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Item 1A. Risk Factors” and “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”) and in our other current and periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
International Operations
Wendy’s is committed to securing our information systems against cybersecurity threats and protecting the privacy and security of our customers’, employees’, franchisees’ and business partners’ information. However, as described in “Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Technology and Cybersecurity” of this Form 10-K, we recognize that cybersecurity threats are an ongoing concern in today’s interconnected digital world and that, despite devoting considerable resources to secure our information systems, cybersecurity incidents can occur and, if so, could negatively impact our brand, business, results of operations and financial condition. Based on this recognition and taking into account experience from previous cybersecurity incidents, we have developed a comprehensive cybersecurity risk management strategy designed to identify, assess and manage potential threats to our information systems. Key components of our cybersecurity risk management strategy include the following:
In 2025, we did not identify any cybersecurity threats that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our business strategy, results of operations, or financial condition. However, as described above, we cannot eliminate all risks from cybersecurity threats, or provide assurances that we have not experienced undetected cybersecurity incidents. For additional information about these risks, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Technology and Cybersecurity” of this Form 10-K.
Our Board of Directors provides oversight with respect to our risk assessment and risk management activities, including our cybersecurity risk management strategy. While our Board has primary responsibility for risk oversight, the Board’s standing committees support the Board by addressing various risks within their respective areas of responsibility.
The Technology Committee provides oversight with respect to our technology risk management, assessment and exposures, including cybersecurity risks. The Technology Committee receives regular updates from the Chief Information Officer (“CIO”) and Chief Information Security Officer (“CISO”) regarding our cybersecurity risk management strategy, the cyber threat landscape, industry trends and other relevant cybersecurity topics. Management also provides the Technology Committee with detailed reports regarding our technology priorities and initiatives to ensure that our cybersecurity risk management strategy remains current and aligned with our overall business strategy.
management strategy. The CISO possesses academic and industry certifications and approximately two decades of experience in technology risk management, including over a decade with the Company leading multiple information security functions. The CISO briefs the CIO regularly on current cybersecurity matters and relevant issues across the cybersecurity threat landscape. The CIO and CISO regularly report to our senior leadership team, as well as our Board of Directors and designated Board committees, regarding our cybersecurity risk management strategy. The CIO and CISO are supported by several dedicated teams of cybersecurity specialists, including teams responsible for vulnerability and penetration assessments, secure design of systems and applications, intrusion detection and monitoring and incident response. In addition, the CIO and CISO coordinate with other internal teams, including Digital, Data Governance, Operations, Finance, Legal and Internal Audit, to ensure our cybersecurity risk management strategy supports the Company’s technology strategy and overall business goals.
In addition to the factors described above, there are risks associated with our predominantly franchised business model that could impact our results, performance and achievements. Such risks include our ability to identify, attract and retain experienced and qualified franchisees, our ability to effectively manage the transfer of restaurants between and among franchisees, the business and financial health of franchisees, the ability of franchisees to meet their royalty, advertising, development, reimaging and other commitments, participation by franchisees in brand strategies and the fact that franchisees are independent third parties that own, operate and are responsible for overseeing the operations of their restaurants. Our predominantly franchised business model may also impact the ability of the Wendy’s system to effectively respond and adapt to market changes.
All future written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to above. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and factors that we currently deem immaterial may become material, and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect us. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K as a result of new information, future events or developments, except as required by federal securities laws, although we may do so from time to time. We do not endorse any projections regarding future performance that may be made by third parties.
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Item 1. Business.
Company Overview
Wendy’s is primarily engaged in the business of operating, developing and franchising a system of distinctive quick-service restaurants serving high quality food. Wendy’s opened its first restaurant in Columbus, Ohio in 1969. Today, Wendy’s is the second largest quick-service restaurant company in the hamburger sandwich segment in the United States (the “U.S.”) based on traffic and dollar share, and the third largest globally with 7,397 restaurants in the U.S. and 38 foreign countries and U.S. territories as of December 28, 2025.
At December 28, 2025, there were 5,969 Wendy’s restaurants in operation in the U.S. Of these restaurants, 423 were operated by the Company and 5,546 were operated by a total of 203 franchisees. In addition, at December 28, 2025, there were 1,428 Wendy’s restaurants in operation in 38 foreign countries and U.S. territories. Of the international restaurants, 1,417 were operated by a total of 117 franchisees and 11 were operated by the Company in the United Kingdom (the “U. Of the international restaurants, 1,006 were operated by franchisees and five were operated by the Company in the United Kingdom (the “U. K.”).
The Company’s principal executive offices are located at One Dave Thomas Blvd. The Company’s principal executive offices are located at One Dave Thomas Blvd. , Dublin, Ohio 43017, and its telephone number is (614) 764-3100.
Corporate History
The Wendy’s Company’s corporate predecessor was incorporated in Ohio in 1929 and was reincorporated in Delaware in June 1994. Effective September 29, 2008, in conjunction with the merger of Triarc Companies, Inc. and Wendy’s International, Inc., the Company’s corporate name was changed from Triarc Companies, Inc. to Wendy’s/Arby’s Group, Inc. Effective July 5, 2011, in connection with the Company’s sale of Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. Effective July 5, 2011, in connection with the Company’s sale of Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. , the Company’s corporate name was changed to The Wendy’s Company. (“Arby’s”), the Company’s corporate name was changed to The Wendy’s Company.
Fiscal Year
The Company’s fiscal reporting periods consist of 52 or 53 weeks ending on the Sunday closest to December 31 and are referred to herein as (1) “the year ended December 28, 2025” or “2025,” (2) “the year ended December 29, 2024” or “2024,” and (3) “the year ended December 31, 2023” or “2023,” all of which consisted of 52 weeks.
Business Strategy
During 2025, the Company announced Project Fresh, a comprehensive plan to drive profitable growth and long-term value across our U.S. system. The four strategic pillars of Project Fresh include (1) brand revitalization, (2) operational excellence, (3) system optimization and (4) capital allocation. These pillars are designed to drive profitable average unit volume growth and increase traffic in the U.S. by improving marketing effectiveness, menu offerings and the customer experience, and to enhance franchisee economics. Internationally, the Company’s strategic priorities also include driving profitable average unit volume growth and sustaining strong net unit growth.
Business Segments
The Company is comprised of the following segments: (1) Wendy’s U.S., (2) Wendy’s International and (3) Global Real Estate & Development. Wendy’s U.S. includes the operation and franchising of Wendy’s restaurants in the U.S. and derives its revenues from sales at Company-operated restaurants and royalties, franchise fees and national advertising fund collections from franchised restaurants. Wendy’s International includes the operation and franchising of Wendy’s restaurants in countries and territories other than the U.S. and derives its revenues from sales at Company-operated restaurants and royalties, fees and advertising fund collections from franchised restaurants. Global Real Estate & Development includes real estate activity for owned sites and sites leased from third parties, which are leased and/or subleased to franchisees, and also includes our share of the income of our Canadian restaurant real estate joint venture (“TimWen”). In addition, Global Real Estate & Development earns fees from facilitating franchisee-to-franchisee restaurant transfers (“Franchise Flips”) and providing other development-related services to franchisees. See Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in Item 7 herein and Note 26 to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 8 herein for segment financial information.
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The Wendy’s Restaurant System
The revenues from our restaurant business are derived from two principal sources: (1) sales at Company-operated restaurants and (2) franchise-related revenues, including royalties, franchise fees, national advertising funds contributions and rents received from Wendy’s franchised restaurants.
Restaurant Openings and Closings
During 2025, Wendy’s opened 268 new restaurants, of which 15 were Company-operated and 253 were franchisee-operated. During 2025, Wendy’s closed 111 generally underperforming restaurants, of which five were Company-operated and 106 were franchisee-operated.
The following table sets forth the number of Wendy’s restaurants in operation at the beginning and end of each fiscal year from 2023 to 2025:
Restaurant Operations
Wendy’s develops, operates and franchises restaurants across the globe. Traditional restaurants generally feature dine-in, carryout, drive-thru and delivery services. While most Wendy’s locations are traditional restaurants, Wendy’s also operates non-traditional restaurants in locations such as fuel and transportation centers, food courts and other retail locations, delivery kitchens and military bases.
Each Wendy’s restaurant offers an extensive menu specializing in hamburger sandwiches and featuring chicken sandwiches, which are prepared to order with the customer’s choice of toppings and condiments. Wendy’s menu also includes chicken tenders and nuggets, chili, french fries, baked potatoes, salads, soft drinks, Frosty® desserts and kids’ meals. In addition, Wendy’s restaurants sell a variety of promotional products on a limited time basis. Wendy’s also offers breakfast in the U.S. and Canada. Wendy’s breakfast menu features a variety of breakfast sandwiches such as the Breakfast Baconator® and sides such as seasoned potatoes.
Wendy’s strives to maintain quality and uniformity throughout all restaurants by publishing detailed specifications for food products, preparation and service, continual in-service training of employees, restaurant operational audits and field visits from Wendy’s supervisors. In the case of franchisees, field visits are made by Wendy’s personnel who review restaurant operations, including quality, service and cleanliness, and make recommendations to assist in compliance with Wendy’s specifications. In the case of franchisees, field visits are made by Wendy’s personnel who review operations, including quality, service and cleanliness and make recommendations to assist in compliance with Wendy’s specifications.
Supply Chain, Distribution and Purchasing
As of December 28, 2025, three independent processors (five total production facilities) supplied all of the fresh beef used by Wendy’s restaurants in the U.S. In addition, six independent processors (eleven total production facilities) supplied all of the chicken used by Wendy’s restaurants in the U.S. In addition, there was one main in-line distributor of food, packaging and beverage products, excluding breads, that serviced approximately 63% of Wendy’s restaurants in the U.S. and four additional in-line distributors that, in the aggregate, serviced approximately 35% of Wendy’s restaurants in the U.S. Wendy’s and its franchisees have not experienced any material shortages of food, equipment, fixtures or other products that are necessary to maintain restaurant operations, and Wendy’s anticipates no such shortages of products and believes that alternate suppliers and distribution sources are available. Suppliers and distributors to the Wendy’s system must comply with U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) regulations governing the manufacture, packaging, storage, distribution and sale of all food and packaging products.
Wendy’s has a purchasing co-op relationship structure with its franchisees that establishes Quality Supply Chain Co-op, Inc. (“QSCC”). QSCC manages, for the Wendy’s system in the U.S. and Canada, contracts for the purchase and distribution of food, proprietary paper, operating supplies and equipment, typically under national agreements with pricing based upon total system volume. QSCC’s supply chain management facilitates the continuity of supply and provides consolidated purchasing
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efficiencies while monitoring and seeking to minimize possible obsolete inventory throughout the Wendy’s supply chain in the U.S. and Canada. Wendy’s and its franchisees pay sourcing fees to third-party vendors on certain products sourced by QSCC. Such sourcing fees are remitted by these vendors to QSCC and are the primary means of funding QSCC’s operations. Should QSCC’s sourcing fees exceed its expected needs, QSCC’s board of directors may return some or all of the excess to its members in the form of a patronage dividend.
Wendy’s does not sell food or restaurant supplies or products to its franchisees.Wendy’s does not sell food or restaurant supplies to its franchisees.
Quality Assurance
Wendy’s quality assurance program is designed to verify that the food products supplied to our restaurants are processed in a safe, sanitary environment and in compliance with our food safety and quality standards. Wendy’s quality assurance personnel regularly conduct sanitation and production audits for all of our core menu product processing facilities, which include beef, chicken, eggs, pork, buns, french fries, Frosty® dessert ingredients and produce. Animal welfare audits are also conducted at all beef, chicken, pork and egg facilities to confirm compliance with our required animal welfare and handling policies and procedures. Animal welfare audits are also conducted at all beef, chicken and pork facilities to confirm compliance with our required animal welfare and handling policies and procedures. In addition to our facility audit program, weekly samples of beef, chicken and other core menu products from our distribution centers are randomly sampled and analyzed by a third-party laboratory to test conformance to our quality specifications. Samples of core menu products are also sent weekly to Wendy’s in-house quality assurance team to assess conformance to Wendy’s specifications. Wendy’s representatives, including third-party auditors, regularly conduct evaluations and inspections of all Company-operated and franchised restaurants to test conformance to our sanitation, food safety and operational requirements. In addition, restaurant crew and managers at Company-operated and franchised restaurants are re-certified each year on critical food safety standards. Wendy’s has the right to terminate franchise agreements if franchisees fail to comply with quality standards. Wendy’s also utilizes a platform designed to help streamline data collection, tracking and trending in our supply chain as part of our food safety and quality assurance program. We continue to expand the scope of the platform to help us monitor and assess food safety and quality assurance risks.
Information Technology
Wendy’s relies on computer systems and information technology to conduct its business. Wendy’s utilizes both commercially available third-party software and proprietary software owned by the Company to run the point-of-sale and kitchen delivery functions and certain other consumer-facing and back-office functions in Wendy’s restaurants. Wendy’s has invested significant resources to focus on consumer-facing and other technology, including investments to support restaurant stability, enterprise resource planning, enhancements to Wendy’s mobile apps and loyalty programs, data infrastructure to support customer relationship management and personalized marketing capabilities and delivery arrangements with third-party vendors for Wendy’s U.S. and Canadian restaurants. We believe our digital platforms are critical to creating a more seamless user experience, providing insights to enhance our relationship with customers and meeting consumer demand for customization, speed and convenience. We have a partnership with a third-party global cloud provider to enhance our restaurant experience and unlock new customer, restaurant and employee experiences through data-driven insights.
Trademarks and Service Marks
Wendy’s or its subsidiaries have registered certain trademarks and service marks in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and in international jurisdictions, some of which include Wendy’s®, Quality Is Our Recipe® and the Wendy Cameo design. Wendy’s believes that these and other related marks are of material importance to its business. Domestic trademarks and service marks have their next required maintenance filings at various times from 2026 to 2036 in order to keep such registrations in force, while international trademarks and service marks have various durations of seven to 15 years. Wendy’s generally intends to maintain and renew its trademarks and service mark registrations in accordance with applicable deadlines.
Wendy’s entered into an Assignment of Rights Agreement with the Company’s founder, Dave Thomas, and his wife dated as of November 5, 2000 (the “Assignment”). Wendy’s had used Mr. Thomas, who was Senior Chairman of the Board until his death on January 8, 2002, as a spokesperson and focal point for its products and services for many years. With the efforts and attributes of Mr. Thomas, Wendy’s has, through its extensive investment in the advertising and promotional use of Mr. Thomas’ name, likeness, image, voice, caricature, endorsement rights and photographs (the “Thomas Persona”), made the Thomas Persona well known in the U.S. and throughout North America and a valuable asset for both Wendy’s and Mr. Thomas’ estate. Under the terms of the Assignment, Wendy’s acquired the entire right, title, interest and ownership in and to the Thomas Persona, including the sole and exclusive right to commercially use the Thomas Persona.
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Research and Development
New product development is important to the Wendy’s system. The Company believes that the development and testing of new and improved products is critical to increasing sales, attracting new customers and differentiating the Wendy’s brand from competitors. The Company maintains a state-of-the-art research and development facility that includes a sensory lab, analytical labs, culinary kitchens and a Wendy’s test kitchen. The Company employs a variety of professionals from the culinary and food science disciplines to bring new and improved products to market.
Seasonality
Wendy’s restaurant operations are moderately seasonal. Wendy’s average restaurant sales are normally higher during the summer months than during the winter months. Because our business is moderately seasonal, results for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved for any other quarter or for the full fiscal year.
Competition
Each Wendy’s restaurant is in competition across all dayparts with other food service operations within the same geographical area. The quick-service restaurant segment is highly competitive and includes well-established competitors. Wendy’s competes with other restaurant companies and food outlets, primarily through the quality, variety, convenience, price and value perception of food and beverage products offered. The number and location of restaurants, quality and speed of service, attractiveness of facilities, effectiveness of marketing, new product development by Wendy’s and its competitors and technology and delivery are also important factors. The number and location of restaurants, quality and speed of service, attractiveness of facilities, effectiveness of marketing and new product development by Wendy’s and its competitors are also important factors. The price charged for each menu item may vary from market to market (and within markets) depending on competitive pricing and the local cost structure. Wendy’s competes within the food service industry and the quick-service restaurant sector for customers as well as for personnel, suitable real estate sites and qualified franchisees.
Wendy’s competitive position is differentiated by a focus on high quality, craveable food, its made-to-order square hamburgers using fresh beef*, its unique and diverse menu, including chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders and nuggets, salads and other signature items like chili, baked potatoes, the Frosty® dessert and the Breakfast Baconator®, its promotional products, its choice of toppings and condiments and the operations, atmosphere and décor of its restaurants. (*Fresh beef available in the contiguous U.S. and Alaska, as well as Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom and other select international markets.)
Many of the leading restaurant chains continue to focus on new restaurant development as one strategy to increase market share through increased consumer awareness and convenience. This results in increased competition for available development sites and higher development costs for those sites. Competitors also employ marketing strategies such as frequent use of price discounting, frequent promotions and significant advertising expenditures. Continued price discounting, including the use of coupons and offers, in the quick-service and broader restaurant industry and the emphasis on value menus could have an adverse impact on Wendy’s business. Continued price discounting, including the use of coupons and offers, in the quick-service restaurant industry and the emphasis on value menus could have an adverse impact on Wendy’s business.
Other restaurant chains, including those within the hamburger category, have also competed by offering high quality sandwiches made with fresh ingredients and artisan breads, and there are several emerging restaurant chains featuring high quality food served at in-line locations. Other restaurant chains have also competed by offering high quality sandwiches made with fresh ingredients and artisan breads, and there are several emerging restaurant chains featuring high quality food served at in-line locations. Several chains have also sought to compete by targeting certain consumer groups, such as capitalizing on trends toward certain types of diets or dietary preferences (e.g., plant-based food, alternative proteins, high-protein, low carbohydrate, low trans-fat, gluten free or antibiotic free) by offering menu items that are promoted as being consistent with such diets., plant-based food, alternative proteins, low carbohydrate, low trans-fat, gluten free or antibiotic free) by offering menu items that are promoted as being consistent with such diets.
Additional competitive pressures for prepared food purchases come from operators outside the restaurant industry. A number of major grocery chains offer fresh deli sandwiches and fully prepared food and meals, including takeout options. A number of major grocery chains offer fresh deli sandwiches and fully prepared food and meals to go as part of their deli sections. Additionally, convenience stores and retail outlets at gas stations frequently offer a wide variety of sandwiches and other prepared foods.
Wendy’s also competes with grocery chains, food delivery providers and other retail outlets that sell food to be prepared at home.Wendy’s also competes with grocery chains and other retail outlets that sell food to be prepared at home. Competition with these chains, providers and other outlets could increase based on the gap between the price of food prepared at home compared to the price of food purchased at restaurants. Competition with these chains and other outlets could increase based on the gap between the price of food prepared at home compared to the price of food purchased at restaurants.
Technology and delivery are critical parts of the restaurant consumer experience.Technology and delivery are becoming increasingly critical parts of the restaurant consumer experience. In the quick-service restaurant category, technology initiatives include mobile interactive technology for brand and menu search information, mobile ordering, mobile
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payment, mobile offers, mobile order pick-up and carryout, customer loyalty and rewards programs, artificial intelligence (“AI”) and other self-service technologies. An increasing number of restaurant chains have also introduced or expanded their restaurant delivery arrangements as another strategy to increase or maintain market share. If our technology initiatives, digital commerce platforms or third-party delivery providers do not meet customers’ expectations in terms of security, speed, cost, attractiveness, experience or ease of use, customers may be less inclined to use those platforms or providers and our competitive position could be adversely impacted. If our technology initiatives, digital commerce platforms or third-party delivery providers do not meet customers’ expectations in terms of security, speed, cost, attractiveness or ease of use, customers may be less inclined to use those platforms or providers and our competitive position could be adversely impacted.
System Optimization
The Company optimizes the Wendy’s system by facilitating Franchise Flips, evaluating strategic acquisitions of franchised restaurants and strategic dispositions of Company-operated restaurants to existing and new franchisees and, at times, closing certain underperforming restaurants, to further strengthen the franchisee base, support franchisee economics and drive new restaurant development. Wendy’s generally retains a right of first refusal in connection with any proposed sale or transfer of franchised restaurants.
The table below shows the number of restaurant acquisitions, restaurant dispositions and Franchise Flips completed in each of 2025, 2024 and 2023.
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(a)Represents franchisee-to-franchisee restaurant transfers for which the Company received advisory fees, which include valuation services and fees for selecting pre-approved buyers.
Franchising
As of December 28, 2025, 203 Wendy’s U.S. franchisees operated 5,546 franchised restaurants in 50 states and the District of Columbia, and 117 Wendy’s international franchisees operated 1,417 franchised restaurants in 38 foreign countries and U.S. territories.
U.S. Franchise Arrangements
The rights and obligations governing the majority of franchised restaurants operating in the U.S. are set forth in the Wendy’s current Unit Franchise Agreement (the “Current Franchise Agreement”) (non-traditional locations may operate under an amended agreement or alternate form of agreement). This agreement provides the franchisee the right to construct, own and operate a Wendy’s restaurant upon a site accepted by Wendy’s and to use the Wendy’s system in connection with the operation of the restaurant at that site. The Current Franchise Agreement provides for a 20-year term and a 10-year renewal subject to certain conditions. The Current Franchise Agreement provides for a 20-year term and a ten-year renewal subject to certain conditions. The initial term may be extended up to 25 years at the franchisee’s option.
The Current Franchise Agreement requires that the franchisee pay a monthly royalty of 4.0% of sales, as defined in the agreement, from the operation of the restaurant. The agreement also typically requires that the franchisee pay Wendy’s an initial technical assistance fee. In the U.S., the standard technical assistance fee required under a newly executed Current Franchise Agreement is currently $50,000 for each new restaurant opened.
The technical assistance fee is used to defray some of the costs to Wendy’s for start-up and transitional services related to new and existing franchisees in the development and opening of new restaurants or acquiring Company-operated restaurants.The technical assistance fee is used to defray some of the costs to Wendy’s for training, start-up and transitional services related to new and existing franchisees acquiring Company-operated restaurants and in the development and opening of new restaurants. In certain limited instances (such as a reduced franchise agreement term, development incentive programs or other unique circumstances), Wendy’s may charge a reduced technical assistance fee or may waive the technical assistance fee. Wendy’s does not select or employ personnel on behalf of franchisees.
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International Franchise Arrangements
Wendy’s Restaurants of Canada Inc. (“WROC”), a 100% owned subsidiary of Wendy’s, holds master franchise rights for Canada. The rights and obligations governing the majority of franchised restaurants operating in Canada are set forth in a Single Unit Sub-Franchise Agreement (the “Single Unit Sub-Franchise Agreement”) (non-traditional locations may operate under an amended agreement or alternate form of agreement). This document provides the franchisee the right to construct, own and operate a Wendy’s restaurant upon a site accepted by WROC and to use the Wendy’s system in connection with the operation of the restaurant at that site. The Single Unit Sub-Franchise Agreement provides for a 20-year term and a 10-year renewal subject to certain conditions. The sub-franchisee pays to WROC a monthly royalty of 4.0% of sales, as defined in the agreement, from the operation of the restaurant. The agreement also typically requires that the franchisee pay WROC an initial technical assistance fee. The standard technical assistance fee is currently C$50,000 for each new restaurant opened.
Franchisees who wish to operate Wendy’s restaurants outside of the U.S. and Canada enter into franchise or license agreements with Wendy’s that generally provide franchise rights for each restaurant for an initial term of 10 years or 20 years, depending on the country, and typically include a 10-year renewal provision, subject to certain conditions. The agreements grant a license to the franchisee to use the Wendy’s trademarks and know-how in the operation of a Wendy’s restaurant at a specified location. Generally, the franchisee pays Wendy’s an initial technical assistance fee or other per restaurant fee and monthly fees based on a percentage of gross monthly sales of each restaurant. In certain foreign markets, Wendy’s may grant the franchisee exclusivity to develop a territory in exchange for the franchisee undertaking to develop a specified number of new Wendy’s restaurants in the territory based on a negotiated schedule. In these instances, the franchisee generally pays Wendy’s an upfront development fee, annual development fees or a per restaurant development fee. In certain circumstances, Wendy’s may charge an upfront fee for an exclusive territory, which is proportionate to a multi-unit development commitment in the territory. Wendy’s may also grant a franchisee the right to sub-franchise in a stated territory, subject to certain conditions.
Non-Traditional Development
Non-traditional restaurants, such as those located in fuel and transportation centers, food courts and other retail locations, delivery kitchens and military bases, represent a component of Wendy’s global development strategy. These non-traditional locations may be subject to different rights and obligations than our traditional franchise arrangements, including with respect to initial and renewal franchise terms, technical assistance fees, monthly royalty rates and advertising contribution rates, and the sales levels at these locations may also differ from sales levels at traditional Wendy’s restaurants. These delivery kitchens and other non-traditional locations may be subject to different rights and obligations than our traditional franchise arrangements, including with respect to initial and renewal franchise terms, technical assistance fees, monthly royalty rates and advertising contribution rates, and the sales levels at these locations may also differ from sales levels at traditional Wendy’s restaurants.
Franchise Development and Other Relationships
In addition to its franchise and license agreements, Wendy’s also enters into development and/or relationship agreements with certain franchisees. The development agreement provides the franchisee with the right to develop a specified number of new Wendy’s restaurants using Wendy’s current design standards and specifications within a stated, non-exclusive territory for a specified period, subject to the franchisee meeting interim new restaurant development requirements. The development agreement provides the franchisee with the right to develop a specified number of new Wendy’s restaurants using the Image Activation program design within a stated, non-exclusive territory for a specified period, subject to the franchisee meeting interim new restaurant development requirements. The relationship agreement addresses other aspects of the franchisor-franchisee relationship, such as restrictions on operating competing businesses, participation in brand initiatives such as restaurant reimaging, national menu and marketing promotions, customer loyalty program and technology initiatives, business plans, satisfaction of certain financial covenants, employment of approved operators, confidentiality and restrictions on engaging in certain securities offerings, ownership changes or debt refinancing transactions without Wendy’s prior consent.
To promote new restaurant development, Wendy’s has provided franchisees with certain incentive programs for qualifying new and existing restaurants. In the U.S. and Canada, Wendy’s offers incentives to new and existing franchisees who enter into development agreements to build new restaurants on a mutually agreed schedule. These incentives typically include reduced royalty and national advertising fees and may include full or partial waivers of the upfront technical assistance fee for each restaurant opened. Similarly, in markets outside the U.S. and Canada, Wendy’s provides incentives for qualifying restaurants under new franchise or license agreements, generally in the form of reduced royalty fees and full or partial waivers of the technical assistance fee. Existing franchisees in these markets may also receive comparable incentives when they amend their franchise agreement or enter into a development agreement to commit to building new restaurants on an agreed schedule. In certain foreign markets, Wendy’s may grant the franchisee exclusivity to develop a territory in exchange for the franchisee undertaking to develop a specified number of new Wendy’s restaurants in the territory based on a negotiated schedule.
Franchised restaurants are required to be operated under uniform operating standards and specifications relating to the selection, quality and preparation of menu items, signage, decor, equipment, technology, uniforms, suppliers, maintenance and cleanliness of premises and customer service. Wendy’s monitors franchisee operations and inspects restaurants periodically to ensure that required practices and procedures are being followed. From time to time, Wendy’s may modify these standards to
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address strategic operating initiatives, consumer preferences, market demand and/or availability of capital. See “The Wendy’s Restaurant System—Quality Assurance” above for additional information.
See Note 2 and Note 21 to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 8 herein, and the information under “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” herein, for information regarding certain guarantee obligations, reserves, commitments and contingencies involving franchisees.
Advertising and Marketing
In the U.S. and Canada, Wendy’s advertises nationally through national advertising funds primarily on television and digital media, as well as through audio and industrial media. Wendy’s maintains two national advertising funds established to collect and administer funds contributed for use in advertising through television, radio, the Internet and a variety of promotional campaigns, including through digital and social media platforms. Separate national advertising funds are administered for Wendy’s U.S. and Canadian restaurant locations. Contributions to the national advertising funds are required to be made by both Company-operated and franchised restaurants and are based on a percentage of restaurant sales. In addition to the contributions to the national advertising funds, Wendy’s may require additional contributions to be made to an advertising co-op within an applicable designated market area for both Company-operated and franchised restaurants based on a percentage of restaurant sales for the purpose of local and regional advertising programs. Required franchisee contributions to the national advertising funds and for local and regional advertising spend are governed by the Current Franchise Agreement in the U.S. and by the Single Unit Sub-Franchise Agreement in Canada. Required contributions by Company-operated restaurants for advertising and promotional programs are at the same percentage of sales as franchised restaurants within the Wendy’s system. As of December 28, 2025, the contribution rate for U.S. restaurants was generally 3.5% of sales for national advertising and 0.5% of sales for local and regional advertising. Wendy’s may, at times, require that local and regional advertising funds be re-purposed to national advertising, in agreement with a system vote. As of December 28, 2025, the contribution rate for Canadian restaurants was approximately 3% of sales for national advertising and approximately 1% of sales for local and regional advertising, with the exception of Quebec, for which there is no national advertising contribution rate and the local and regional advertising contribution rate is 4% of sales. As of January 2, 2022, the contribution rate for Canadian restaurants was generally 3.0% of sales for national advertising and 1.0% of sales for local and regional advertising, with the exception of Quebec, for which there is no national advertising contribution rate and the local and regional advertising contribution rate is 4.0% of sales. Non-traditional locations, including delivery kitchens, may be subject to adjusted requirements for national, local and regional advertising contributions. See Note 24 to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 8 herein for additional information regarding advertising.
Human Capital
The Wendy’s customer is at the heart of everything we do. Our restaurants, our food and the value and service we provide to our customers are all integral to our long-term success, but ultimately it is our people that help us deliver an exceptional customer experience. Our restaurants, our food and the value and service we provide to our customers are all integral to our long-term success, but ultimately it is our people that help us deliver our brand promise of “Fast Food Done Right” every single day.
We continue to invest in our Company employees to ensure we are able to attract, hire and retain great talent throughout our organization.We continue to invest in employees to ensure we are able to attract, hire, develop and retain great talent throughout our organization. We measure our effectiveness in these areas using various tools and metrics, including administering an employee engagement survey annually and tracking our employee turnover rates compared to others in the restaurant industry. We measure our effectiveness in these areas using various tools and metrics, including administering an employee engagement survey twice a year and tracking our employee turnover rates compared to others in the restaurant industry.
As of December 28, 2025, the Company was comprised of approximately 14,900 employees, of which approximately one-third were full-time, and two-thirds were part-time. The vast majority of our employees are located in the United States and work in our Company-operated restaurants within our Wendy’s U.S. business segment. Outside of our Company-operated restaurants, our largest population of employees are based at our restaurant support organization, which includes employees across the globe and at our restaurant support center in Dublin, Ohio. Outside of our Company-operated restaurants, our largest population of employees work in our field support organization or at our restaurant support center in Dublin, Ohio. We are proud to have a workforce with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Respectful Workplace
From day one, the Wendy’s business has always been of, for and about people. Respect and fair treatment for our employees, franchisees, suppliers, business partners and customers are a central part of our business. Respect and fair treatment for our team members, franchisees, supplier partners and vendors is a central part of our business. So is staying true to the values established by our founder, Dave Thomas, more than 55 years ago, which include Doing the Right Thing, Treating People with Respect and Giving Something Back. Our commitment to these values is reflected in our Code of Ethics, which applies to Company employees and directors, and in our Supplier Code of Conduct, which sets forth our expectations for key suppliers to the Wendy’s system in the U.S. and Canada. We strive to bring our values to life through daily interactions with our employees, franchisees and customers in the communities where we do business. We strive to bring our values to life through daily interactions with our team members, franchisees and customers and in the communities where we do business. We expect our employees to maintain respectful workplaces that support and protect the integrity of the Wendy’s brand and fuel our continued success.
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People-Centered Culture
We believe our strategic focus on continually building a culture centered on people has helped and will continue to help the Company remain true to our values as well as support our financial performance and global growth strategy. Creating and fostering work environments where people feel included and welcomed allows us to create an engaging culture for our employees, which we believe positively affects the quality of products, service and experience we deliver to our customers. Creating and fostering inclusive work environments allows us to create an engaging and welcoming culture for our employees, which we believe positively affects the quality of products, service and experience we deliver to our customers.
We are fortunate to have several thriving Employee Resource Groups (“ERGs”), which are voluntary employee-led groups, each sponsored by a Wendy’s senior leadership team member. Our ERGs serve an important role in creating forums for learning and inclusion, providing opportunities to celebrate different backgrounds, empowering employees to bring their authentic selves to work and creating leadership and professional development opportunities. Our ERGs serve an important role in support of our DE&I strategy, creating forums for learning and inclusion, providing opportunities to celebrate different backgrounds, empowering employees to bring their authentic self to work, and creating leadership and professional development opportunities. Our ERGs support Women (Women of Wendy’s), LGBTQ+ (WeQual), Military Veterans & Families (WeVets), Culturally Diverse (WCD), Black (WeBERG), Young Professionals (WenGEN) and Care Givers (GiveCare). All employees are welcome in our ERGs.
Compensation and Benefits
We are committed to providing market-competitive pay and benefits to attract and retain great talent. We enable this by benchmarking and analyzing pay and benefits both externally and internally. In addition to receiving competitive hourly rates and base salaries, all general managers and district managers of our Company-operated restaurants are eligible for performance-based cash incentive bonuses. Restaurant support employees are also eligible to participate in a performance-based annual bonus plan. For our restaurant-level employees, we offer the potential for raises based on individual performance reviews throughout the year. At Wendy’s, we are committed to providing pay equity for all employees, regardless of gender or ethnicity.
We also offer a robust set of benefits to help eligible employees and their families stay healthy, manage spend related to health and financial well-being and effectively balance work and life. For our U.S. employees, this includes offerings such as insurance for medical, dental, vision and prescription drugs, telehealth access, 401(k) savings and retirement plans, health savings accounts, employee assistance program, paid sick leave, bonding leave and adoption assistance.
Safety and Well-Being
We are committed to providing our employees with safe and comfortable work environments and offering resources that our employees can use to help promote their well-being. We remain focused on our high standards of quality and cleanliness at our restaurants through processes like reviewing cleaning procedures and conducting our annual food safety recertification for our restaurant crew and managers. In addition, we prioritize the safety and well-being of our employees by fostering a culture of people safety awareness, responsibility and accident prevention. We also recognize that the well-being of our employees goes beyond work and our work environments. We offer several benefits to support the health and well-being of our employees, including our employee assistance program (EAP), available at no cost to Company employees and their household members. We are also proud to offer paid sick time at all levels within our restaurants to ensure employees can prioritize their health and the health of their families.
Talent Development
To set our employees up for success and support their personal development and career growth, we invest in training and development programs at all levels within the Company. We also leverage annual processes that support individual performance planning, individual professional development planning and a broad review of talent development throughout the Company. Restaurant-level employees have the opportunity to take advantage of an online learning curriculum, as well as hands-on training led by crew trainers, managers and field support staff. Restaurant-level employees have the opportunity to take advantage of an extensive online learning curriculum, as well as hands-on training led by crew trainers, managers and field support staff. Restaurant managers and multi-unit operators have the opportunity to participate in Wendy’s University, which includes targeted training to develop management and leadership skills at all levels. Restaurant managers and multi-unit operators participate in Wendy’s University, which includes targeted training to develop management and leadership skills. Wendy’s University also provides targeted programming for corporate management staff, including onboarding, people manager training, work behavior assessments, leadership dialogues and the opportunity to participate in third party conferences and training. Wendy’s University also provides targeted programming for corporate management staff, including diversity training, people manager training, leadership dialogues and the opportunity to participate in third-party conferences and training. Our leadership development program for Company employees (WeLead) uses a cohort learning strategy for emerging leaders over a six-month curriculum designed to build on our performance-driven culture and develop talent across the organization.
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Community-Based Giving
Wendy’s maintains a charitable giving program that supports four core categories: foster care adoption; hunger and food integrity; youth and families; and vibrant communities. In 2025, Wendy’s made charitable donations to a variety of organizations across the globe, highlighted by our ongoing and significant support of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a charitable foundation created by our founder, Dave Thomas, which has been our signature charitable cause for more than 30 years and celebrated its 16,000th adoption. In addition to corporate contributions, we also host an employee-driven Community Giving Program, in which individual employees from across the Wendy’s system and our ERGs nominate worthy charitable organizations to receive grants from The Wendy’s Foundation. In addition to corporate contributions, we also hosted an employee-driven Community Giving Program, in which employees from across the Wendy’s system nominated worthy charitable organizations to receive charitable grants from The Wendy’s Foundation.
Additional information about our people and human capital initiatives is available on our website at www.wendys.com/what-we-value, in our annual Corporate Responsibility report and on The Square DealTM Wendy’s Blog at www.squaredealblog.com. The contents of our website and these additional information sources are not incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K or any other report or document we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Governmental Regulations
U.S. Operations
The Company and our franchisees are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations affecting the operation of our respective businesses, including laws and regulations relating to building and zoning, health, fire and safety, sanitation, food preparation, nutritional content and menu labeling, advertising, information security and privacy and consumer protection. Each Wendy’s restaurant is subject to licensing and regulation by a number of governmental authorities in the state and/or municipality in which the restaurant is located. The Company is also subject to federal, state and local laws governing labor and employment matters, including minimum wage requirements, overtime and other working conditions, family leave and health care mandates, union organizing, work authorization requirements, insurance and workers’ compensation rules and anti-discrimination and anti-harassment laws applicable to Company employees, and our franchisees are subject to labor and employment laws with respect to their employees. Additionally, the Company and our franchisees are subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act and other similar laws that provide civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities in the context of public accommodations and other areas.
The Company’s franchising activities are subject to the rules and regulations of the Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”) and various state laws regulating the offer and sale of franchises. The FTC requires that franchisors furnish a franchise disclosure document (“FDD”) containing certain information to prospective franchisees before the execution of a franchise agreement. Several states require registration and disclosure of the FDD in connection with franchise offers and sales and have laws regulating the franchisor-franchisee relationship. These state laws often limit, among other things, the duration and scope of non-competition provisions and the ability of franchisors to terminate franchise agreements or withhold consent to the renewal or transfer of franchise agreements. The Company believes that our FDD, together with applicable state versions or supplements, and franchising procedures comply in all material respects with the FTC’s franchise rules and applicable state franchise laws.
International Operations
Internationally, the Company and our franchisees are subject to national, provincial and local laws and regulations that often are similar to those impacting us and our franchisees in the U.S., including laws and regulations concerning franchises, labor and employment, building and zoning, health, fire and safety, sanitation, food preparation, nutritional content, menu labeling, advertising, information security, privacy and consumer protection. Wendy’s restaurants outside the U.S. are also often subject to tariffs and regulations on imported commodities and equipment and laws regulating foreign investment, as well as anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws. The Company believes that our international franchise disclosure documents and franchising procedures comply in all material respects with the laws of the applicable countries.
Environmental Matters
The Company’s operations, including the selection and development of properties that we own, lease and/or sublease to franchisees, and any construction or improvements made at those properties, are subject to a variety of federal, state, local and international environmental laws and regulations, including laws and regulations concerning the storage, handling and disposal of hazardous or toxic substances. Our properties are sometimes located in developed commercial or industrial areas and might previously have been occupied by more environmentally significant operations, such as gas stations. Environmental laws and
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regulations sometimes require owners or operators of contaminated property to remediate that property, regardless of fault, and could give rise to significant fines, penalties and liabilities, as well as third-party claims. The Company believes that our restaurant operations comply substantially with all applicable environmental laws and regulations.
Increased focus by governmental authorities on environmental matters have led and will likely lead to additional new governmental initiatives, particularly in the area of climate change. Increased focus by governmental authorities on environmental matters is likely to lead to new governmental initiatives, particularly in the area of climate change. While we cannot predict the precise nature of these initiatives, we expect that they may impact our business both directly and indirectly. There is a possibility that government initiatives, or actual or perceived effects of changes in weather patterns, climate change or scarcity of energy and water resources, could have a direct impact on our business in ways that we cannot predict at this time.
Legal Matters
The Company is involved in litigation and claims incidental to our business. We provide accruals for such litigation and claims when we determine it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss is reasonably estimable. We believe we have adequate accruals for all of our legal and environmental matters. See Item 3 “Legal Proceedings” for additional information.
The Company does not believe that compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including environmental laws and regulations, or the outcome of any legal matters in which we are involved, will have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition, capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position. The Company does not believe that compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including environmental laws and regulations, or the outcome of any legal matters in which we are involved, will have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition, capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position. However, the Company cannot predict what laws or regulations will be enacted in the future, how existing or future laws or regulations will be administered or interpreted or whether any legal matters in which we are involved could result in greater liabilities than we currently anticipate. See Item 1A “Risk Factors” for a discussion of certain risks relating to legal and regulatory requirements, litigation and claims and related matters affecting our business.
Available Information
We make our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, including exhibits and amendments to such reports, as well as our annual proxy statement, available, free of charge, on our Investor Relations website as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings are also available to the public on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. We also provide our Code of Ethics, free of charge, on our website. We also provide our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, free of charge, on our website. Our corporate website address is www.wendys.com and our Investor Relations website address is www.irwendys.com. Information contained on those websites is not part of this Form 10-K.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
We wish to caution readers that in addition to the important factors described elsewhere in this Form 10-K, we have included below certain material factors that have affected, or in the future could affect, our actual results and could cause our actual consolidated results during fiscal 2026, and beyond, to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by any forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf.
Risks Related to Macroeconomic and Industry Conditions
Competition from other restaurant companies, as well as grocery chains and other retail food outlets, or poor customer experience at Wendy’s restaurants, could hurt our brand.
The market segments in which Wendy’s restaurants compete are highly competitive with respect to, among other things, price and value perception, food quality and presentation, product innovation, service, convenience, digital engagement and the location and condition of the restaurant facilities.The market segments in which Wendy’s restaurants compete are highly competitive with respect to, among other things, price, food quality and presentation, service, location, convenience, and the nature and condition of the restaurant facility. If Wendy’s fails to differentiate based on our focus on high quality food or if Wendy’s restaurants fail to deliver an exceptional customer experience, whether at a Company-operated or franchised restaurant, we may experience a decrease in traffic. Further, Wendy’s restaurants compete with a variety of independent regional, national and global restaurants and chains. Further, Wendy’s restaurants compete with a variety of locally owned restaurants, as well as competitive regional, national and global restaurant chains. Additionally, many of our competitors have introduced lower cost value meal menu options and have employed marketing strategies that include frequent use of price discounting (including through the use of coupons and other offers), frequent promotions and significant advertising expenditures. Some of our competitors have substantially greater financial, marketing, advertising, personnel and other resources than we do, which may allow them to react to changes in consumer tastes and preferences, pricing, marketing and operational strategies better than we can and drive
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higher levels of brand awareness among consumers. This competition could result in reduced revenues and loss of market share. This product and price competition could result in reduced revenues and loss of market share.
Moreover, new companies, including operators outside the quick-service restaurant industry, may enter market areas in which Wendy’s restaurants operate and target our customer base. Moreover, new companies, including operators outside the quick-service restaurant industry, may enter market areas in which Wendy’s restaurants operate and target our customer base. For example, additional competitive pressures for prepared food purchases have come from the deli or prepared foods sections of a number of major grocery store chains, as well as from convenience stores, casual dining outlets, delivery kitchens and food delivery providers. For example, additional competitive pressures for prepared food purchases have come from deli sections and in-store cafes of a number of major grocery store chains, as well as from convenience stores and casual dining outlets. Additionally, convenience stores and retail outlets at gas stations frequently offer a wide variety of sandwiches and other prepared foods. Such competitors may have, among other things, lower operating costs, better locations, better facilities, more effective marketing and more efficient operations. Wendy’s also competes with grocery chains and other retail outlets or concepts that sell food to be prepared at home. Wendy’s also competes with grocery chains and other retail outlets that sell food to be prepared at home. Competition with these chains and other outlets could increase based on the gap between the price of food prepared at home compared to the price of food purchased at restaurants. This increased product and price competition could put deflationary pressure on the selling price of products offered at Wendy’s restaurants or lead to a decrease in traffic. All such competition may adversely affect our brand, business, results of operations and financial condition.
Adverse economic conditions or volatility or disruptions in the national and global economies, or in regions with a high concentration of Wendy’s restaurants, could adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.Adverse economic conditions or disruptions in the national and global economies, or in regions that have a high concentration of Wendy’s restaurants, could adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Adverse economic conditions or volatility or disruptions in the national and global economies could result in higher unemployment rates, labor shortages, increasing or prolonged inflation and other cost pressures, rising interest rates, financial market volatility, social unrest and geopolitical conditions or conflicts and declines in consumer sentiment, income and spending. If such conditions or disruptions occur, they may result in significant declines in consumer food-away-from-home spending, shifts to lower-priced products and/or reduced traffic in Wendy’s restaurants, which could adversely impact restaurant and franchisee profitability and our operational and financial results. Additionally, adverse economic conditions or disruptions in the economies in regions that contain a high concentration of Wendy’s restaurants, including markets in which Company-operated restaurants are located, could also have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Additionally, adverse economic conditions in regions that contain a high concentration of Wendy’s restaurants, including markets in which our Company-operated restaurants are located, could also have a material adverse impact on our results of operations.
Changes in discretionary consumer spending, and in consumer tastes and preferences, could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The success of the Wendy’s system depends to a significant extent on discretionary consumer spending, which is influenced by general economic conditions, consumers’ perceptions of general economic conditions and the availability of discretionary income.The success of the Wendy’s system depends to a significant extent on discretionary consumer spending, which is influenced by general economic conditions and the availability of discretionary income. Declines in the amount of discretionary spending or consumer food-away-from-home spending, or increases in expenses incurred by consumers, such as living expenses or gasoline prices, could hurt our business, results of operations and financial condition. Our success also depends to a large extent on continued consumer acceptance of, and demand for, our offerings, the success of our operating, growth, promotional, marketing and new product development initiatives and the reputation of our brand. Our success also depends to a large extent on continued consumer acceptance of our offerings, the success of our operating, promotional, marketing and new product development initiatives and the reputation of our brand. If the quick-service restaurant hamburger segment contracts or does not grow as quickly as other categories within the food service industry, or if we are unable to continue to achieve consumer acceptance or adapt to changes in consumer demographics or preferences, including with respect to product mix, pricing, nutrition, health or dietary trends (including the use of weight loss medications), corporate responsibility concerns or the use of digital channels, Wendy’s restaurants may lose customers, and the resulting revenues from Company-operated restaurants and the royalties that we receive from franchisees may decline.
Our results can be adversely affected by unforeseen events, such as adverse weather conditions, natural disasters, hostilities, social unrest, health epidemics or pandemics or other catastrophic events.
Unforeseen events, such as adverse weather conditions (including related to climate change), natural disasters, hostilities (including acts of war, terrorist activities and public or workplace violence), social unrest, health epidemics or pandemics (such as COVID-19) or other catastrophic events can adversely affect consumer spending, consumer confidence, restaurant sales and operations, supply chains and our ability to perform corporate or support functions at our restaurant support center, any of which could affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.Unforeseen events, such as adverse weather conditions, natural disasters, hostilities (including acts of war, terrorist activities and public or workplace violence), social unrest, health epidemics or pandemics or other catastrophic events can adversely affect consumer spending, consumer confidence, restaurant sales and operations, supply chains and our ability to perform corporate or support functions at our restaurant support center, any of which could affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. Unforeseen events, including a health pandemic, have in the past, and could again in the future, also heighten other risks disclosed in this risk factors section, including, but not limited to, those related to brand value and perception, consumer preferences, our ability to maintain or grow market share, franchisee health, new restaurant development, commodity costs, labor, supply chain and purchasing and international operations.
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Risks Related to Brand Perception and Value
Our success depends substantially on our corporate reputation and on the value and perception of our brand.
Our success depends in large part upon our ability to maintain and enhance the value of our brand, our customers’ loyalty to our brand and a positive relationship with our franchisees and other business partners. Our success depends in large part upon our ability to maintain and enhance the value of our brand, our customers’ loyalty to our brand and a positive relationship with our franchisees and other business partners. Brand value is based in part on consumer perceptions on a variety of subjective qualities. Erosion of trust in our brand can be caused by isolated or recurring incidents originating from us, our franchisees or our business partners, or from external events. Such incidents can significantly reduce brand value and consumer trust, particularly if the incidents receive considerable publicity or result in litigation or governmental investigations or proceedings. For example, our brand could be damaged by claims or perceptions about the quality, value or safety of our products or the quality, reputation or actions of our employees, franchisees or other business partners, regardless of whether such claims or perceptions are true. For example, our brand could be damaged by claims or perceptions about the quality or safety of our products or the quality or reputation of our franchisees or other business partners, regardless of whether such claims or perceptions are true. Our brand could also be adversely impacted by other incidents described in this risk factors section, including incidents related to customer service, health or safety, a failure to attract and retain qualified employees, food safety or other health concerns regarding our products, the impact of social media, digital engagement, our use of emerging technologies, data privacy violations, cybersecurity incidents, corporate responsibility matters or reports of our employees, franchisees or business partners taking controversial positions or acting in an unethical, illegal or socially irresponsible manner. Our brand could also be adversely impacted by other incidents described in this risk factors section, including incidents related to customer service, customer health or safety, a failure to attract and retain qualified employees, food safety or other health concerns regarding our products, the impact of social media, data privacy violations, cyber incidents, social and environmental sustainability matters or reports of our employees, franchisees or business partners taking controversial positions or acting in an unethical, illegal or socially irresponsible manner. Any such incidents could cause a decline in consumer confidence in our brand and reduce consumer demand for our products, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our results of operations and the value and perception of our brand depend in part on the effectiveness of our marketing and advertising programs and the successful development and launch of new products.Our results of operations depend in part on the effectiveness of our marketing and advertising programs and the successful development and launch of new products.
Our results of operations and the value and perception of our brand are heavily influenced by the effectiveness of our brand marketing and advertising and by our ability to develop and launch new and innovative products. Our marketing and advertising programs, including brand partnerships, may not be successful, or we may fail to develop commercially successful new products, which may impact our ability to attract new customers and retain existing customers, which, in turn, could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and the value and perception of our brand. Our marketing and advertising programs may not be successful, or we may fail to develop commercially successful new products, which may impact our ability to attract new customers and retain existing customers, which, in turn, could materially and adversely affect our results of operations. For example, because of the wide range of our customers and channels of communication used by them, our marketing and advertising may not always reach consumers as intended. Moreover, because franchisees contribute to advertising funds based on a percentage of sales at their franchised restaurants, our advertising fund expenditures are dependent upon sales volumes across the Wendy’s system. If systemwide sales decline, including because of, but not limited to, macroeconomic factors, consumer sentiment, inflationary or competitive pressures, declines in traffic, restaurant closures, franchisee health or changes in strategy, this could result in a reduced amount of funds available for our marketing and advertising programs. If our digital commerce platforms, including the Wendy’s mobile app and online ordering system, do not meet customers’ expectations in terms of security, privacy, speed, attractiveness or ease of use, customers may be less inclined to return to those platforms, which could negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, to the extent we use value offerings or other promotions or discounts in our marketing and advertising programs to drive traffic, these actions may condition our customers to resist higher menu prices or result in reduced demand for premium products. In addition, to the extent we use value offerings or other promotions or discounts in our marketing and advertising programs to drive customer counts, these actions may condition our customers to resist higher menu prices or result in reduced demand for premium products.
Our inability or failure to recognize, respond to and effectively manage the impact of social or digital media could adversely impact our brand, business, results of operations and financial condition.Our inability or failure to recognize, respond to and effectively manage the accelerated impact of social media could adversely impact our brand, business and results of operations.
Social media platforms, including forms of internet-based communications, allow individuals access to a broad audience. The availability of information on social or digital media is virtually immediate and has given consumers the ability to more effectively organize collective actions such as boycotts and other brand-damaging behaviors. The rising popularity of social media has increased the speed and accessibility of information dissemination and given users the ability to more effectively organize collective actions such as boycotts and other brand-damaging behaviors. The dissemination of information by news media, customers, employees, social media influencers, spokespersons and others via social or digital media, whether accurate or inaccurate, could harm our business, brand, reputation, results of operation and financial condition. This damage may be immediate, without an opportunity to correct inaccurate information or respond to or address particular issues. In addition, as part of our marketing efforts, we frequently use social media to communicate with consumers in order to build their awareness of, engagement with and loyalty to our brand. Our failure to use social media effectively or appropriately, particularly as compared to our competitors, could lead to a decline in brand value, customer visits and revenues. Failure to use social media effectively or appropriately, particularly as compared to our competitors, could lead to a decline in brand value, customer visits and revenues. A failure by us, our employees, our franchisees or third parties acting on our behalf to abide by applicable laws and regulations in the use of social media could adversely impact our reputation, brand, results of operations and financial condition or subject us to litigation, fines or other penalties. Social media risks could also arise from our employees, franchisees or business partners not following defined policies for the use of social media during business operations, or actions taken by Company or franchisee employees during personal activities outside of their employment, but which could still reflect negatively on the Wendy’s brand. Social media risks could also arise from employees not following defined policies for the use of social media during business operations, or actions taken by employees during personal activities outside of their employment, but which could still reflect negatively on the Wendy’s brand.
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We may be unable to adequately protect our intellectual property, which could harm the value of our brand and hurt our business.
Our intellectual property is material to the conduct of our business. We rely on a combination of trademarks, service marks, copyrights, domain names, trade secrets and similar intellectual property rights to protect our brand and other intellectual property. We rely on a combination of trademarks, copyrights, service marks, trade secrets and similar intellectual property rights to protect our brand and other intellectual property. The success of our business strategy depends, in part, on our continued ability to use our intellectual property to increase brand awareness and further develop our branded products in existing and new markets. The success of our business strategy depends, in part, on our continued ability to use our trademarks and service marks to increase brand awareness and further develop our branded products in existing and new markets. If our efforts to protect our intellectual property are not adequate, or if any third party misappropriates, infringes, dilutes or otherwise violates our intellectual property, the value of our brand may be harmed, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. While we try to ensure that the quality of our brand is maintained by our franchisees, we cannot ensure that franchisees and other licensees of our intellectual property will not take actions that hurt the value of our intellectual property or the reputation of the Wendy’s brand or restaurant system. While we try to ensure that the quality of our brand is maintained by our franchisees, we cannot ensure that franchisees will not take actions that hurt the value of our intellectual property or the reputation of the Wendy’s brand or restaurant system. Any damage or violation of our intellectual property could harm our image, brand or competitive position and result in significant legal fees and the diversion of resources. Any damage or violation of our intellectual property could harm our image, brand or competitive position and cause us to incur significant legal fees and diversion of resources. If we are unable to successfully protect, maintain or enforce our intellectual property rights, there could be a material adverse effect on our business or results of operations as a result of, among other things, consumer confusion, dilution of the Wendy’s brand or increased competition from unauthorized users of our brand. If we do not attempt or are unable to successfully protect, maintain or enforce our intellectual property rights, there could be a material adverse effect on our business or results of operations as a result of, among other things, consumer confusion, dilution of the Wendy’s brand or increased competition from unauthorized users of our brand.
We have registered certain trademarks and have other trademark registrations pending in the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions. We have registered certain trademarks and have other trademark registrations pending in the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions. Not all of the trademarks that are used in the Wendy’s system have been registered in all of the countries in which we do business or may do business in the future, and some trademarks will never be registered in all of these countries. Some countries’ laws make unregistered trademarks more difficult to enforce, or do not protect them at all, and third parties have filed, and may in the future file, for “Wendy’s” or similar marks. Some countries’ laws do not protect unregistered trademarks at all, or make them more difficult to enforce, and third parties have filed, or may in the future file, for “Wendy’s” or similar marks. Accordingly, we may not be able to adequately protect the Wendy’s brand everywhere in the world and use of the Wendy’s brand may result in liability for trademark infringement, trademark dilution or unfair competition. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States. We cannot ensure that all of the steps we have taken to protect our intellectual property in the United States and foreign countries will be adequate.
We cannot ensure that third parties will not bring infringement claims against us in the future. We cannot ensure that third parties will not bring infringement claims against us in the future. Any such claim, whether or not it has merit, could be time-consuming, cause delays in introducing new menu items, require costly modifications to advertising and promotional materials, harm our brand, image, competitive position or ability to expand our operations into other jurisdictions, cause us to incur significant costs related to defense or settlement or require us to enter into royalty or licensing agreements. As a result, any such claim could harm our business and adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, third parties may assert that certain of our intellectual property, or our rights therein, are invalid or unenforceable. If our rights in any of our intellectual property were found to infringe third-party rights, or portions thereof were deemed invalid or unenforceable, such loss of rights could permit competing uses of such intellectual property which, in turn, could harm our business and adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition. If our rights in any of our intellectual property were found to infringe third-party rights, or portions thereof were deemed invalid or unenforceable, we may be forced to defend or resolve related claims and incur related expenses.
Food safety events or health concerns regarding our products could create negative publicity and adversely affect our brand, business and results of operations.
Food safety is a top priority for Wendy’s, and we dedicate substantial resources to food safety matters to ensure our customers enjoy safe, quality food products. However, even with strong preventative controls, food safety risks cannot be completely eliminated. As such, food safety events, including instances of food-borne illness (such as salmonella or E. However, food safety events, including instances of food-borne illness (such as salmonella or E. coli) can and have occurred in the food industry, including at the Wendy’s. The risk of illnesses associated with our food also may increase due to the licensing of our intellectual property to third parties for the sale of Wendy’s branded food products in grocery stores and other retail outlets, as well as our use of third-party delivery services. Food safety events, whether or not involving Wendy’s restaurants or other restaurant companies, could adversely affect the price and availability of certain products and result in negative publicity for Wendy’s or the restaurant industry. This negative publicity may reduce demand for Wendy’s food and could result in a decrease in traffic to Wendy’s restaurants as consumers shift their preferences to our competitors or to other products or food types. This negative publicity may reduce demand for Wendy’s food and could result in a decrease in customer counts to Wendy’s restaurants as consumers shift their preferences to our competitors or to other products or food types. Any report linking our restaurants or suppliers to food-borne illnesses, food tampering, contamination or mislabeling or other food-safety issues could damage the value of our brand immediately and severely hurt sales of our products and possibly lead to regulatory claims, product liability claims, litigation (including class actions) or other damages.
The Wendy’s system may also be adversely impacted by consumer or regulatory concerns or litigation regarding the nutritional aspects of the products we sell, the ingredients in our products or the cooking processes or packaging used in our restaurants. The Wendy’s system may also be adversely impacted by consumer concerns regarding the nutritional aspects of the products we sell, the ingredients in our products or the cooking processes used in our restaurants. These or similar concerns could result in less demand for our products and a decline in sales at Company-operated restaurants and in royalties from sales at franchised restaurants.
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Risks Related to Our Business Strategy
We may not be successful in implementing important strategic initiatives (including Project Fresh, our comprehensive strategic plan), effectively managing or maintaining growth and market share across our dayparts or executing strategic transactions, any of which may have an adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We may not be able to implement important strategic initiatives in accordance with our expectations or that generate expected returns. For example, in the fourth quarter of 2025, we announced a comprehensive strategic plan, Project Fresh, to drive profitable growth and long-term shareholder value across our U.S. system. The four strategic pillars of Project Fresh include (1) brand revitalization, (2) operational excellence, (3) system optimization and (4) capital allocation. These pillars are designed to drive profitable average unit volume growth and increase traffic in the U.S. by improving marketing effectiveness, menu offerings and the customer experience, and to enhance franchisee economics. Our ability to successfully execute Project Fresh and realize its expected benefits is subject to numerous estimates and assumptions, which are subject to uncertainties, and is dependent on a variety of factors. For example, as part of the system optimization pillar, we are focused on reallocating resources to prioritize average unit volume growth in the United States and have announced that we expect to close certain underperforming restaurants in the United States. We currently expect incremental closures related to Project Fresh to total 5% to 6% of our total restaurants in the United States. The closures of restaurants could have an impact on our financial condition and results of operations, including potential negative effects on our systemwide sales, which in turn may reduce the royalty revenues that we receive from our franchisees and the availability of funds for advertising and marketing programs. These and any other claims or investigations related to cybersecurity incidents may adversely affect how we and our franchisees operate the business, divert the attention of management, have a negative effect on our reputation, and adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition.
Our business strategy includes a focus on driving average unit volume, sales and share growth. However, we may be unable to deliver average unit volume or sales growth or maintain or grow market share across our dayparts due to competitive pressures and other factors, such as consumer tastes and preferences, the effectiveness of our marketing and advertising programs, the successful development and launch of new products, commodity and labor costs, providing fast and accurate customer experiences, further accelerating our digital business and technological enhancements, driving new restaurant development and ensuring the support and engagement of franchisees. Our inability to successfully execute our strategy to drive average unit volume, sales and share growth, or an inability to successfully execute on our strategy for the breakfast daypart and reach targeted levels of sales and profits, could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
In addition, Wendy’s from time to time evaluates and may pursue other opportunities for growth, including through new and existing franchise partners, joint venture investments, the expansion of our brand through other opportunities and strategic mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. These strategic initiatives involve various risks, including general transaction and business risk, integration and synergy risk, market acceptance risk and risks associated with the potential diversion of management’s attention. Strategic transactions may not ultimately create value for us or our stockholders and may harm our reputation and materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The execution of strategic initiatives, including Project Fresh, may also be disruptive both internally and to our customers and may be viewed negatively by our shareholders. If we are delayed or unsuccessful in implementing any important strategic initiatives, if implementation proves to be more difficult, costly or time-consuming than expected, or if any important strategic initiatives fail to deliver their expected benefits or we do not fully realize such benefits or such benefits are offset by competitive actions or macroeconomic conditions, our business, results of operations and financial condition may suffer. Even if successful, benefits may take longer than expected to realize.
Our predominantly franchised business model presents a number of risks.
As of December 28, 2025, approximately 95% of restaurants in the Wendy’s system were operated by franchisees.As of January 2, 2022, approximately 95% of restaurants in the Wendy’s system were operated by franchisees. Wendy’s franchisees are contractually obligated to operate their restaurants in accordance with the standards set forth in our franchise and other agreements with them. Wendy’s also provides training and support to franchisees. However, franchisees are independent third parties that we do not control, and franchisees own, operate and oversee the daily operations of their restaurants. Specifically, franchisees are solely responsible for developing and utilizing their own policies and procedures, making their own hiring, firing and disciplinary decisions, scheduling hours and establishing wages and managing their day-to-day employment processes and procedures in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, all of which is done independent of Wendy’s. Further, franchisees have discretion as to the prices charged to customers. As a result, the ultimate success and quality of any franchise restaurant rests with the franchisee. If franchisees do not successfully operate their restaurants in a manner consistent with required standards, the royalty and other payments they make to us could be adversely affected and our brand’s image and reputation could be harmed, which in turn, could hurt our business and results of operations. If franchisees do not successfully operate their restaurants in a manner consistent with required standards, their royalty payments to us could be adversely affected and our brand’s image and reputation could be harmed, both of which in turn could hurt our business and results of operations.
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In addition, the failure of franchisees to adequately engage in capital planning and/or succession planning may adversely affect their financial condition, restaurant operations and development of new Wendy’s restaurants, which in turn could hurt our business and results of operations.
Wendy’s franchisees are an integral part of our business, growth and brand strategies, and difficulties in identifying, attracting and retaining franchisees who meet our criteria could harm our business and brand.Wendy’s franchisees are an integral part of our business, growth and brand strategies. Our business and results of operations could be adversely affected if a significant number of franchisees do not participate in brand strategies, such as new restaurant development, restaurant remodeling initiatives, marketing and menu programs and digital commerce platforms and other restaurant technologies. Our business and results of operations could be adversely affected if a significant number of franchisees do not participate in brand strategies, such as new restaurant development, Image Activation, digital commerce platforms and technologies and execution of the breakfast daypart, which in turn may harm our business and financial condition. In addition, Wendy’s current franchise model, and the way our brand strategies are executed across the system, may make it difficult for our brand to respond and adapt to the speed of changes in technology, consumer preferences or other factors as quickly as may be required to maintain and grow market share and remain competitive. In addition, Wendy’s current franchise model, and the way our brand strategies are executed across the system, may make it difficult for our brand to respond and adapt to the speed of change in technology, consumer preferences, the regulatory environment or other factors as quickly as may be required to maintain and grow market share and remain competitive. Certain of our competitors that have a significantly higher percentage of company-operated restaurants than we do may have greater influence over their respective restaurant systems and greater ability to implement operational initiatives and business strategies.
We receive revenues in the form of royalties and national advertising funds contributions (both of which are generally based on a percentage of sales at franchised restaurants), as well as rent and fees from franchisees. Accordingly, a substantial portion of our financial results depends upon the operational and financial success of our franchisees. Accordingly, a substantial portion of our financial results is to a large extent dependent upon the operational and financial success of our franchisees. If sales trends or economic conditions worsen for franchisees, or if the overall business or financial health of franchisees deteriorates, their results of operations or financial condition may worsen, which has in the past and could again in the future result in, among other things, increased restaurant closures, decreased restaurant openings or franchisee bankruptcies or insolvency leading to restructuring activities, all of which could reduce our royalty, national advertising funds, rent and other fee revenues. If sales trends or economic conditions worsen for franchisees, or if the overall business or financial health of franchisees deteriorates, their results of operations or financial condition may worsen and our royalty, national advertising funds, rent and other fee revenues may decline and our accounts receivable and related allowance for doubtful accounts may increase. From time to time, we may work with our franchisees who are experiencing financial difficulties to assess and address their financial health and their ability to satisfy their financial obligations to us and any third parties. In certain of these situations, we have and may in the future provide cash flow or other financial and operational support to franchisees by providing royalty, advertising, rent or other relief, offering deferrals, waivers, setoffs or other modifications of certain franchisee obligations, extending loans or guarantees and/or advancing cash payments. If a significant percentage of our or our franchisees’ workforce is unable to work, whether because of illness, quarantine, travel limitations, vaccine mandates or other governmental actions or restrictions, our operations and the operations of our franchisees may be negatively impacted, which could materially affect our results of operations and financial condition. These actions have and may in the future adversely affect our cash flow and financial results, which may be material, and there is no guarantee that any such support to franchisees will be successful in improving their results of operations or financial condition or preventing franchisee bankruptcies, insolvency or restructuring actions. Our business and results of operations could be adversely affected if a significant number of franchisees do not participate in brand strategies, such as new restaurant development, Image Activation, digital commerce platforms and technologies and execution of the breakfast daypart, which in turn may harm our business and financial condition. There is also no guarantee that we will receive all or any of the amounts due to us under our franchise agreements, notes receivable and other agreements. Prolonged periods of declining sales and profitability for franchisees can exacerbate these risks. If franchisees are unable to obtain financing at commercially reasonable rates, or at all, they may be unwilling or unable to invest in their existing restaurants or new restaurant development, and our future growth and results of operations could be adversely affected. If franchisees are unable to obtain financing at commercially reasonable rates, or at all, they may be unwilling or unable to invest in the reimaging of their existing restaurants or the development of new restaurants, and our future growth and results of operations could be adversely affected. Furthermore, an insolvency event or bankruptcy proceeding involving a franchisee could prevent or delay us from collecting payments or exercising any of our other rights under the franchise or other related agreement with such franchisee.
Additionally, when Company-operated restaurants with leased real estate are sold to franchisees, we are often required to remain responsible for lease payments for these restaurants in the event the purchasing franchisees default on their leases. Additionally, when Company-operated restaurants with leased real estate are sold to franchisees, we are often required to remain responsible for lease payments for these restaurants in the event the purchasing franchisees default on their leases. Similarly, when we lease or sublease properties to franchisees, we remain responsible for certain expenses related to the properties, such as lease payments and maintenance charges. If franchisees fail to renew their franchise agreements or fail to perform under or extend their leases or subleases with us, or if we are unable to identify, attract and retain new franchisees who meet our criteria and can successfully implement development agreements and expansion plans, then our royalty and rental revenues may decrease and our future growth could be adversely affected. If franchisees fail to renew their franchise agreements or fail to perform under or extend their leases or subleases with us, or if we are unable to identify, attract and retain new franchisees who meet our criteria, then our royalty and rental revenues may decrease and our future growth could be adversely affected.
The growth of our business is dependent, in part, on new restaurant openings, which could be affected by factors beyond our control.The growth of our business is dependent on new restaurant openings, which could be affected by factors beyond our control.
Our business derives earnings from sales at Company-operated restaurants as well as royalties and other fees received from franchised restaurants. Growth in our revenues and earnings is dependent, in part, on new restaurant openings. Growth in our revenues and earnings is dependent on new restaurant openings. Numerous factors beyond our control may adversely affect new restaurant openings, which in turn could hurt our business and results of operations. These factors include, among others: (i) our ability to attract new franchisees; (ii) the level of participation in, and success of, our development assistance programs; (iii) the attractiveness of our development incentive initiatives to new and existing franchisees; (iv) the availability of site locations for new restaurants; (v) the financial health of our franchisees and their ability to obtain financing; (vi) the ability of restaurant owners to attract, train and retain qualified operating personnel; (vii) development costs and the cost and availability of construction materials; (viii) the ability of restaurant owners to secure required governmental approvals and permits in a timely manner, or at all; (ix) the ability of us and our franchises to execute our development strategy for non-traditional restaurants, such as those located in fuel and transportation centers, food courts
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and other retail locations, delivery kitchens and military bases; (x) the profitability of existing and new restaurants; (xi) consumer acceptance of any restaurant remodels or rebranding; and (xii) adverse weather conditions. Our inability to identify suitable locations, achieve consumer acceptance or otherwise execute our development strategy could have an adverse impact on our future growth, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the growth of our business could be adversely impacted by anticipated and unanticipated restaurant closures, including closures related to underperformance, market conditions, macroeconomic or demographic trends, expiration or loss of leases, franchisee health or other factors beyond our control.
We may be unable to manage effectively the acquisition and disposition of restaurants and other restaurant activity, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.We may be unable to manage effectively the acquisition and disposition of restaurants, or successfully implement other strategic initiatives, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial results.
We continue to optimize the Wendy’s system through our system optimization initiative, which includes facilitating the transfer of restaurants between and among franchisees, evaluating strategic acquisitions of franchised restaurants and strategic dispositions of Company-operated restaurants to existing and new franchisees and, at times, the closure of certain underperforming restaurants to further strengthen the franchisee base, support franchisee economics and drive new restaurant development.We continue to optimize the Wendy’s system through our system optimization initiative, which includes facilitating the transfer of restaurants between and among franchisees, as well as evaluating strategic acquisitions of franchised restaurants and strategic dispositions of Company-operated restaurants to existing and new franchisees, to further strengthen the franchisee base, drive new restaurant development and accelerate adoption of our Image Activation program. The success of this initiative is dependent upon many factors, such as the availability of sellers and buyers, the availability of financing, the ability to negotiate and consummate transactions on terms deemed acceptable and the ability to successfully transition and integrate restaurant operations. The success of this initiative is dependent upon many factors, such as the availability of sellers and buyers, the availability of financing, the ability to 21negotiate transactions on terms deemed acceptable and the ability to successfully transition and integrate restaurant operations. Acquisitions of franchised restaurants pose various risks to our operations, including (i) diversion of management’s attention away from day-to-day operations to the integration of acquired restaurant operations; (ii) increased operating expenses and the inability to achieve expected cost savings and operating efficiencies; and (iii) the assumption of long-term, non-cancelable leases. Acquisitions of franchised restaurants pose various risks to our operations, including (i) diversion of management’s attention to the integration of acquired restaurant operations; (ii) increased operating expenses and the inability to achieve expected cost savings and operating efficiencies; (iii) exposure to liabilities arising out of prior operations of acquired restaurants; and (iv) the assumption of long-term, non-cancelable leases. Our system optimization initiative also places demands on our operational and financial management resources and may require us to expand these resources. If we are unable to execute our system optimization initiative or effectively manage the acquisition and disposition of restaurants, our business and financial results and the health of our franchise system could be adversely affected. If we are unable to execute our system optimization initiative or effectively manage the acquisition and disposition of restaurants, our business and financial results could be adversely affected.
Our leasing and ownership of significant amounts of real estate exposes us to possible liabilities and losses, including liabilities associated with environmental matters.
We have significant real estate operations in connection with our restaurant business and are subject to the normal risks associated with owning, leasing and subleasing real estate.We have significant real estate operations in connection with our business and are subject to the normal risks associated with leasing and owning real estate. Our real estate values and the costs associated with our real estate operations are impacted by a variety of factors, including changes in the investment climate for real estate, macroeconomic trends, governmental regulations or actions, franchisee commitments, franchisee payments and restaurant performance and environmental matters. Our real estate values and the costs associated with our real estate operations are impacted by a variety of factors, including changes in the investment climate for real estate, macroeconomic trends, governmental regulations, insurance, demographic trends, supply chain management, supply and demand for the ownership and operation of restaurants and environmental matters. A significant decrease in real estate values or increase in real estate costs could adversely affect our business and financial condition. A significant change in real estate values, or an increase in costs as result of any of these factors, could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
We are subject to federal, state and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations concerning the discharge, storage, handling, release and disposal of hazardous or toxic substances. Third parties may also make claims against owners, operators or occupants of properties for personal injuries and property damage associated with releases of or exposure to such substances. While we employ environmental review standards and practices in the current development of our real estate, we have not conducted a comprehensive environmental review of all of our properties and we may not have identified all of the potential environmental liabilities at our leased and owned properties, and any such liabilities identified in the future could cause us to incur significant unknown costs, including costs associated with litigation, fines or clean-up responsibilities, as well as an impact to our real estate values.
We generally secure long-term real estate interests for our leased restaurants and have limited flexibility to quickly alter our real estate portfolio. Many leases provide that the base rent will increase over the term of the lease and any renewals of the term. Many leases provide that the landlord may increase the rent over the term of the lease and any renewals of the term. Most leases require us to pay the costs of insurance, taxes, maintenance, utilities and capital repairs and replacements, which base rent amounts and additional costs are generally passed along to franchisees via sublease where and when such sites are operated by franchisees. Most leases require us to pay the costs of insurance, taxes, maintenance, utilities and capital repairs and replacements. We generally cannot cancel these leases prior to the expiration of their term. If an existing or future restaurant is not profitable, and we decide to close it (or, with respect to a franchise-operated and subleased restaurant, we permit the franchisee to close the restaurant or suffer an involuntary closure of the restaurant), we may nonetheless be required to continue to perform our monetary and non-monetary obligations under the applicable lease for the balance of the lease term, subject to our efforts to mitigate our losses and seek an early termination of the lease, which may include an accelerated payment to a landlord. In such instances, we may incur negative lease write-offs and there is no guarantee we will be able to collect reimbursement from the franchisee and/or subtenant. In addition, as our leases expire, we may fail to negotiate additional renewals or renewal options, either on commercially acceptable terms or at all, which could cause us to close restaurants in desirable locations, negatively impacting our results of operations. In addition, as each lease expires, we may fail to negotiate additional renewals or renewal options, either on commercially acceptable terms or at all, which could cause us to close restaurants in desirable locations, negatively impacting our results of operations.
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Our international operations are subject to various risks and uncertainties and there is no assurance that our international operations will continue to be profitable.
In addition to many of the factors described in this risk factors section, our business outside of the United States is subject to a number of additional risks and uncertainties, including international economic and geopolitical conditions or conflicts, risk of corruption and violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or similar anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws of other countries, the inability to adapt to differing cultures or consumer preferences, inadequate brand infrastructure to support our international activities, inability to obtain adequate supplies meeting our quality standards and product specifications or interruptions in obtaining such supplies, challenges and risks associated with managing and monitoring suppliers, restrictions on our ability to move cash out of certain foreign countries, currency regulations and fluctuations in exchange rates, tariffs and trade barriers or foreign policy changes, diverse government regulations and tax systems, uncertain or differing interpretations of rights and obligations in connection with international franchise agreements, the collection of royalties and other fees from international franchisees, the inability to protect technology, data or intellectual property rights, compliance with international privacy and information security laws and regulations, the availability and cost of land, construction costs, other legal, financial or regulatory impediments to the development or operation of restaurants, changing labor conditions and difficulties in staffing and managing our foreign operations and identifying qualified franchisees and joint venture partners. Adverse conditions or unforeseen events in countries that contain a high concentration of Wendy’s restaurants (including Canada, our largest international market), could have a material adverse impact on our international growth strategy and results of operations. In addition, to the extent we invest in international Company-operated restaurants or joint ventures, we would also have the risk of operating losses related to those restaurants, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
There can be no assurance that our international growth strategy will be successful or that our international operations will be profitable. New and emerging markets may have heightened risks regarding the interpretation, application, and enforceability of laws, regulations, contract rights and intellectual property rights, lower brand awareness as well as competitive conditions, consumer tastes and preferences, discretionary spending patterns and social and cultural differences that are more difficult to predict or satisfy than our existing markets. We may need to make greater investments than we originally planned in advertising and promotional activity to build brand awareness, which could negatively impact the profitability of our operations. In addition, we and our franchisees may be unable to obtain desirable locations for new restaurants at reasonable prices, or at all, and restaurants may have higher construction, occupancy, food and labor costs than we currently anticipate. In addition, we may be unable to obtain desirable locations for new restaurants at reasonable prices, or at all, and restaurants may have higher construction, occupancy, food and labor costs than we currently anticipate. Furthermore, if the results of the Wendy’s business in certain key markets, including the U.S., Canada and the U.K., do not meet our expectations, our ability to attract new franchisees and enter into new international markets could be negatively impacted. Any of these risks and uncertainties, and other factors we cannot anticipate, could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our current insurance may not provide adequate levels of coverage against claims that have been or may be filed. Our current insurance may not provide adequate levels of coverage against claims that have been or may be filed.
We currently maintain insurance that we believe to be adequate for businesses of our size and type. However, we could encounter losses that cannot be insured against or that we believe are not economically reasonable to insure, such as losses due to certain natural disasters, acts of terrorism or the declaration of war. However, there are types of losses we could encounter that cannot be insured against or that we believe are not economically reasonable to insure, such as losses due to natural disasters, acts of terrorism or the declaration of war. In addition, we currently self-insure a significant portion of expected losses under workers’ compensation, general liability, products liability, auto liability and property insurance programs. Unanticipated changes in the actuarial assumptions and management estimates underlying our reserves for these losses could result in materially different expense amounts, which could harm our business and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. Any inadequacy of, or inability to obtain, insurance coverage could have a material adverse effect on our results of operation and financial condition.
Risks Related to Supply Chain and Labor
Changes in commodity costs and other operating costs could adversely affect our results of operations.
Our profitability depends in part on our ability to anticipate and react to changes in commodity costs (including beef, chicken, pork, dairy and grains), supplies, fuel, utilities, distribution and other operating costs, including labor costs. Increases in commodity costs have adversely impacted and could continue to adversely impact our results of operations. Increases in commodity costs, particularly beef or chicken prices, could adversely affect our future results of operations. Our business is susceptible to increases in commodity and other operating costs as a result of various factors beyond our control, such as general economic conditions, inflation, industry demand, commodity supply and the availability of alternative suppliers, energy costs, food safety concerns, animal disease outbreaks, product recalls and government regulations. Our business is susceptible to increases in commodity and other operating costs as a result of various factors beyond our control, such as general economic conditions, inflation, industry demand, energy costs, food safety concerns, animal disease outbreaks, product recalls and government regulations. Increasing weather volatility or other long-term changes in weather patterns, including related to climate change, could have a significant impact on the price or availability of some of our ingredients. In addition, our supply chain is subject to increased costs arising from actual or perceived effects of climate change, greenhouse gas emissions and scarcity of energy and water resources. The ongoing and
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long-term costs of these impacts could have a material adverse effect on our business if not properly mitigated. We could also be adversely impacted by the cost of products raised or grown in accordance with our responsible sourcing criteria, including those related to environmental sustainability and animal welfare, as the availability of products that can be assured to meet those criteria are generally smaller and more concentrated, and may be more costly, than the markets for conventionally raised or grown products that are not assured to meet those criteria. We could also be adversely impacted by the cost of products raised or grown in accordance with our responsible sourcing criteria, including those related to environmental sustainability and animal welfare, as availability of products that can be assured to meet those criteria are generally smaller and more concentrated, and may be more costly, than the markets for conventionally raised or grown products that are not assured to meet those criteria. We cannot predict whether we will be able to anticipate and react to changing commodity costs by adjusting our purchasing practices and menu prices, and a failure to do so could adversely affect our results of operations. For example, historically, in order to partially offset inflation and other increases in commodity and other operating costs, we have gradually increased menu prices.Our inability or failure to recognize, respond to and effectively manage the accelerated impact of social media could adversely impact our brand, business and results of operations. There can be no assurance that future cost increases, including as a result of inflation, can be offset by increased menu prices or that our current or future menu prices will be fully absorbed by our customers without any resulting change to their demand for our products, which in turn could adversely affect our results of operations. If we do not attempt or are unable to successfully protect, maintain or enforce our intellectual property rights, there could be a material adverse effect on our business or results of operations as a result of, among other things, consumer confusion, dilution of the Wendy’s brand or increased competition from unauthorized users of our brand.
Shortages or interruptions in the supply or distribution of perishable food products could damage our brand and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Wendy’s and our franchisees are dependent on frequent deliveries of perishable food products that meet brand specifications. Shortages or interruptions in the supply of perishable food products caused by unanticipated demand, problems in production or distribution, labor disruptions, technology-related problems, financial distress or insolvency of suppliers or distributors, disease or food-borne illnesses, political unrest, health epidemics or pandemics, inclement weather or other calamities or conditions could adversely affect the availability, quality and cost of ingredients, which could lower revenues, increase operating costs, damage brand reputation and otherwise harm our business and the businesses of our franchisees. Shortages or interruptions in the supply of perishable food products caused by unanticipated demand, problems in production or distribution, labor shortages, disease or food-borne illnesses, political unrest, health epidemics or pandemics, inclement weather or other calamities or conditions could adversely affect the availability, quality and cost of ingredients, which could lower revenues, increase operating costs, damage brand reputation and otherwise harm our business and the businesses of our franchisees. In addition, our system relies on a limited number of suppliers and in-line distributors to deliver certain food, packaging and beverage products to our restaurants. In addition, our system relies on a limited number of in-line distributors to deliver certain food, packaging and beverage products to our restaurants. If a disruption of service from any of our key suppliers or distributors was to occur, including as a result of a failure to meet our quality or safety standards, we could experience short-term increases in our costs while supply and distribution channels were adjusted, and we may be unable to identify or negotiate with new suppliers or distributors on terms that are commercially reasonable to us. If a disruption of service from any of our key suppliers or distributors was to occur, we could experience short-term increases in our costs while supply and distribution channels were adjusted, and we may be unable to identify or negotiate with new suppliers or distributors on terms that are commercially reasonable to us.
We do not exercise ultimate control over purchasing for our restaurant system, which could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.
While we require and seek to ensure that all suppliers to the Wendy’s system meet certain quality control standards, our franchisees ultimately control the purchasing of food, proprietary paper, equipment and other operating supplies from third party suppliers through QSCC, Wendy’s independent purchasing co-op. QSCC manages, for the Wendy’s system in the United States and Canada, contracts for the purchase and distribution of food, proprietary paper, equipment and other operating supplies under national agreements with pricing based on total system volume. We do not control the decisions and activities of QSCC. If QSCC does not properly estimate the product needs of the Wendy’s system, makes poor purchasing decisions or ceases its operations, or if our relationship with QSCC is terminated for any reason, system sales, operating costs and supply chain management could be adversely affected, which could harm us and our franchisees and have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our business could be hurt by increased labor costs or labor shortages.
Labor is a primary component in the cost of operating our restaurants. We devote significant resources to recruiting and training our restaurant personnel, including managers and hourly employees. We devote significant resources to recruiting and training our managers and hourly employees. Increased labor costs due to competition, labor shortages (including due to changes in immigration laws and enforcement), inflationary pressures, increased wages or employee benefits costs (including various federal, state and local actions to increase minimum wages and enhance workplace conditions), health epidemics or pandemics (such as the COVID-19 pandemic) or other factors have adversely impacted and could continue to adversely impact our cost of sales and operating expenses. In addition, Wendy’s success depends on our ability to attract, motivate and retain qualified employees, including restaurant managers and staff as well as employees and key personnel at our restaurant support center. In addition, Wendy’s success depends on our ability to attract, motivate and retain qualified employees, including restaurant managers and staff as well as employees and key personnel at our restaurant support center, and our inability to do so could adversely affect our business and results of operations. We have experienced, and may continue to experience, challenges attracting, motivating and retaining restaurant employees, and our inability to do so in the future could cause us to experience increased labor costs and could adversely affect our business and results of operations. To the extent our franchisees experience financial distress, including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it could negatively affect our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition through delayed or reduced payments of royalties, advertising fund contributions or rent. Our business, results of operations and brand perception could also be adversely impacted by unionization efforts or other campaigns by labor organizations affecting our employees or the employees of our franchisees or by our responses to any such efforts or campaigns.
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Our success depends in part upon the continued succession and retention of certain key personnel and the effectiveness of our leadership and organizational structure.
Much of our future success depends on the continued availability, efforts and abilities of our senior leadership team and other key personnel. The loss of, or failure to engage in adequate succession planning for, members of our senior leadership team or other key personnel could adversely affect our ability to achieve our growth strategy and other business initiatives. Our failure to retain members of our senior leadership team or other key personnel could adversely affect our ability to build on the efforts we have undertaken to increase the efficiency and performance of our business. In addition, changes to our leadership and organizational structure, including changes to the Company’s senior leadership team in recent years, can be inherently difficult to manage, and if we are unable to implement such changes effectively, our business, results of operations and financial results could be adversely affected. In addition, changes to our leadership and organizational structure can be inherently difficult to manage, and if we are unable to implement any such changes effectively, our business, results of operations and financial results could be adversely affected.
Risks Related to Technology and Cybersecurity
There are risks and uncertainties associated with our digital commerce strategies, platforms and technologies.
Advances in technologies, including digital and delivery technologies, and changes in consumer behavior driven by such advances could have a negative effect on our business.Advances in technologies, including advances in digital food ordering and delivery technologies, and changes in consumer behavior driven by such advances could have a negative effect on our business. Technology and consumer offerings continue to develop and evolve, and we expect that new and enhanced technologies and consumer offerings will be available in the future, including those with a focus on restaurant modernization, restaurant technology, digital engagement and integration, AI, online ordering and delivery. Our inability to predict consumer, employee or franchisee acceptance of new technology or our failure to adequately invest in and implement new technology or adapt to technological developments, industry trends and evolving ethical, legal and regulatory requirements could result in a loss of customers and related market share. Our inability to predict consumer acceptance of new technology or our failure to adequately invest in new technology or adapt to technological developments, industry trends and evolving legal and regulatory requirements could result in a loss of customers and related market share. In addition, our competitors, some of whom have greater resources than we do, may be better able to benefit from changes in technologies or consumer, employee or franchisee acceptance of such changes, which could harm our competitive position and brand. In addition, our competitors, some of whom have greater resources than we do, may be able to benefit from changes in technologies or consumer acceptance of such changes, which could harm our competitive position and brand.
An increasing amount of our sales and revenues is derived from digital orders, including online ordering and delivery. An increasing amount of our sales and revenues is derived from digital orders, which includes online ordering and delivery. We have implemented and will continue to implement technology investments and targeted advertising and promotions to support the growth of our digital business. If we are unable to continue to grow our digital business, it may be difficult for us to achieve our planned sales growth. If our digital commerce platforms and strategies, including our planned investments to support digital growth through enhancements to the Wendy’s mobile app, loyalty program and personalized marketing capabilities and the continued rollout and implementation of digital menu boards, kiosks and AI integrated in our restaurants, do not meet customers’ expectations in terms of security, privacy, speed, attractiveness or ease of use, customers may be less inclined to return to those platforms, which could negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition. Our business could also be negatively impacted if we are unable to successfully implement or execute other consumer-facing digital initiatives as quickly and efficiently as our competitors. We rely on third-party delivery services to fulfill delivery orders, and errors or failures by those providers to make timely deliveries could cause customers to stop ordering from us. The third-party restaurant delivery business is intensely competitive, with a number of companies competing for capital, market share, online traffic and delivery drivers. If the third-party delivery services that we utilize cease or curtail their operations, increase their fees or provide greater priority or promotions on their platforms to our competitors, our delivery business and our sales may be negatively impacted. If the third-party delivery services that we utilize cease or curtail their operations, increase their fees or give greater priority or promotions on their platforms to our competitors, our delivery business and our sales may be negatively impacted.
Furthermore, with the rapid advancement and proliferation of AI and other similar technologies, any efforts by us and our franchisees to incorporate such technologies into our business may require substantial resources to be expended and divert the attention of management and may also prove to be unsuccessful. If franchisees do not successfully operate their restaurants in a manner consistent with required standards, their royalty payments to us could be adversely affected and our brand’s image and reputation could be harmed, both of which in turn could hurt our business and results of operations. Incorporating such technologies into our business may also increase the risk that we become subject to claims that we are violating third-party intellectual property or data rights or consumer class actions and other consumer claims. Laws and regulations are evolving both in the United States and internationally around the use of AI technologies, including through some state laws that impose additional restrictions on automated decision-making. In addition, the rapid evolution and increased adoption of AI technologies may intensify privacy and cybersecurity risks. As we adopt such technologies, public perception that using such technologies is unethical, insecure or otherwise inappropriate – whether justified or not – could reduce demand for our products, increase scrutiny from or actions by regulators, consumer groups or other third parties, increase the scope of regulation or government restrictions affecting us, impair our reputation, involve us our franchisees in litigation, damage our brand and otherwise have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We and our franchisees are heavily dependent on computer systems and information technology and any material failure, interruption or degradation of our systems or technology or those of our key technology providers could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.We are heavily dependent on our computer systems and information technology, including those controlled by third-party providers, to conduct our business, including point-of-sale processing in our restaurants, management of our supply chain, collection of cash, payment of obligations and various other processes and procedures.
We and our franchisees are heavily dependent on our computer systems and information technology, including those controlled by third-party providers, to conduct our business, including point-of-sale processing in our restaurants, technologies
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that support our digital and delivery solutions, management of our supply chain, collection of cash, payment of obligations and various other processes and procedures. Our ability to efficiently manage our business depends significantly on the reliability and performance of these systems and technology. Our ability to efficiently manage our business depends significantly on the reliability and capacity of our systems and technology. The failure of these systems and technology to operate effectively, or an interruption or degradation in these systems or technology could be harmful and cause delays in customer service, result in the loss of digital sales or data, reduce efficiency or cause delays in operations and have an adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition. A cyber incident could also require us to notify customers, employees or other groups, result in adverse publicity or a loss in consumer confidence, sales and profits, increase fees payable to third parties or cause us to incur penalties or remediation and other costs that could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. Significant capital investments might be required to remediate any such problems or to maintain or upgrade our systems and technology or transition to replacement systems or technology.
We are dependent to a significant extent on our ongoing relationship with key technology providers, including their personnel, resources, technological expertise, systems and technology and their ability to help execute our digital, restaurant technology and enterprise technology initiatives and support our technology innovation and growth initiatives. Any failure or interruption or degradation of their systems or technology could similarly have an adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Any damage or violation of our intellectual property could harm our image, brand or competitive position and cause us to incur significant legal fees and diversion of resources.
The occurrence of cybersecurity incidents, or a deficiency in cybersecurity, could negatively impact our brand, business, results of operations and financial condition.25The occurrence of cyber incidents, or a deficiency in cybersecurity, could negatively impact our brand, business, results of operations and financial condition.
Cybersecurity incidents or breaches have, from time to time, occurred and may in the future occur involving our systems, the systems of our franchisees or the systems of our third-party service providers. Such cybersecurity incidents and breaches may include, without limitation, unauthorized access, fraud, phishing attacks, account takeovers, denial of service, computer viruses, introduction of malware or ransomware and other disruptive problems caused by malicious actors. As our reliance on technology has increased, so have the risks posed to our systems, both internal and those managed by third parties. Our business involves the processing of sensitive customer data, including, in some instances, credit and debit card numbers and other personally identifiable information, in various information systems that we and our franchisees maintain and in those maintained by third parties with whom we and our franchisees contract to provide credit card processing, digital ordering and related services. Our business involves the collection and retention of customer data, including, in some instances, credit and debit card numbers and other personally identifiable information, in various information systems that we and our franchisees maintain and in those maintained by third parties with whom we and our franchisees contract to provide credit card processing, digital ordering and related services. We also maintain important internal data, such as personally identifiable information about our employees and franchisees and information relating to our operations. Our processing of personally identifiable information is regulated by international, federal and state laws, as well as by certain third-party agreements. Our use of personally identifiable information is regulated by international, federal and state laws, as well as by certain third-party agreements. As privacy and information security laws and regulations change, including comprehensive privacy and data protection laws adopted by states or foreign countries, we will likely incur additional costs to ensure that we remain in compliance with those laws and regulations. If our security and information systems are compromised or if our employees or franchisees, or third-party service providers fail to comply with, or fail to successfully implement processes related to, these laws, regulations or contract terms, and this information is obtained by unauthorized persons or used inappropriately, it could adversely affect our reputation, disrupt our operations, damage our relationship with customers, franchisees or employees and result in costly litigation, judgments, or penalties resulting from violation of applicable laws and payment card industry regulations. If our security and information systems are compromised or if our employees or franchisees fail to comply with these laws, regulations or contract terms, and this information is obtained by unauthorized persons or used inappropriately, it could adversely affect our reputation, disrupt our operations, damage our relationship with customers, franchisees or employees and result in costly litigation, judgments, or penalties resulting from violation of applicable laws and payment card industry regulations. A cybersecurity incident could also require us to notify customers, employees or other groups, result in adverse publicity or a loss in consumer confidence, sales and profits, increase fees payable to third parties or cause us to incur penalties or remediation and other costs that could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. A cyber incident could also require us to notify customers, employees or other groups, result in adverse publicity or a loss in consumer confidence, sales and profits, increase fees payable to third parties or cause us to incur penalties or remediation and other costs that could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. We have devoted considerable resources to secure our systems and technology against security breaches and have implemented various processes, procedures and controls to help mitigate the risk of a cybersecurity incident. However, the techniques and sophistication used to conduct cybersecurity-attacks change frequently and the measures we have taken do not guarantee that a cybersecurity incident or security breach could not occur or that our business, reputation and financial condition will not be adversely affected. We also currently maintain insurance coverage to address cybersecurity incidents. Applicable insurance policies contain customary limitations, conditions and exclusions, and there can be no assurance that our cybersecurity or other insurance policies will cover substantially all of the costs and expenses related to any previous or future incidents. Applicable insurance policies contain customary limitations, conditions and exclusions, and there can be no assurance that our cyber insurance policies will cover substantially all of the costs and expenses related to any previous or future cyber incidents. In addition, our future insurance premiums may increase, and we may be unable to obtain similar levels of insurance on reasonable terms, or at all, due to challenging conditions in the insurance industry.
Risks Related to Our Indebtedness
The Company and certain of our subsidiaries are subject to various restrictions, and substantially all of the assets of certain subsidiaries are pledged as security, under the terms of a securitized financing facility.
Wendy’s Funding, LLC, a limited-purpose, bankruptcy-remote, wholly owned indirect subsidiary of the Company, is the master issuer (the “Master Issuer”) of outstanding senior secured notes under a securitized financing facility entered into in June 2015. Under the facility, the Master Issuer issued and has outstanding certain series of fixed rate and variable funding notes (collectively, the “Senior Notes”). The Senior Notes are secured by a security interest in substantially all of the assets of the Master Issuer and certain other limited-purpose, bankruptcy-remote, wholly-owned indirect subsidiaries of the Company that act as guarantors (collectively, the “Securitization Entities”), except for certain real estate assets and subject to certain
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limitations as set forth in the indenture governing the Senior Notes (the “Indenture”) and the related guarantee and collateral agreement. The assets of the Securitization Entities include most of the domestic and certain of the foreign revenue-generating assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, which principally consist of franchise-related agreements, real estate assets, intellectual property and license agreements for the use of intellectual property. The assets of the Securitization Entities include most of the domestic and certain of the foreign revenue-generating assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, which principally consist of franchise-related agreements, certain Company-operated restaurants, intellectual property and license agreements for the use of intellectual property.
The Senior Notes are subject to a series of covenants and restrictions customary for transactions of this type, including that the Master Issuer maintains specified reserve accounts to be used to make required payments in respect of the Senior Notes, provisions relating to optional and mandatory prepayments and the related payment of specified amounts, including specified make-whole payments under certain circumstances, certain indemnification payments in the event, among other things, that the assets pledged as collateral for the Senior Notes are in stated ways defective or ineffective and covenants relating to recordkeeping, access to information and similar matters. The Senior Notes are also subject to customary rapid amortization events provided for in the Indenture, including events tied to failure to maintain stated debt service coverage ratios, the sum of global gross sales for specified restaurants being below certain levels on certain measurement dates, certain manager termination events, the occurrence of an event of default and the failure to repay or refinance the Senior Notes on the applicable scheduled payment dates. The Senior Notes are subject to customary rapid amortization events provided for in the Indenture, including events tied to failure to maintain stated debt service coverage ratios, the sum of global gross sales for specified restaurants being below certain levels on certain measurement dates, certain manager termination events, an event of default and the failure to repay or refinance on the applicable scheduled maturity date. The Senior Notes are also subject to certain customary events of default, including events relating to non-payment of required interest, principal or other amounts due on or with respect to the Senior Notes, failure to comply with covenants within certain time frames, certain bankruptcy events, breaches of specified representations and warranties, the trustee under the Indenture ceasing to have valid and perfected security interests in certain collateral and certain judgments. The Senior Notes are also subject to certain customary events of default, including events relating to non-payment of required interest, principal, or 26other amounts due on or with respect to the Senior Notes, failure to comply with covenants within certain time frames, certain bankruptcy events, breaches of specified representations and warranties, failure of security interests to be effective and certain judgments. In the event that a rapid amortization event occurs under the Indenture (including, without limitation, upon an event of default under the Indenture or the failure to repay the securitized debt on the applicable scheduled payment dates), the funds available to the Company would be reduced or eliminated, which would in turn reduce our ability to operate or grow our business. In the event that a rapid amortization event occurs under the Indenture (including, without limitation, upon an event of default under the Indenture or the failure to repay the securitized debt at the end of the applicable term), the funds available to the Company would be reduced or eliminated, which would in turn reduce our ability to operate or grow our business. In addition, if amounts owed under the securitized financing facility are accelerated because of a default under the securitized financing facility and we are unable to pay such amounts, the holders of the Senior Notes, or a representative of the holders, may have the right to sell and/or appoint a third party to assume control of substantially all of the securitized assets.
In addition, the Indenture and the related management agreement contain various covenants that limit the Company and its subsidiaries’ ability to engage in specified types of transactions, subject to certain exceptions, including, for example, to incur or guarantee additional indebtedness, sell certain assets, create or incur liens on certain assets to secure indebtedness or consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of their assets. In addition, the Indenture and the related management agreement contain various covenants that limit the Company and its subsidiaries’ ability to engage in specified types of transactions, subject to certain exceptions, including, for example, to incur or guarantee additional indebtedness, sell certain assets, create or incur liens on certain assets to secure indebtedness or consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of their assets. As a result of these restrictions, the Company may not have adequate resources or flexibility to continue to manage the business and provide for growth of the Wendy’s system, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s prospects, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
We have a significant amount of debt outstanding, and such indebtedness could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
As of December 28, 2025, the Company had approximately $2.8 billion of outstanding debt on its balance sheet.As of January 2, 2022, the Company had approximately $2.4 billion of outstanding debt on its balance sheet. Additionally, a subsidiary of the Company has issued variable funding notes, which allow for the borrowing of up to $300.0 million from time to time on a revolving basis. Additionally, a subsidiary of the Company has issued variable funding notes, which allows for the borrowing of up to $300.0 million from time to time on a revolving basis. This level of debt could have significant consequences on the Company’s future operations, including: (i) making it more difficult to meet payment and other obligations under outstanding debt; (ii) resulting in an event of default if the Company’s subsidiaries fail to comply with the financial and other restrictive covenants contained in debt agreements, which event of default could result in all of the Company’s subsidiaries’ debt becoming immediately due and payable; (iii) reducing the availability of the Company’s cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures, equity and debt repurchases, dividends, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes, and limiting the Company’s ability to obtain additional financing for these purposes; (iv) subjecting the Company to the risk of increased sensitivity to interest rate increases on indebtedness with variable interest rates; (v) limiting the Company’s flexibility in planning for or reacting to, and increasing its vulnerability to, changes in the Company’s business or industry or the general economy; and (vi) placing the Company at a competitive disadvantage compared to its competitors that are less leveraged.
The ability of the Company to make payments on, repay or refinance its debt, and to fund planned capital expenditures, dividends and other cash needs will depend largely upon its future operating performance and ability to generate significant cash flows. In addition, the ability of the Company to borrow funds in the future to make payments on its debt will depend on the satisfaction of the covenants in the securitized financing facility and other debt agreements, and other agreements it may enter into in the future. If our business does not generate sufficient cash flow from operations or if future borrowings are not available to us under our variable funding notes in amounts sufficient to fund our other liquidity needs, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected. If we cannot generate sufficient cash flow from operations to make scheduled principal amortization and interest payments on our debt obligations in the future, we may need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness on or before maturity, sell assets, delay capital expenditures or seek additional equity. If we
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are unable to refinance any of our indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms or at all or to effect any other action relating to our indebtedness on satisfactory terms or at all, our business may be harmed. Furthermore, our debt is rated by credit ratings agencies and these agencies may downgrade their credit ratings for us based on the performance of our business, our capital strategies or their overall view of our industry. There can be no assurance that any rating assigned to our currently outstanding indebtedness will remain in effect for any given period of time or that any such ratings will not be lowered, suspended or withdrawn entirely by a rating agency if, in that agency’s judgment, circumstances so warrant. A downgrade of our credit ratings could, among other things, increase our cost of borrowing, limit our ability to access capital or result in more restrictive covenants in agreements governing the terms of any future indebtedness that we may incur, and thereby could adversely impact our business and results of operations.
In addition to the Company’s outstanding indebtedness, the Company is subject to risks related to certain commitments, guarantees and other liabilities. These commitments, guarantees and other liabilities could have an adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity and its ability to meet payment obligations. These commitments, guarantees and other liabilities could have an adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity and the ability of its subsidiaries to meet payment obligations. The Company may incur additional indebtedness, guarantees, commitments or other liabilities in the future that could amplify the risks that the Company currently faces.
Risks Related to Our Common Stock
There can be no assurance regarding whether or to what extent we will pay dividends on our common stock in the future.
Holders of our common stock will only be entitled to receive such dividends as our Board of Directors may declare out of funds legally available for such payments. Any dividends will be made at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on our earnings, financial condition, cash requirements and such other factors as the Board may deem relevant from time to time. In addition, because Wendy’s is a holding company, its ability to declare and pay dividends is dependent upon cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments on hand and cash flows from its subsidiaries. The ability of our subsidiaries to pay cash dividends to the holding company is dependent upon their ability to achieve sufficient cash flows after satisfying their respective cash requirements, including the requirements and restrictions under our securitized financing facility and other debt agreements.
A substantial amount of our common stock is concentrated in the hands of certain stockholders. A substantial amount of our common stock is concentrated in the hands of certain stockholders.
Nelson Peltz, our former Chairman and Chairman Emeritus, Peter May, our Senior Vice Chairman and Matthew Peltz, our former Vice Chairman, beneficially own shares of our outstanding common stock that collectively constitute approximately 16% of the Company’s total voting power as of February 16, 2026. These individuals may, from time to time, acquire beneficial ownership of additional shares of common stock.Nelson Peltz, our Chairman, Peter May, our Senior Vice Chairman, Matthew Peltz, our Vice Chairman, and Edward Garden, a former director of the Company, beneficially own shares of our outstanding common stock that collectively constitute approximately 19% of the Company’s total voting power as of February 22, 2022. These individuals may, from time to time, acquire beneficial ownership of additional shares of common stock.
In 2011, the Company entered into an agreement (the “Trian Agreement”) with Messrs.On December 1, 2011, the Company entered into an agreement (the “Trian Agreement”) with Messrs. N. Peltz and May and several of their affiliates (the “Covered Persons”). Peltz, May and Garden, and several of their affiliates (the “Covered Persons”). Pursuant to the Trian Agreement, our Board, including a majority of the independent directors, approved, for purposes of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Covered Persons becoming the owners (as defined in Section 203(c)(9)) of or acquiring an aggregate of up to (and including), but not more than, 32.5% (subject to certain adjustments set forth in the Trian Agreement) of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, such that no such persons would be subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 203 solely as a result of such ownership. Pursuant to the Trian Agreement, our Board of Directors, including a majority of the independent directors, approved, for purposes of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Covered Persons becoming the owners (as defined in Section 203(c)(9)) of or acquiring an aggregate of up to (and including), but not more than, 32.5% (subject to certain adjustments set forth in the Trian Agreement) of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, such that no such persons would be subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 203 solely as a result of such ownership. This concentration of ownership gives these individuals significant influence over the outcome of actions requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors and the approval of mergers, consolidations and the sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets. They are also in a position to have significant influence to prevent or cause a change in control of the Company.
Our certificate of incorporation contains certain anti-takeover provisions and permits our Board of Directors to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval and limits our ability to raise capital from affiliates. Our certificate of incorporation contains certain anti-takeover provisions and permits our Board of Directors to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval and limits our ability to raise capital from affiliates.
Certain provisions in our certificate of incorporation are intended to discourage or delay a hostile takeover of control of the Company. Our certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of shares of “blank check” preferred stock, which will have such designations, rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by our Board of Directors. Accordingly, our Board of Directors is empowered, without stockholder approval, to issue preferred stock with dividend, liquidation, conversion, voting or other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of our common stock. The preferred stock could be used to discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of the Company that is determined by the Board of Directors to be undesirable. Our certificate of incorporation prohibits the issuance of preferred stock to affiliates, unless offered ratably to the holders of our common stock, subject to an exception in the event that the Company is in financial
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distress and the issuance is approved by the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors, which limits our ability to raise capital from affiliates.
Risks Related to Legal and Regulatory Matters
Existing and changing legal and regulatory requirements, as well as a focus on corporate responsibility issues, could adversely affect our brand, business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our complex and extensive legal and regulatory environment exposes us to compliance, litigation and similar risks that could affect our operations and results in material ways. Our system optimization initiative also places demands on our operational and financial management resources and may require us to expand these resources. Each Wendy’s restaurant is subject to licensing and regulation by health, sanitation, safety and other agencies in the state and/or municipality in which the restaurant is located, as well as to federal laws, rules and regulations and requirements of non-governmental entities such as payment card industry rules.Each Wendy’s restaurant is subject to licensing and regulation by health, sanitation, safety and other agencies in the state or municipality in which the restaurant is located, as well as to federal laws, rules and regulations and requirements of non-governmental entities such as payment card industry rules. Governmental authorities may enact or change laws, rules or regulations (some of which may be potentially conflicting with each other) that impact restaurant operations and the cost of conducting those operations, including, among other matters, product packaging, marketing, the nutritional content and safety of our food and other products, labeling and other disclosure practices, and labor changes (including with respect to changes in immigration laws and enforcement). In addition, there can be no assurance that we and our franchisees will not experience material difficulties or failures in obtaining the necessary licenses or approvals for opening new restaurants. More stringent and varied requirements of local regulators with respect to tax, zoning, land use and environmental factors could also delay or prevent development of new restaurants in particular locations.
We are subject to various laws, rules and regulations that govern the offer and sale of a franchise, including rules by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Various state, provincial and foreign laws, rules and regulations also regulate certain aspects of the franchise relationship, including terminations and the refusal to renew franchises. Various state, provincial and foreign laws regulate certain aspects of the franchise relationship, including terminations and the refusal to renew franchises. The failure to comply with these laws, rules and regulations in any jurisdiction or to obtain required government approvals could result in a ban or temporary suspension on future franchise sales, fines and penalties or require us to make offers of rescission or restitution, any of which could adversely affect our business results of operations and financial condition. The failure to comply with these laws and regulations in any jurisdiction or to obtain required government approvals could result in a ban or temporary suspension on future franchise sales, fines and penalties or require us to make offers of rescission or restitution, any of which could adversely affect our business and results of operations. We could also face lawsuits by franchisees based upon alleged violations of these laws, rules and regulations. We and our franchisees are each also subject to laws, rules and regulations that govern employment matters at the federal/national, state/provincial and local levels. We and our franchisees are each also subject to laws and regulations that govern employment matters at the federal/national, state/provincial and local levels. In the United States, this includes laws like the Fair Labor Standards Act, which governs such matters as minimum wages, overtime and other working conditions, Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the National Labor Relations Act, family leave, paid sick time and similar requirements and a variety of other laws, rules and regulations.
Changes in laws, rules, regulations, and governmental policies, including the interpretation thereof, could increase our costs, require modifications to our business, result in increased litigation, investigations, enforcement actions, fines or liabilities and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. Changes in the legal framework of employment or franchise liability could negatively impact our business, particularly if such changes result in any law, rule, regulation, governmental policy or interpretation or judicial decision determining that Wendy’s is an employer of its franchisees or a joint employer with our franchisees or otherwise imposing liability for employment-related claims or impacting our employment relationships based on theories of joint employer liability or other theories of vicarious liability. Although we do not believe this law applies to our franchisees or their employees, changes in the legal framework of employment or franchise liability could negatively impact our business, particularly if such changes result in any law, rule, regulation, governmental policy or interpretation or judicial decision determining that Wendy’s is an employer of its franchisees or a joint employer with our franchisees or otherwise imposing liability for employment-related claims or impacting our employment relationships based on theories of joint employer liability or other theories of vicarious liability. In addition, various state and local laws may require wage increases and impose working hour and working condition standards that could result in increased costs, limit our or our franchisees’ ability to respond to market conditions and negatively impact our ability to identify, attract and retain qualified franchisees to operate or open restaurants in the impacted markets. If we are unable to effectively manage the risks associated with this complex legislative and regulatory environment, it could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition. If we are unable to effectively manage the risks associated with our complex regulatory environment, it could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
We are also subject to legal and compliance risks related to privacy and data collection, and protection and management of certain data and information associated with our technology-related services and platforms made available to customers, employees, franchisees, business partners or other third parties.We are also subject to legal and compliance risks related to privacy and data collection, protection and management of certain data and information associated with our technology-related services and platforms made available to customers, employees, franchisees, business partners or other third parties. We are subject to a variety of federal and state and foreign laws, rules and regulations in this area. We are subject to a variety of US federal and state and foreign laws and regulations in this area. These laws and regulations have been subject to frequent change, and there may be jurisdictions that propose or enact new data privacy requirements in the future. Failure to meet applicable data privacy requirements could result in legal proceedings and substantial penalties and adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition. Failure to meet applicable data privacy requirements could result in substantial penalties and adversely impact our business and financial condition. Additionally, evolving laws, rules and regulations could require us and our franchisees to change or limit the way we collect or use information in operating our business, which may result in additional costs, limit our marketing or growth strategies and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. Additionally, evolving laws and regulations could require us and our franchisees to change or limit the way we collect or use information in operating our business, which may result in additional costs, limit our marketing or growth strategies and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
There is also a focus by major institutional investors and others on corporate responsibility matters, including packaging and waste, animal health and welfare, human rights, diversity, climate change, greenhouse gases and land, energy and water use. As a result, we have experienced pressure and expectations to provide expanded disclosure and establish commitments,
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goals or targets with respect to various corporate responsibility issues and to take the actions necessary to meet those commitments, goals and targets. If we are not effective, or perceived to be effective, in meeting our commitments, goals or targets or otherwise addressing various corporate responsibility matters, this could result in negative publicity, decreased consumer trust in our brand or litigation. If the third-party delivery services that we utilize cease or curtail their operations, increase their fees or give greater priority or promotions on their platforms to our competitors, our delivery business and our sales may be negatively impacted. In addition, the actions needed to meet our commitments, goals and targets could be difficult and resource intensive, or may require collaboration with and cooperation by our franchisees and other third parties, including suppliers in our supply chain, and are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of our control and may prove more costly than we anticipate. A cyber incident could also require us to notify customers, employees or other groups, result in adverse publicity or a loss in consumer confidence, sales and profits, increase fees payable to third parties or cause us to incur penalties or remediation and other costs that could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. There has also been pushback by some individuals and organizations on companies focusing on certain corporate responsibility initiatives which could also have an adverse effect. Any failure or perceived failure by us to manage corporate responsibility issues successfully could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operation and financial condition.
Complaints or litigation could hurt our brand, business, results of operations and financial condition.
Wendy’s customers may file complaints or lawsuits against us or our franchisees alleging that we are responsible for an illness or injury they suffered at or after a visit to a Wendy’s restaurant, or alleging that there was a problem with food safety, food quality or operations at a Wendy’s restaurant. We may also be subject to a variety of other claims arising in the ordinary course of our business, including personal injury claims, contract claims, marketing or advertising claims, claims from franchisees, intellectual property claims, stockholder claims, data privacy claims and claims alleging violations of law regarding workplace and employment matters, discrimination and similar matters, including class action lawsuits. We may also be subject to a variety of other claims arising in the ordinary course of our business, including personal injury claims, contract claims, claims from franchisees, intellectual property claims, data privacy claims and claims alleging violations of law regarding workplace and employment matters, discrimination and similar matters, including class action lawsuits. Regardless of whether any claims against us are valid or whether we are found to be liable, claims may be expensive to defend and may divert management’s attention away from operations, hurt our performance and have a negative impact on our brand and our restaurants. While we believe we have adequate accruals for all of our legal and environmental matters, we cannot estimate the aggregate possible range of loss for our existing litigation and claims due to various reasons, including, but not limited to, many proceedings being in preliminary stages, with various motions either yet to be submitted or pending, discovery yet to occur, and significant factual matters unresolved. While we believe we have adequate accruals for all of our legal and environmental 28matters, we cannot estimate the aggregate possible range of loss for our existing litigation and claims due to most proceedings being in preliminary stages, with various motions either yet to be submitted or pending, discovery yet to occur, and significant factual matters unresolved. In addition, most cases seek an indeterminate amount of damages and many involve multiple parties. Predicting the outcomes of settlement discussions or judicial or arbitral decisions are thus inherently difficult. Insurance policies contain customary limitations, conditions and exclusions that can affect the amount of insurance proceeds ultimately received. A judgment significantly in excess of our insurance coverage for any claims could materially adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition. Moreover, complaints, litigation or adverse publicity experienced by one or more of our franchisees could also hurt our brand or business as a whole.
The recognition of impairment or other charges could adversely affect our future results of operations.
We may be affected by the nature and timing of decisions about underperforming markets or assets, including decisions that result in impairment or other charges that reduce our earnings, which could adversely affect our future results. In assessing the recoverability of our long-lived assets, goodwill and intangible assets, we consider changes in economic conditions and make assumptions regarding estimated future cash flows and other factors. These estimates are highly subjective and can be significantly impacted by many factors such as business and economic conditions, operating costs, inflation, competition, consumer and demographic trends and restructuring activities. If our estimates or underlying assumptions change in the future, or if the operating performance or cash flows of our business decline, we may be required to record impairment charges, which could have a significant adverse effect on our reported results for the affected periods.
Tax matters, including changes in tax rates or laws, imposition of new taxes, disagreements with taxing authorities and unanticipated tax liabilities, could impact our results of operations and financial condition.
We are subject to income and other taxes in the United States and foreign jurisdictions, and our operations, plans and results are affected by tax matters and initiatives around the world. In particular, we are impacted by changes to tax rates, laws or policies or related authoritative interpretations. In particular, we are affected by the impact of changes to tax rates, laws or policies or related authoritative interpretations. We are also impacted by the settlement of adjustments proposed by taxing and governmental authorities in connection with our tax reviews and audits, all of which will depend on their timing, nature and scope. While we believe our recorded provision for income taxes properly reflects all applicable tax laws as currently enacted, there can be no assurance that we would be successful in challenging adjustments by the relevant tax authorities. Any significant increases in income tax rates, new or increased import duties or tariffs, changes in income tax laws, U.S. trade or tax policy or unfavorable resolution of tax matters could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
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Item 1C. Cybersecurity.
Cybersecurity Risk Management and Strategy
•CIS Controls. We design our cybersecurity risk management strategy based on the Center for Internet Security’s (“CIS”) Critical Security Controls Framework and other industry accepted standards and practices. The CIS is an internationally recognized, non-profit organization dedicated to developing controls, benchmarks and best practices for cybersecurity risk management. We conduct an annual assessment of our progress against the CIS controls to measure our performance against accepted benchmarks and identify ways to enhance our cybersecurity risk management strategy. The results of the assessment are reviewed by our Internal Audit team and shared with senior leadership and the Technology Committee of our Board of Directors.
•Regular Risk Assessments. We conduct regular risk assessments to identify and assess material risks to our information systems, including as part of our enterprise risk management (“ERM”) program, which is described in more detail under “Cybersecurity Governance” below. These risk assessments involve input from key stakeholders, including those with assigned accountability for managing risk and supporting technical risk subject matter expertise, and consider a variety of factors, including our global business strategy, operations and support, information systems and data assets.
•Infrastructure. We design our cybersecurity infrastructure, including firewalls, endpoint security, intrusion detection tools and identity access management systems, to provide a multi-layered approach to protecting our information systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification or destruction.
•Dedicated Personnel. We have several dedicated teams of cybersecurity specialists, including teams focused on executing internal and external vulnerability and penetration assessments, designing secure systems and applications, monitoring for intrusions and providing incident response.
•Training. We have an ongoing cybersecurity training program for designated employees and contractors which addresses, among other things, our cybersecurity risk management processes, overall cybersecurity awareness and industry cybersecurity best practices. This training program includes initial onboarding training, annual refresher training and periodic awareness assessments such as email phishing campaigns to test user awareness and defend against business email compromise.
•Third-Party Experts. In addition to our internal cybersecurity risk management practices, we engage third-party experts to provide independent, external assessments of our information systems and security controls. These assessments address various regulatory requirements, take into consideration internal- and external-facing information systems and include tabletop exercises and technical system reviews related to security preparedness and response capabilities.
•Third-Party Service Providers. We rely on third-party service providers to support our business operations and help execute our digital, restaurant technology and enterprise technology initiatives. Our contract review and onboarding process includes assessing third-party cybersecurity risk management practices and conducting data protection impact assessments for personal data processing that may result in high risk to individuals. Annually, we also review certain third parties’ information security practices for compliance with contractual and regulatory obligations.
•Incident Response Plan. We maintain an incident response plan that sets forth immediate response actions, internal and external communication protocols, stakeholder involvement based on the nature of the incident and post-incident
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analysis processes. The incident response plan designates an incident response team that is responsible for managing and executing response activities in coordination with subject matter experts and other stakeholders in the event of an incident. The incident response plan is supplemented by detailed incident management plans that outline the technical steps to be taken in response to certain types of incidents. We regularly conduct tabletop exercises and incident response plan testing to evaluate our incident response capabilities and readiness.
•Annual Strategy Review. We annually review our cybersecurity risk management strategy to ensure it addresses changes in our business operations and the evolving cybersecurity threat landscape. This includes annual reviews of our incident response plan, as well as our information security, data classification and other Company policies and standards, reports to our Board of Directors and Board committees and detailed presentations to support the annual renewal of our system cyber insurance program.
•Peer Involvement. We are active in the information security community, including as a core member of the Retail and Hospitality Information Sharing and Analysis Center (“RH-ISAC”), which represents more than 200 companies across retail and other consumer-facing industries. As a member of RH-ISAC, we benefit from real-time collaboration, industry specific benchmarking, threat intelligence reports and analysis, industry-relevant committees and working groups and numerous cybersecurity training, education and knowledge sharing opportunities.
•Cybersecurity Insurance. We maintain cyber risk insurance coverage that is intended to mitigate the financial impact of cybersecurity and data privacy incidents. There can be no assurance that our cyber insurance policies will be sufficient in scope or amount to cover the costs and expenses related to any future incidents.
Cybersecurity Governance
Role of the Board
The Audit Committee oversees our ERM program, which is designed to identify current and potential risks facing the Company and ensure that actions are taken as and when appropriate to manage and mitigate those risks. Cybersecurity risks are integrated into our ERM program, which includes an annual risk assessment, assignment of accountability for risk management and development of risk treatment strategies. We believe that evaluating cybersecurity risks alongside other business risks under our ERM program aligns our cybersecurity risk management strategy with the Company’s broader business goals and objectives. The Audit Committee receives a comprehensive ERM report from management on a semiannual basis and discusses the results with the full Board. The Board also receives a comprehensive ERM report from management on an annual basis.
Role of Management
Our CIO defines and administers our cybersecurity risk management strategy. The CIO possesses both academic and industry experience, including leading multiple global retail and technology companies through technology implementation and modernization utilizing industry best practices. Our CISO reports to the CIO and directs, coordinates, plans and organizes information security activities throughout the Company, including leading the development of our cybersecurity risk
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