Here’s what the Wendy’s of the future looks like
By Jordan Valinsky, CNN Business
Wendy’s is getting a makeover.
The burger chain has unveiled a redesign that places an “emphasis on convenience, speed and accuracy.” Restaurants will have new pick-up windows, a more technologically advanced kitchen and a spruced up interior. Wendy’s first redesign will debut in spring 2023 in Ohio.
Following the lead of other fast food restaurants, Wendy’s is adding a dedicated pick-up window for delivery orders, so delivery drivers don’t have to enter the restaurants. The company said the windows makes the delivery process “more convenient and quicker.” A new pick-up shelf and parking spots for mobile orders is also being installed.
Changing habits during the pandemic led to an explosion in digital orders. For example, Wendy’s digital orders in its most recent earnings amount to 9% of its total US sales, an increase of 2.5% compared to the quarter before.
Inside, Wendy’s employees will work in a new, galley-style kitchen that runs from the front to the back of the restaurant. The company said this tweak “increases efficiency” in several ways, including letting workers “slide between positions more easily throughout the day and supports faster order fulfillment and culinary innovation.”
New grills are also central to the redesign, which cuts down on cooking times and new temperature controls as the chain expands its menu. Customers will also notice new lighting and more energy-efficient ventilation systems.
“To accelerate our business and expand our footprint across the globe, we must consistently meet the needs of our customers however they chose to engage with Wendy’s, whether that’s through a digital platform or in the drive-thru,” Wendy’s CEO Todd Penegor said in a press release.
Wendy’s changes shadow its rivals, placing an emphasis on pick-up shelves for mobile orders and redesigned drive-thrus for digital orders.
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