The Creative Play Platform served to encourage children to think outside the box and use the Kids’ Meal games for more than just a one-time car toy. At launch and for no extra charge, Mom and Dad could swap out French fries for mandarin oranges and grab some milk for their kiddos instead of a soda. Components of the campaign were carefully crafted to show that the everyday childhood moments most people take for granted – like hugging Mom before bedtime or playing outside with Dad – might not be a reality for children waiting in foster care. The Son of Baconator has four pieces of bacon and smaller fresh beef patties, but it’s anything but “junior”. A building with the white-lettering sign that is not repainted in 2009. Each year, ten Wendy’s employees are rewarded for their commitment to volunteerism with a $2,500 grant to go to a community organization where they dedicate their time. The innovative change further strengthens the Company’s commitment to responsible sourcing practices by providing safer, indoor working conditions, shelter from the elements and environmental contaminants, reduced water and land use burdens, and a significantly reduced need for chemical pesticides. In 1995, Wendy’s was the first major fast food restaurant chain to introduce a spicy chicken sandwich to its menu. Others wondered if the word "Mom" refers to the girl herself -- which, according to Wendy's, is founder Dave Thomas' daughter Wendy at age 8. The tortilla chips, sour cream and salsa come on the side and allow customers to load it up as they please. In February 2017, Wendy’s made a $30 million investment to enhance the quality of the chicken it serves. This was the first major logo change in 30 years. The Thomas Building and Conference Center (TCC) was constructed in 2012 on the campus of the Wendy’s Restaurant Support Center in Dublin, Ohio. The International Franchise Association recognized The Wendy’s Company as a Gold Winner of the Enduring Impact Award for the charitable work done for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, and the impact that the work has on children in foster care across the nation. In 2016, Wendy’s broadened communications with customers when it introduced its external blog, The Square Deal. In 2016, Wendy’s announced its participation in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge. With this approach, Wendy’s aims to: use less materials to minimize waste, use better and seek certified sustainable materials where possible, spark action by identifying consumer-facing actions that can drive change, and engage partners to work with others to find solutions to important issues. So popular, in fact, the cheeseburger made a temporary return to the menu in 2014. The grilled chicken sandwich made its first appearance in 1990 as a lighter, lower calorie offering for customers seeking a non-fried chicken protein option. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, The New Wendy’s Logo. Salad on the run, anyone? The 2019 celebration was more special than ever as we celebrated 50 years of our beloved and iconic brand. 1980 marked the milestone of 2,000 Wendy’s restaurants…and counting. In 2017 and 2018, Wendy’s welcomed nearly 100 net new international restaurants and made great strides in development plans to Delight Every Customer on an international level. A single-poled Wendy's sign with paper covering and no slogan, circa 1980s/90s. Now Wendy's has weighed in on the story and denies that it was a plant. So far, this event has raised more than $360,000. New Wendy’s logo and its secret. In 2013, Wendy’s introduced the Frosty 5K Run for Adoption, an event to raise funds and awareness for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. With the tag line “You Up for This?™” Wendy’s created hype all over America for the iconic brand to enter the #breakfastwars and be the breakfast that eats other breakfasts for breakfast. Wendy’s opened its flagship restaurant near the Dublin, Ohio headquarters on December 17, 2013. ©2020 FOX News Network, LLC. The signature event offers an annual reunion for the entire Wendy’s family and raises funds for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. In 1993, Dave Thomas received his high school equivalency certificate and shared with 2,500 graduating seniors that he felt his biggest mistake was not finishing high school. Wendy’s opened its Culinary Innovation Center at its corporate headquarters, located in Dublin, Ohio. Wendy’s introduced the first modern drive through to the world; what Dave Thomas coined the “Pick-Up Window”. Social media buzz confirmed that the Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger and Wendy’s fans had a bit of a love affair going on, so Wendy’s turned those online comments into love songs. The beginning of a journey – on November 15, 1969, Dave Thomas opened his very first Wendy’s restaurant in Columbus, Ohio at 257 East Broad Street. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. November 15, 1969 first Wendy's restaurant in Columbus, OH, Dave Thomas's First Wendy's TV Commercial, Dave Thomas Established the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption®, Wendy’s® High School Heisman® Program Kicks Off, Wendy’s Sells off Arby’s and Moves Back to Ohio Headquarters, Flagship Restaurant Opens Near Wendy’s Headquarters, Wendy's National Cause Marketing Campaign Launches, Wendy’s Kids’ Meal focused on Creative Play, Wendy's First Top 200 General Manager Conference, Wendy’s Exceeds $200 Million Raised for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Announcement of Squarely Sustainability Approach, Wendy's Introducing the Made to Crave Menu, Wendy’s Wins the Cannes Lion Social & Influencer Grand Prix, Wendy’s Launches Breakfast, You Up For This?™. The speculation began in April after Wendy's rolled out its first new logo in almost three decades. A hotter and juicier product that made mouths water – Dave would be proud. In 1990, President George H.W. Since its launch, the blog shares company views on food, quality, culture, sustainability and support for foster care adoption. It didn’t stop there – Carter appeared on The Ellen Show, donated $100,000 to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption®, and Nuggs for Carter won the Best Influencer Campaign title from the PRWeek Global Awards and a Cannes Silver Lion Award. Wendy’s raised the bar on greens once again when its salad lineup was refreshed in 2010 with Apple Pecan Chicken, BLT Cobb, Spicy Chicken Caesar, and Baja. Some say that the girl in the new logo appears much older. Legal Statement. Market data provided by Factset. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Among all the fresh beef, Wendy’s added the salad bar to its menu to diversify the options for those who wanted to go green with their meals. In 2018, Wendy’s dropped the hottest mixtape of the year. The blogosphere erupted with stories that the fast-food giant, with its new softer, slightly more abstract Wendy, had intentionally planted a subliminal message in the ruffles at the iconic redhead's neck: the word "Mom. The small but mighty Son of Baconator was launched in 2012 to give Baconator fans a chance to go big or go small. Wendy’s created a digital ‘Wendy’ to hit the multiplayer battle royale videogame “Fortnite.” This character ignored all the other players, usually the main targets, and went for freezers instead. Originally called the “drive-in window,” Dave wanted to change the name from something that could attract cruisers and joyriders. The 5,000th Wendy’s restaurant opened in Columbus, Ohio as a Wendy’s/Tim Hortons combination unit. Every November, the Wendy’s Family comes together to celebrate and honor our founder, Dave Thomas, and the founding of the first Wendy’s restaurant in 1969. The new Wendy’s Combo Choices Menu proved that sides could be more than just French fries, and allowed customers to choose a baked potato, small chili, or one of two side salads instead of French fries. After nearly three years of a corporate shared services division in Atlanta, Wendy’s and Arby’s decided to go their separate ways in 2011. Legal Statement. The 4,000th Wendy’s opened in Bentonville, Arkansas, and was one of 250 Wendy’s restaurants opened in 1992. Wendy’s Wonderful Kids (WWK) is the signature program of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Wendy’s completed its initial public offering of Tim Hortons in March 2006, and later completed its spin-off of the Canadian restaurant chain as a separate public company in September 2006. The Company switched up cooking procedures and made a move to use smaller birds, so customers can enjoy more of what they love with some seriously fresh, juicy chicken that has a new and improved taste. 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