Wendy's franchisee files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as burger chain struggles

One of Wendy's biggest U.S. franchisees, Meritage Hospitality Group, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Wendy's franchisee files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as burger chain struggles

TL;DR

  • Meritage Hospitality, a large Wendy's franchisee, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
  • The filing is attributed to system-wide pressures affecting the burger chain, including declining same-store sales and a muddled turnaround strategy.
  • Meritage CEO noted a 48% drop in store-level earnings due to rising beef costs and increased discounts.
  • The company plans to keep its 314 Wendy's restaurants and other locations open during the restructuring.
  • Wendy's franchise business, Quality Is Our Recipe LLC, is listed as the top unsecured creditor with a $24.9 million claim.