clarke, UK managing director, Europe, for the Wendy’s Company, said: “We’ve seen great momentum in building Wendy’s fandom in the UK, and the love and excitement for this iconic brand grows stronger with each new restaurant opening.”

Clarke previously told The Caterer Wendy’s had plans for at least 50% of its UK restaurants to be drive-through locations and it was looking at extending opening hours of some sites until later in the evening.

Speaking in December, he said: “We will open anywhere and everywhere that our customers want us to."

Wendy's was founded in Columbus, Ohio, in 1969 and has more than 6,000 US restaurants but no European sites outside the UK.

The brand plans to use the UK as a base to grow into the market and is recruiting franchisees for Ireland and Spain.