News

Wendy's restaurant design prototype extends to Canada

October 26, 2011

A Wendy's unit in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, now features one of the company's four new restaurant designs currently in test.

It is the first Canadian concept store for the company. In addition to the new, modern restaurant layout and design, the unit also serves Redhead Roasters proprietary blend coffee and fresh baked goods including oatmeal bars, cookies, muffins and brownies.

Also in test are new digital menu boards, new service staff uniforms and redesigned product packaging.

"This is a very different experience from what Wendy's customers are used to," said Ron Baugh, senior vice president of Wendy's Restaurants of Canada. "Three years of research and feedback from thousands of people are reflected in this exciting new concept store. The changes are more than cosmetic. We've updated our customer experience indoors and out as well."

The new restaurant concept has been designed to deliver more open space, brighter dining rooms with bigger windows and a variety of seating options from booths to high tops to cozy chairs around a fireplace. The new concept is also equipped with free WiFi. Customers will be able to view baking and prep areas, reinforcing Wendy's "food story."

Like the test restaurant in the Columbus, Ohio, market, this restaurant's modern design will be complemented with natural colors, brick and wood materials and a bold use of red.

A bright red center wall celebrates Wendy's heritage with a quote from the late founder Dave Thomas, "Quality is our recipe." Signage in the new entry way reads, "Welcome to real. Welcome to fresh. Welcome to Wendy's Etobicoke".

Each sign in the new stores will be tailored to their home cities.

The company will evaluate the four concepts based on customer feedback and consumer research. A second Canadian ultra modern location is slated to open in Kingston, Ontario, this December.

All four new Wendy's concepts were designed by Tesser, an award-winning brand strategy and retail design firm based in San Francisco. Other test markets include Virginia Beach, Pittsburgh, Phoenix and Wendy's hometown of Dublin, Ohio.

The first Canadian concept store is located at 1569 The Queensway in Etobicoke, Ontario. The Kingston concept store is scheduled to open in December 2011, and is located at 17 Warne Crescent.

See more photos of the new ultra modern concept here.

Read more about restaurant layout and design.