Wendy's aiming to open 10 UK restaurants in 2022

US fast food chain Wendy’s has said it plans to build around 10 restaurants in the UK this year.

The burger chain is planning to ramp up its UK expansion after returning to the country last summer following a 20-year break.

The company has been ambitious in its growth plans. Last year it said it was on track to have 10 UK sites open by the end of 2021, although only half that number actually launched.

In 2021 Wendy’s opened five company-owned restaurants in Reading, Stratford, Oxford, Croydon and Romford. Its sixth location launched in Brighton on 1 March.

In an earnings call this week Todd Penegor, chief executive of Wendy’s, said the chain was “going to continue to build our UK footprint to about 35 restaurants” in 2023.

Last year Wendy’s partnered with Reef, which operates ‘dark kitchens’ worldwide, to open delivery locations in the UK, US and Canada.

Penegor said Wendy’s expects to open around 150-200 Reef kitchens worldwide in 2022, 25% of which would be in the UK, 10% in Canada and 65% in the US.

Wendy's was founded in Columbus, Ohio, in 1969 and is aiming to grow to around 8,500-9,000 global restaurants by the end of 2025.