Wendy’s Menu Prices (Updated: January 2023)

Dave Thomas established the fast food restaurant business Wendy's in 1969 in Columbus, Ohio, in the United States. The business is well-known for its square hamburgers, sea salt fries, and the catchphrase "Where's the beef?" from its 1980s marketing campaign.

When Dave Thomas launched the first Wendy's restaurant in Columbus, Ohio, in 1969, the history of the business officially began. Wendy was the nickname given to Melinda Lou, Thomas' daughter, who inspired the restaurant's name. In contrast to the then-commonplace round hamburgers, the restaurant's distinctive square hamburgers helped differentiate Wendy's from its rivals.


By the end of the 1970s, Wendy's had opened more than 1,000 locations. Additionally, the business started franchising its eateries, enabling other businesspeople to create Wendy's outlets in their own regions. Throughout the 1980s, this growth was sustained, and Wendy's rose to prominence among American fast food businesses.

The "Where's the Meat?" advertising campaign by Wendy's was introduced in 1984. It consisted of a series of advertisements in which an elderly woman named Clara Peller bemoans the lack of beef in other fast food hamburgers. Where's the beef? became a catchphrase of the time thanks to the campaign's enormous success.

In the 1990s, Wendy's kept growing both domestically and internationally. To appeal to a larger spectrum of clients, the business has added a number of new menu items, including salads, baked potatoes, and chicken sandwiches. Wendy's also started emphasizing healthy offerings like salads and grilled chicken sandwiches.

In the 2000s, Wendy's struggled to hold onto its market share due to rising rivalry from other fast food companies including McDonald's and Burger King. The business came under fire for employing substances that were rich in salt and trans fats. In response, Wendy's started to alter its menu by adding healthier options and lowering the trans fat and sodium content of its products.

Wendy's was purchased by Triarc Companies, Inc. in 2008. Since then, the business has experienced a lot of modifications, including rebranding in 2011, a new logo, and redesigns of its locations. Wendy's also started concentrating on digital marketing, interacting with consumers and promoting its menu items on social media.

Recent years have seen Wendy's continue to grow, with new locations opening both domestically and abroad. In order to cater to consumers who visit the restaurant at various times throughout the day, the company has also added additional menu items, such as breakfast foods. Additionally, Wendy's has kept an emphasis on grilled chicken sandwiches and salads as healthier options.

In summary, Wendy's has a rich history dating back to its foundation in 1969, its rapid growth in the 1970s and 1980s, its battles to maintain market share in the 2000s, and its recent rebranding and emphasis on healthier options. The business, noted for its square hamburgers, sea salt fries, and its catchphrase "Where's the beef?" has emerged as a fast food industry classic. Today, Wendy's is still a well-liked fast food restaurant with a reputation for its high-quality meals and creative menu options.