DUBLIN Ohio Wendy’s International Inc. said Thursday that U.S. same-store sales were just positive at corporate restaurants, up 0.1 percent, and were better at franchised restaurants, up 1.1 percent, for the second quarter, aided by new product introductions and strong results in June.
New menu items launched during the quarter included hand-spun Frosty shakes and Chicken Go Wraps, as well as the limited-time reintroduction of the Southwest Chicken Caesar salad. The company also said corporate same-store sales for the quarter ended June 29 benefited by about 0.3 percent from the earlier timing this year of the Easter weekend.
Monthly same-store sales results at corporate stores included gains of 0.2 percent in April and 0.7 percent in June. They fell into negative territory, down 0.7 percent, in May. At franchised locations, same-store sales rose 1.1 percent, 0.4 percent and 2.0 percent in April, May and June, respectively. Franchised restaurants account for about 84 percent of the 6,622-unit Wendy’s chain.
Kerrii Anderson, chief executive and president, said Wendy’s would focus the rest of this year on evolving its “value platform É to meet the needs of today’s price-sensitive consumers,” as well as leveraging its premium products, including its new entree salads featuring a warm chicken fillet.
Wendy’s board of directors in April accepted an acquisition offer from Triarc Cos., parent to the Arby’s chain, worth about $2.34 billion. The deal is expected to close later this year. Wendy’s said it would report its full second-quarter results on Aug. 5, but that it would not hold a conference call because of the pending acquisition.