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Wendy's Hot 'N Juicy burgers earn innovation award

March 13, 2012

Wendy's was honored with a COEX National Culinary/Operations Innovation Award for the launch of its Dave's Hot 'N Juicy Cheeseburgers.

The award was presented by IFMA (International Foodservice Manufacturers Association) at a recent ceremony in Chicago. Gerard Lewis, SVP of Innovation, and Lori Estrada, VP of Product Innovation, accepted the award.

The COEX Innovation Awards recognize national and regional chains that are shaping the restaurant industry through innovation in two areas: Culinary/Operations and Marketing/Service. Two national awards and two regional awards are presented in each category.

In 2009, Wendy's decided to reinvent the hamburger line for the first time since Wendy's opened in 1969. Under the direction of Lewis and Estrada, the New Product team started from bun up, looking at every part of the hamburger to see how it could be improved.

Each component of the product was reviewed, from the grind of the fresh ground beef patty, to the size of tomato slice, the cut of the pickles and the butter toasted bun. The result was a new premium cheeseburger line, officially launched in September, that drove positive customer traffic and sales for Wendy's in 2011.

Read more about food and beverage innovations.