**Wendy's to Close 140 Locations, Plans for Expansion with New Openings**

Wendy's has announced its decision to shutter 140 underperforming restaurants in the United States before the end of the year. This comes on top of the 100 closures the fast-food chain already slated in May. However, the company plans to counterbalance these closures by opening between 250 and 300 new restaurants within the same timeframe.

Wendy's President and CEO, Kirk Tanner, explained during a conference call with investors that the restaurants targeted for closure were not meeting performance expectations. "They're just in locations that don't build our brands," Tanner stated. He noted that the age of some restaurants, given the brand's 55-year history, contributes to their underperformance.

Though specific locations for the closures were not disclosed, Tanner mentioned that they are spread across the United States. He emphasized that the company's focus is on establishing new restaurants that perform better than those being closed. "We, overall, want the best restaurants for the customers and that customer experience we want to deliver," Tanner added.

As of the end of the third quarter, Wendy's operated 7,292 restaurants worldwide, with over 80% situated in the U.S. Despite the planned closures, Wendy's shares saw a 3.5% increase during midday trading on Friday.

The fast-food industry has faced stagnation in U.S. restaurant sales this year, partly due to consumer pushback against rising menu prices. In the first half of the year, Wendy's same-store sales in the U.S. increased by less than 1%.

This news comes amidst a challenging period for the broader restaurant industry. In October, Denny's announced it would shut down 150 locations by the end of 2025, and earlier in May, Red Lobster filed for bankruptcy protection following the closure of several stores.