You might think you know everything about Wendy’s, but get ready to be surprised by these facts about the fast food chain. From frosty treats to surprising menu items, Wendy’s has a lot more to offer than meets the eye. 🍔
12. Around 300 Million Frostys are Sold Every Year
Wendy’s is famous for its square-shaped burgers and chocolate Frosty dessert. It sells about 300 million chocolate Frostys each year, and Wendy’s has tried making new flavors for Frostys for over 50 years.
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They’ve made Frostys in strawberry and vanilla flavors and even served them in waffle cones. Even though Wendy’s has been making Frostys for over 50 years, they didn’t officially trademark the name “Frosty” until 2013.
11. There is a Wendy’s Board Game in the Style of Dungeons and Dragons
In 2019, Wendy’s came out with a board game called Feast of Legends. At first, it was called Feast of Legends: Rise from the Deep Freeze, but they shortened it when it came out.
The game is like Dungeons and Dragons, played on a table. Wendy is the Queen and the main character.
10. Wendy’s was not the First Hamburger Joint to Sell Square Patties
Dave Thomas got the idea to start Wendy’s after loving a burger place called Kewpee Hamburgers in his hometown of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Kewpee Hamburgers was one of the first places to serve square-shaped patties. Thomas liked these square patties because they made it seem like there was more meat, as the corners stuck out from the bun.
This tricked customers into thinking they were getting a giant burger with more meat, and it also let them see the quality of the meat better. Square patties became one of the first items on the Wendy’s menu and became a famous burger associated with the restaurant.
9. Wendy’s founder, Dave Thomas, Never Knew his Biological Family
When Dave Thomas was only 6 weeks old, he was adopted and never got to meet his birth parents. When he was 21, he tried to find his biological mother, but she had already died. He did meet her family, but he didn’t feel very connected to them. He didn’t really want to meet his biological father. However, his daughter found out more about her grandfather in the 1980s. By then, he had already passed away. Dave’s half-brother, who was a college professor and MIT graduate, didn’t seem interested in having a relationship with his famous half-brother.
8. Thomas Created the Dave Thomas Foundation to Help the Adoption of Children
In 1992, Dave Thomas founded the Dave Thomas Foundation, which aimed to support adopted children. Since Thomas himself was adopted as a child and never knew his biological family, he understood the importance of family and wanted to help other children find loving homes. His own adopted family provided him with love and support, inspiring him to create a charity that could give back. One of the foundation’s main programs, called Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, aimed to raise awareness and provide donations to adoption centers.
Before starting his foundation in 1990, President George Bush asked Thomas to be the spokesperson for the White House Initiative on Adoption.
7. Wendy’s Signature Frostys has been on the Menu since Day One
When Wendy’s first opened in 1969, the Frosty was one of the first five items on the menu. It only cost 35 cents back then. The other items were hamburgers, chili, French fries, and beverages. By the way, Frostys need to be served at a temperature between 19 and 21 degrees to keep their perfect thickness and texture.
6. Clara Peller, the Actress known for Starring in Wendy’s “Where’s the Beef” Campaign, was Fired
Clara Peller, known for gruffly asking where the beef was, became famous through Wendy’s “Where’s the Beef?” commercials. However, she was dropped from the campaign after appearing in a Prego commercial in which she said she finally found the beef in their spaghetti sauce. Wendy felt this undermined the message of their ads.
5. Wendy’s has a Foie Gras Burger on the Menu in Japan
Similar to many other fast food chains, Wendy’s offers unique items on its menus in different countries. In Japan, Wendy’s has unique limited-time offerings, such as Caviar and Lobster Burger and Lobster Surf and Turf Burger. They also had a premium menu where you could order a burger topped with foie gras and truffle sauce.
4. There’s Vanilla in the Chocolate Frosty
If you’ve ever thought that Wendy’s chocolate Frosty isn’t as intense as other chocolate desserts, you’re correct. That’s because there’s actually some vanilla mixed in with the chocolate. This combination of black-and-white flavors gives customers the best of both worlds and prevents the chocolate from being too intense or overwhelming. This blend has been used in Frosty treats even before Wendy’s started serving vanilla Frostys separately.
3. The first Wendy’s Opened in Ohio in 1969
The first Wendy’s restaurant opened on November 15, 1969, in Columbus, Ohio, USA. At that time, the restaurant was officially named Wendy’s Old-Fashioned Hamburgers, but most people called it Wendy’s for short. In August 1972, Wendy’s opened its first franchise, making a deal for a Wendy’s restaurant to open in Indianapolis, Indiana.
2. The First European Wendy’s was Opened in 1979 in Munich, Germany
By 1976, Wendy’s had opened 500 franchises in the United States and Canada. They started expanding to Europe in 1979, beginning in Germany. Wendy’s entered the Asian market with its first franchise in Japan in 1980, followed by openings in Hong Kong in 1982 and South Korea in 1984.
It wasn’t until the late 1980s and early 1990s that Wendy’s expanded globally into Mexico, Turkey, New Zealand, and Indonesia. With 54 years in business, Wendy’s is still a popular fast-food hamburger chain. It has grown internationally and adapted its menus to suit local tastes. Wendy’s has maintained its commitment to providing high-quality meats and creating menus that reflect regional preferences.
1. Wendy’s is Named After the Founder’s Daughter
The founder of Wendy’s, Dave Thomas, named the fast-food chain after his fourth daughter, Melinda. But because she had trouble saying her name as a child, especially with L’s and R’s, she often called herself “Wenda.” Eventually, this nickname stuck, and she became known as “Wendy.”
The Wendy’s logo, with its red braided hair and freckles, was actually inspired by Melinda’s appearance. In fact, pictures of her were hanging in the very first Wendy’s restaurant.
Surprising, right?
And there you have it—12 surprising facts 📍 about Wendy’s show it’s much more than square burgers and frosty desserts. From its humble beginnings in Ohio to its global expansion, Wendy’s continues to innovate and satisfy customers around the world.
