Wendy's adds Bacon & Blue burgerWendy's adds Bacon & Blue burger

Pamela Parseghian

DUBLIN Ohio Wendy's has expanded its line of premium burgers with the introduction of the Bacon & Blue burger.

The sandwich, which is being promoted in TV commercials and on Wendy's website, features crumbled blue cheese, thick apple-wood-smoked bacon, sauteed onions and a “creamy steakhouse sauce.”

Wendy's began offering more premium burgers in October 2009, when it introduced the Bacon Deluxe. Both the Bacon Deluxe and the new Bacon & Blue feature the chain's thick-cut bacon.

Several fast-food chains have ramped up their burger offerings, including two of Wendy's biggest competitors. Earlier this week, Burger King unveiled its Steakhouse XT burger, which is made possible by the chain's new batch broilers, and segment leader McDonald's rolled its Angus Third Pounders last year.

Celebrating its 40^th anniversary, Wendy’s has more than 6,600 stores in the United States and 21 other countries. The Dublin, Ohio-based chain is a division of Wendy's/Arby's Group Inc. in Atlanta.

Molly Gise contributed to this report.

Contact Pamela Parseghian at [email protected].