Flynn Group LP has acquired Wendco (NZ) Ltd., the sole franchisee of the Wendy’s brand in New Zealand, the company announced Monday.
San Francisco-based Flynn Group, which also franchises Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar, Taco Bell, Panera Bread, Arby's, Pizza Hut, and Planet Fitness units, said Wendco had been operated by the Lendich family since 1988.
The Wendy’s New Zealand franchise business includes more than 20 Wendy’s restaurants from Auckland in the north to Dunedin in the south.
With the purchase, Flynn is now the sole franchisee for The Wendy’s Company in Australia and New Zealand.
The acquisition is Flynn’s third international investment over the past year.
The business expanded internationally for the first time in June 2023 with the purchase of the master franchise license for Pizza Hut in Australia and then expanded its presence in the market, announcing in August that it had entered into a master franchise agreement with Wendy’s in Australia to develop 200 restaurants over 10 years.
“The acquisition of the Wendy’s New Zealand business represented a compelling opportunity to continue our growth ambitions internationally and to expand our strong partnership with the much-loved Wendy’s brand,” said Ron Bellamy, chief operating officer for Flynn Group, in a statement.
“Our immediate priority will be to collaborate with the existing team to determine how we can best leverage our scale and capabilities to build on their success as we enter this next chapter of growth together,” Bellamy said.
With the acquisition, Phil Reed will become president for Flynn ANZ, overseeing operations in both Australia and New Zealand, the company said.
Flynn plans to retain the current Wendco New Zealand operations and support teams.
“This was an incredible milestone for Flynn as we advance our mission to expand internationally,” said Reed. “We now have multiple brands across two key markets and see a clear opportunity to build on an already strong foundation established by the Lendich family and the talented team at Wendy’s New Zealand. There’s strong momentum and we’re keen to support the local team in every way possible with ambitions to double the number of Wendy’s restaurants across the country.”
Abigail Pringle, president for international and chief development officer of The Wendy's Co., said: “Flynn Group has incredible experience in the restaurant space, and we are thrilled to expand our relationship with them in New Zealand.”
Flynn Group LP was founded by CEO Greg Flynn in 1999. It owns and operates more than 2,700 consumer-facing businesses in 44 states, Australia and New Zealand, generating more than $4.7 billion in sales.
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