NRN Trending: A bankrupt Wendy’s franchisee pushes back
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This week on Nation’s Restaurant News, the top story was “A bankrupt Wendy’s franchisee pushes back against the brand.” The bankruptcy of large Wendy’s franchisee Meritage Hospitality Group has revealed some tension between the operator and the franchisor over multiple issues, adding multiple complications to an already complex Chapter 11 process. Wendy’s last week objected to the proposed closure of 10 locations in Oklahoma, Michigan, Georgia, and Florida, offering to replace seven of those closures with different restaurants in other markets.
In other news, Jersey Mike’s latest limited-time offer is a value play, as the fast-casual chain works to build frequency among younger diners. The sandwich chain on Monday rolled out The Mini Bundle: the offer of any mini cold sub and a bag of chips for $7.99. The fast-casual chain has long offered its sandwiches in varying sizes. A “mini” is just a smaller version available for each sub, and the company notes that each mini offers at least 18 grams of protein.
Also, KFC U.S. is making the switch from Pepsi to Coke after a 40-year exclusive partnership. Beginning in January 2027, KFC will transition its U.S. beverage partnership, with Coca-Cola products expected to be served in all restaurants by spring 2027.
See what else was trending on NRN.com this week.
