Bob Wright, who turned astir Potbelly, is facing declining income astatine Wendy’s. He says the hole starts pinch the food.
By Jonathan Small | edited by Dan Bova | Aug 11, 2026
Wendy’s conscionable mislaid its spot arsenic America’s No. 2 burger chain. Same-store income fell 7% and postulation dropped 12.5% successful the 2nd quarter, the company’s sixth consecutive quarterly decline, according to Restaurant Business. It’s been a unsmooth spell for the burger dynasty. Wendy’s has closed 245 restaurants truthful acold this year. Meanwhile, Burger King’s income jumped 8.5% past quarter, capable to push Wendy’s into 2nd spot down McDonald’s.
Bob Wright, who took complete arsenic Wendy’s CEO successful May after starring Potbelly done a turnaround and a $566 cardinal sale, didn’t clasp backmost astir what went wrong. “Our value differentiation has eroded, our worth proposition has weakened, and we person not consistently delivered the acquisition customers expect from Wendy’s,” he said.
Wright pointed to a operation of problems, including reduced discounting that wounded traffic, a “Minions and Monsters” promotion that fizzled, and a struggling meal daypart (an manufacture word for a circumstantial clip segment) that immoderate franchisees person opted retired of entirely. His hole centers connected what he calls “intrinsic value,” nutrient bully capable that customers consciousness for illustration they sewage much than they paid for, paired pinch mundane deals and stronger marketing. “It’s going to return time,” Wright said. “But these issues are wrong our control.”
Jonathan Small is simply a bestselling author, journalist, producer, and podcast host. For 25 years, he... Read more
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