Wendy’s/Arby’s Group president and CEO Roland Smith referred to 2011 as the company’s “transition period” as it searches for Arby’s buyers and diversifies Wendy’s menu.
Among the “exciting new products” slated for introduction this year are thicker hamburgers, new salads and berries in Frostys, according to the Columbus Dispatch.
The classic Frosty will be dressed up with blueberries and strawberries. Salads also will feature these berries, adding a punch to the recently launched line of premium salads. Also, burger patties are expected to be 40 percent thicker, and a North Pacific cod sandwich is in the pipeline.
Additionally, after testing breakfast in various markets for the past few months, Wendy’s plans to roll it out systemwide by the end of this year.
These new items are expected to generate a “bullish” outcome for the company, similar to the effect its new sea salt French fries have had. Wendy’s attributes the fries to a 17 percent sales increase in December.
Other ambitious goals for this year include:
- Same-store sales growth of 1 percent to 3 percent at Wendy’s North America company-operated restaurants.
- Improvement of 30 to 60 basis points in Wendy’s company-operated restaurant margin.
- Capital expenditures for the Wendy’s brand of approximately $145 million.
- Wendy’s North America unit development of approximately 20 company stores and 45 franchise stores, plus approximately 50 international franchise stores.
- Wendy’s long-term target of 10-15 percent in average EBITDA growth beginning in 2012.
Wendy’s also is expanding its international footprint, inking multi-unit agreements in Argentina, the Philippines and Japan.
