La empresa Wendy's (WEN): Análisis PESTLE [Actualizado en enero de 2025]

En el mundo dinámico de los gigantes de comida rápida, la compañía de Wendy navega por un complejo panorama de desafíos y oportunidades. Desde los gustos de los consumidores cambiantes hasta las interrupciones tecnológicas, este análisis integral de mazos revela los intrincados factores externos que dan forma a las decisiones estratégicas de la cadena de restaurantes icónico. Sumérgete en una exploración profunda de las fuerzas políticas, económicas, sociológicas, tecnológicas, legales y ambientales que están transformando el modelo de negocio de Wendy, revelando cómo esta querida marca se adapta y prospera en un mercado global en constante cambio.

The Wendy's Company (WEN) - Análisis de mortero: factores políticos

Impacto potencial de la legislación de salario mínimo en los costos laborales del restaurante

A partir de 2024, el salario mínimo federal permanece en $ 7.25 por hora. Sin embargo, Muchos estados han implementado tasas de salario mínimo más altas. Para Wendy's, esto crea importantes variaciones de costos laborales en diferentes ubicaciones.

Estado	Tasa de salario mínimo (2024)	Impacto potencial en los costos laborales de Wendy
California	$15.50	$ 4.25 por encima de la tarifa federal
Nueva York	$15.00	$ 7.75 por encima de la tarifa federal
Florida	$12.00	$ 4.75 por encima de la tarifa federal

Políticas comerciales que afectan el abastecimiento de ingredientes internacionales

La cadena de suministro internacional de Wendy enfrenta regulaciones comerciales complejas. Los aranceles de importación clave impactan los costos de los ingredientes.

• Las tarifas de importación de carne varían de 4.4% a 26.4%
• Las tarifas de importación de productos lácteos promedian 17.3%
• Los aranceles de importación de la producción varían entre 5% y 35%

Regulaciones gubernamentales sobre seguridad alimentaria y etiquetado nutricional

La FDA exige requisitos estrictos de etiquetado nutricional. Los costos de cumplimiento para Wendy incluyen:

Requisito regulatorio	Costo de cumplimiento estimado
Actualizaciones de etiquetado nutricional	$ 1.2 millones anualmente
Monitoreo de seguridad alimentaria	$ 3.5 millones anuales

Posibles incentivos fiscales para prácticas comerciales sostenibles

Los gobiernos federales y estatales ofrecen incentivos fiscales para prácticas sostenibles. Los créditos fiscales potenciales incluyen:

• Créditos de eficiencia energética de hasta $ 1.80 por pie cuadrado
• Crédito fiscal de inversión de energía renovable del 30%
• Incentivos de reducción de residuos con un promedio de $ 0.05 por libra de desechos desviados

Estabilidad política en regiones de operaciones de restaurantes y franquicias

Wendy's opera en varios países con diferentes paisajes políticos. Mercados internacionales clave y sus calificaciones de riesgo político:

País	Índice de estabilidad política (0-100)	Número de ubicaciones de Wendy
Estados Unidos	85	5,938
Canadá	90	387
México	55	250

The Wendy's Company (WEN) - Análisis de mortero: factores económicos

El efecto de la inflación en los alimentos y los costos operativos

A partir del cuarto trimestre de 2023, Wendy experimentó un Aumento del 6,2% en los costos de alimentos y envases. Los gastos operativos de la compañía aumentaron en $ 42.3 millones en comparación con el año fiscal anterior.

Categoría de costos	2023 Gastos	Cambio año tras año
Costos de alimentos	$ 1.24 mil millones	+6.2%
Gastos operativos	$ 673.5 millones	+$ 42.3 millones

Patrones de gasto del consumidor en el sector de restaurantes de servicio rápido

El gasto del sector de restaurantes de servicio rápido alcanzó $ 339.1 mil millones en 2023. Wendy ha experimentado un Aumento de 3.8% en las ventas de la misma tienda.

Métrico	Valor 2023
Gasto del sector QSR	$ 339.1 mil millones
El crecimiento de las ventas en la misma tienda de Wendy	3.8%

Potencial de recesión económica que impacta la comida discrecional

El gasto discretario del consumidor en el sector de los restaurantes mostró resiliencia, con 78.4% de los consumidores que mantienen o aumentan la frecuencia de comedor A pesar de las incertidumbres económicas.

Fluctuaciones del tipo de cambio para los mercados de franquicias internacionales

Las operaciones internacionales de Wendy experimentaron un impacto en la división, con El dólar canadiense fluctúa a un promedio de 0.74 USD en 2023. Los ingresos por franquicia internacional fueron de $ 276.5 millones.

Divisa	Tipo de cambio promedio	Ingresos internacionales
Dólar canadiense	0.74 USD	$ 276.5 millones

Condiciones del mercado laboral que afectan el reclutamiento de la fuerza laboral

El salario por hora promedio de Wendy aumentó a $ 14.65 en 2023, con una fuerza laboral de aproximadamente 41,000 empleados en 6,711 restaurantes.

Métrico laboral	Valor 2023
Salario promedio por hora	$14.65
Total de empleados	41,000
Restaurantes totales	6,711

The Wendy's Company (WEN) - Análisis de mortero: factores sociales

Cambiando las preferencias del consumidor hacia opciones de comida rápida más saludables

Según el Informe de Salud y Bienestar 2023 de Datassential, el 73% de los consumidores buscan alternativas de comida rápida más saludables. Las modificaciones del menú de Wendy reflejan esta tendencia, con opciones de calorías reducidas y transparencia nutricional.

Categoría de menú	Calorías	Proteína (g)
Sándwich de pollo a la parrilla	370	34
Ensalada de nueces de manzana	340	23

Aumento de la demanda de elementos del menú vegetariano y a base de plantas

El mercado de alimentos a base de plantas alcanzó los $ 7.5 mil millones en 2023, con un potencial de crecimiento del 62% en segmentos de comida rápida.

Opción basada en plantas	Año de lanzamiento	Aceptación del mercado (%)
Hamburguesa de frijoles negros de Wendy	2022	48%

Creciente conciencia de la sostenibilidad y el abastecimiento ético

Wendy comprometió $ 25 millones a un abastecimiento de carne sostenible para 2025, con el 50% de la carne de res de fuentes sostenibles verificadas a partir de 2023.

Cambios demográficos que influyen en los hábitos gastronómicos

Los consumidores de Millennial y Gen Z representan el 64% de la base de clientes de Wendy, con el 58% que prefiere plataformas de pedidos digitales.

Grupo de edad	Porcentaje de la base de clientes	Preferencia de pedido digital
Millennials	41%	62%
Gen Z	23%	55%

Las redes sociales y las tendencias de compromiso digital en el marketing de restaurantes

El compromiso de las redes sociales de Wendy llegó a 3.5 millones de seguidores en 2023, con una tasa de interacción del 78% en Twitter e Instagram.

Plataforma	Seguidores	Tasa de compromiso
Gorjeo	1.2 millones	82%
Instagram	2.3 millones	74%

The Wendy's Company (WEN) - Análisis de mortero: factores tecnológicos

Innovaciones de pedidos digitales y plataforma de pago móvil

A partir del cuarto trimestre de 2023, las ventas digitales de Wendy representaron el 9.5% del total de ventas de EE. UU., Con una base de usuarios de aplicaciones móviles de 26.2 millones de usuarios activos. La plataforma de pedidos digitales de la compañía procesó 276 millones de transacciones en 2023, lo que representa un crecimiento año tras año de 14.3%.

Métrica de plataforma digital	2023 datos
Usuarios de aplicaciones móviles	26.2 millones
Porcentaje de ventas digitales	9.5%
Transacciones digitales	276 millones

Inteligencia artificial en servicio al cliente y personalización

Wendy invirtió $ 18.5 millones en tecnologías de personalización del cliente impulsadas por la IA en 2023. El sistema de recomendación de IA de la Compañía genera valores de pedido promedio 22% más altos en comparación con las interacciones no personalizadas.

Categoría de inversión de IA	2023 inversión
Personalización del cliente de IA	$ 18.5 millones
Aumento promedio del valor del pedido	22%

Tecnologías de cocina automatizadas y mejoras de eficiencia

Wendy's implementó sistemas de cocina automatizados en 743 restaurantes, reduciendo el tiempo de preparación de alimentos en un 17.6% y los costos laborales en un 11.3% en 2023. La inversión total en tecnologías de automatización de cocina alcanzó $ 42.7 millones.

Métrico de automatización	2023 rendimiento
Restaurantes con sistemas automatizados	743
Reducción del tiempo de preparación de alimentos	17.6%
Reducción de costos de mano de obra	11.3%
Inversión en tecnología de automatización	$ 42.7 millones

Análisis de datos para la optimización del menú y las ideas del cliente

La plataforma de análisis de datos de Wendy procesó 3.800 millones de puntos de datos de interacción con el cliente en 2023, lo que permite un 15,7% más de personalización de menú precisa y un aumento del 12.4% en los puntajes de satisfacción del cliente.

Métrica de análisis de datos	2023 rendimiento
Puntos de datos de interacción del cliente	3.800 millones
Precisión de personalización del menú	15.7%
Aumento del puntaje de satisfacción del cliente	12.4%

Tecnologías de entrega y pedido sin contacto

Las asociaciones de entrega sin contacto expandidas de Wendy a 2,345 ubicaciones, procesando 194 millones de pedidos sin contacto en 2023. La inversión tecnológica en esta área alcanzó los $ 27.3 millones.

Métrica de tecnología sin contacto	2023 rendimiento
Ubicaciones con entrega sin contacto	2,345
Órdenes sin contacto	194 millones
Inversión en tecnología sin contacto	$ 27.3 millones

The Wendy's Company (WEN) - Análisis de mortero: factores legales

Cumplimiento de las regulaciones de seguridad alimentaria

Wendy se adhiere a las regulaciones de la Ley de Modernización de Seguridad Alimentaria de la FDA. En 2023, la compañía reportó el 99.8% de cumplimiento con los estándares internos de seguridad alimentaria.

Cuerpo regulador	Métrico de cumplimiento	2023 rendimiento
FDA	Inspecciones de seguridad alimentaria	Tasa de aprobación del 99.8%
USDA	Cheques de calidad de la carne	100% Cumplimiento

Marcos de derecho laboral y acuerdo de franquicia

Wendy's opera 6,711 restaurantes a nivel mundial, con un 91.7% de propiedad de franquicia a partir del cuarto trimestre de 2023.

Franquicia métrica	2023 datos
Restaurantes totales	6,711
Porcentaje de propiedad de franquicia	91.7%
Tarifa de franquicia promedio	$50,000

Protección de propiedad intelectual

Wendy's posee 127 registros activos de marca registrada a partir de 2023, protegiendo las innovaciones de marca y menú.

Categoría de IP	Número de registros
Marcas registradas	127
Eslóganes registrados	18
Patentes del elemento del menú	12

Posibles riesgos de litigios

En 2023, Wendy enfrentó 37 reclamos legales, con gastos totales relacionados con los litigios de $ 4.2 millones.

Categoría de litigio	Número de reclamos	Gastos totales
Disputas de empleo	22	$ 2.1 millones
Reclamos de clientes	15	$ 2.1 millones

Requisitos regulatorios de privacidad de datos y ciberseguridad

Wendy invirtió $ 7.3 millones en infraestructura de ciberseguridad en 2023, manteniendo el cumplimiento de las regulaciones GDPR y CCPA.

Métrica de ciberseguridad	2023 datos
Inversión de ciberseguridad	$ 7.3 millones
Incidentes de violación de datos	0
Marcos de cumplimiento	GDPR, CCPA

The Wendy's Company (WEN) - Análisis de mortero: factores ambientales

Iniciativas de envasado sostenible y reducción de desechos

A partir de 2024, Wendy se comprometió a hacer que el 100% de los envases reciclables, compostables o marinos degradables para 2026. La tasa de reciclaje de envasado actual es del 78%. Objetivo de reducción de residuos anuales: reducción del 15% en comparación con la línea de base 2020.

Tipo de embalaje	Porcentaje de reciclabilidad	Reducción anual de desechos
Envasado de papel	92%	8.500 toneladas
Recipientes de plástico	65%	3.200 toneladas

Estrategias de reducción de huella de carbono

Objetivo de reducción de emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero de Wendy: 30% para 2030. Fuítica de carbono actual: 425,000 toneladas métricas CO2 equivalente anualmente.

Fuente de emisión	Emisiones actuales (toneladas métricas CO2)	Objetivo de reducción
Operaciones de restaurantes	185,000	25%
Cadena de suministro	240,000	35%

Prácticas de abastecimiento para ingredientes ambientalmente responsables

Compromiso de abastecimiento de ingredientes sostenibles: 75% de la carne de res de fuentes sostenibles verificadas para 2025. Abastecimiento actual de carne de res sostenible: 62%.

Eficiencia energética en las operaciones de restaurantes

Objetivo de reducción del consumo de energía: 20% por restaurante para 2027. Uso promedio de energía del restaurante: 350,000 kWh anualmente. Inversión en equipos de eficiencia energética: $ 18.5 millones en 2024.

Medida de eficiencia energética	Ahorro anual de energía	Costo de inversión
Iluminación LED	45,000 kWh	$ 2.3 millones
Equipo de cocina de alta eficiencia	65,000 kWh	$ 5.7 millones

Impacto del cambio climático en las cadenas de suministro agrícola

Presupuesto de mitigación de riesgos agrícolas: $ 22 millones. Diversificación de fuentes de ingredientes para reducir la vulnerabilidad al clima. Riesgo de interrupción de la cadena de suministro agrícola proyectada: 18% para 2030.

Producto agrícola	Índice de vulnerabilidad climática	Regiones de abastecimiento alternativas
Carne de res	42%	3 países adicionales
Producir	35%	4 regiones adicionales

The Wendy's Company (WEN) - PESTLE Analysis: Social factors

You're looking at how American tastes and workforce realities are shaping The Wendy's Company's strategy right now. Honestly, the social landscape is a tug-of-war between the need for a deal and the desire for better food choices, all while managing a tough labor market.

Growing consumer demand for value-focused meals drives menu innovation like the $5 Biggie Bag

Value remains absolutely top of mind for customers, which is why The Wendy's Company is leaning hard into its Biggie Bag platform for 2025. This focus is strategic; the $5 Biggie Bag, which typically bundles a choice of sandwich or Junior Bacon Cheeseburger with fries, nuggets, and a drink, leverages the brand's strong equity in value offerings. Here's the quick math: while the selling price is $5.00, estimated raw food costs are less than $2.75, possibly closer to $2.50 per bag. What this estimate hides is that the high volume these deals drive is key to keeping inventory, like fries and nuggets, turning over quickly, which cuts down on waste and boosts overall profitability despite the lower margin per item.

Shifting dietary preferences toward plant-based and healthier options requires menu flexibility

The consumer plate is diversifying, and The Wendy's Company has to keep pace with this shift. It's not just about vegans anymore; it's about the flexitarian crowd. In the US, over 65% of consumers now actively look for plant-based options for perceived health benefits. This trend is reflected in the market itself; the United States Vegan Fast Foods market size was valued at $4.85 billion in 2025. To capture this segment, nearly 50% of US restaurants now offer some form of plant-based menu item. For The Wendy's Company, this means menu flexibility isn't a nice-to-have; it's a requirement to maintain relevance and capture traffic from a growing, health-conscious demographic.

Labor shortages in key US markets necessitate higher wages and automation investment

The restaurant industry is still grappling with a tight labor pool, which forces tough decisions on wages and technology. In key markets, like those facing mandated wage hikes, businesses are accelerating automation to offset rising labor costs. For example, in California, the $20 minimum wage led to employment declines of 2.7% to 3.2% relative to other areas, as restaurants automated what they could. To stay competitive and retain talent elsewhere, chains are improving wages and benefits. The Wendy's Company is responding by investing heavily in technology; robotic kitchens can slash operational costs by as much as 50%, which is a defintely attractive lever when labor costs are high. Still, the industry is projected to employ 15.9 million people by the end of 2025, showing that human capital remains central, even as tech adoption rises.

Here is a snapshot of the labor and technology response:

Factor	2025 Impact/Metric	Actionable Response
Labor Shortage Severity	Net loss of over 25,500 jobs in Q1 2025 (industry-wide)	Increased focus on employee retention programs and benefits.
Automation Potential	Robotic kitchens can cut operational costs by up to 50%	Investment in AI-driven kitchen equipment and self-service kiosks.
Wage Pressure	Mandated wage hikes in some states (e.g., CA $20/hr)	Increased capital expenditure on technology to improve labor efficiency.

High mobile app adoption means loyalty programs are crucial for sustained customer retention

Digital engagement is no longer optional; it's the primary engine for repeat business. The Wendy's Company has seen huge success here, with its loyalty program membership growing by 25% over the past year to reach 46 million members as of early 2025. This digital focus is paying off in sales, as the global digital sales mix reached a record 20.3% in the first quarter of 2025. The strategy is clear: use AI-powered platforms to deliver personalized offers and app-exclusive deals, which drives higher order frequency. If onboarding new digital users takes too long, churn risk rises; the goal is to make the app experience seamless and rewarding to keep those millions of members coming back.

Key Digital Metrics for The Wendy's Company (2025):

• Loyalty membership: 46 million members.
• Digital sales mix: Reached 20.3% in Q1 2025.
• Loyalty membership growth: 25% increase year-over-year.
• Digital sales growth: Increased nearly 40% year-over-year (Q4 2024 data cited).

Finance: draft 13-week cash view by Friday

The Wendy's Company (WEN) - PESTLE Analysis: Technological factors

You're looking at how The Wendy's Company is using tech to fight rising costs and capture more of the customer's dollar. Honestly, the pace of digital adoption here is what separates the leaders from the laggards in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) space right now.

Expansion of AI-powered drive-thru ordering (e.g., FreshAI) to improve order accuracy and speed

The rollout of Wendy's FreshAI, their voice-activated drive-thru assistant developed with Google Cloud, is a major focus. They are pushing this technology hard to get better order accuracy and speed, which directly impacts throughput. As of early 2025, they had it in over 100 spots, but the plan was aggressive: reach 500 to 600 locations by the end of 2025. Early results are compelling; the technology has reportedly boosted profit margins at company-operated restaurants by 80 basis points through improved labor efficiency. Plus, because the AI never forgets to upsell, it's increasing the average check size. This isn't just a test anymore; it's becoming standard operating procedure in hundreds of restaurants.

Digital sales mix is projected to exceed 15% of total systemwide sales in 2025

You asked about the digital sales mix hitting 15%-well, they blew past that benchmark. By the end of Q4 2024, the digital mix was already at 19%, and by Q3 2025, U.S. digital sales were reported at 20.3% of total sales. This shows the investment in the app and loyalty is paying off in terms of transaction volume shifting to digital channels. The key here is that digital orders often carry a higher average check value, which is a crucial lever for profitability when commodity inflation is running around 4% for the year.

Investment in mobile app and loyalty program features to capture first-party customer data

Capturing direct customer data through your own app and loyalty program is gold; it lets you market without paying third-party delivery fees. For 2025, The Wendy's Company planned to more than double its digital capital expenditures to between $100 million and $110 million, up from over $53 million allocated in 2023. This spend fuels enhancements to the mobile app and the loyalty program, which already boasted 46 million members as of early 2025. The strategy is clear: use AI analytics to deliver personalized offers, encouraging repeat visits and driving engagement directly through their platform.

Automation in kitchen operations (e.g., fryers) to offset rising labor costs

Labor is a huge pressure point, especially with wage rates rising about 4% across the system in 2025. While the focus is on AI at the drive-thru, automation extends to the front counter too. They are rolling out self-service ordering kiosks, with plans to have them in 1,000 restaurants by the end of the year. The COO noted these machines, which cost roughly $15,000 for a set of three, help reduce labor costs. This is a direct, tangible action to manage the P&L against wage inflation, freeing up crew members for food prep and service execution.

Here's a quick look at the scale of their 2025 technology deployment and investment:

Technology Initiative	Metric/Value	Target/Status (as of 2025)
FreshAI Drive-Thru Rollout	Number of Locations	Targeting 500 to 600 locations by EOY 2025
Digital Sales Mix	Percentage of Total Sales	Reported at 20.3% in Q3 2025
Digital Capital Expenditure	Planned Investment	$100 million to $110 million for 2025
Loyalty Program Size	Total Membership	Reached 46 million members
Self-Service Kiosks	Deployment Goal	Installation planned in 1,000 restaurants by EOY 2025

What this estimate hides is the friction some customers feel with the AI, but the financial upside from efficiency and check growth is what management is betting on. Finance: draft 13-week cash view by Friday.

The Wendy's Company (WEN) - PESTLE Analysis: Legal factors

You're looking at the legal landscape for The Wendy's Company, and honestly, it's a minefield of compliance that can chew up cash flow faster than a lunch rush. The sheer volume of digital interaction and global growth means legal risk is baked into the 2025 operating model.

Increased litigation risk related to data privacy and security

Data security remains a top-tier headache. Even though the major 2016 data breach settlement is in motion, with some plaintiffs claiming unauthorized charges around $600, the risk hasn't vanished. We're seeing ongoing class actions, like the one related to the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) where former employees may be entitled to an estimated $575 payment per member for improper fingerprint scanning. This shows that even internal data handling, especially with POS systems, is under the microscope. If onboarding takes 14+ days, churn risk rises.

The digital platform growth-which hit a record 20.3% of global sales mix in Q1 2025-means compliance with rules like CCPA and GDPR is non-negotiable. A single misstep in handling personally identifiable information (PII) can trigger multi-million dollar exposure, regardless of whether the company is directly liable or if a franchisee messes up.

Complex international franchising laws and intellectual property protection in new markets

The Wendy's Company is pushing hard internationally; they finalized deals in July 2025 to add up to 190 new restaurants across Italy (170 units by 2035) and Armenia (20 units by 2030). This aggressive expansion, supporting the goal of 2,000 international restaurants by 2028, means navigating a patchwork of local labor, real estate, and IP laws. Each new market brings unique challenges in protecting the brand's intellectual property, from trademarks to trade secrets, which is crucial when you rely on franchisees for 70% of your unit growth outside the U.S. You need ironclad local agreements.

Class-action lawsuits over food marketing claims and nutritional transparency

The visual presentation of your product is now a legal battleground. There's an active class-action suit alleging that the burgers in The Wendy's Company ads are at least 15% larger than what customers actually receive, thanks to food stylists and digital editing. This isn't just about managing expectations; it's about deceptive trade practices. Also, don't forget the TCPA suit filed in June 2025 regarding promotional text messages sent to consumers on the Do Not Call Registry. These suits chip away at the brand's credibility and force expensive defense spending.

Here's the quick math: Defending against these claims impacts the bottom line, which saw Net Income for Q3 2025 fall to $44.3 million year-over-year. Every dollar spent on legal defense is a dollar not going toward capital expenditures, which are budgeted between $100 to $110 million for fiscal 2025.

Regulatory changes impacting advertising standards, especially targeting children

Regulators globally are cracking down on marketing to kids, and this is a major near-term risk. In the UK, new rules banning junk food ads before the 9 pm watershed and online were set to take effect in October 2025. In the U.S., a sweeping federal bill was introduced in 2025 to restrict advertising to children, mirroring international trends. What this estimate hides is the potential shift in marketing spend; prior research estimated food companies spent $14 billion annually targeting children. The Wendy's Company must rapidly pivot marketing away from younger demographics or risk non-compliance fines and reputational damage.

Key Legal and Regulatory Exposure Points for The Wendy's Company (2025 Data)

Legal/Regulatory Area	Associated Value/Target	Relevance to The Wendy's Company
Data Privacy (BIPA Settlement Estimate)	$575 per member	Risk from employee biometric data collection by franchisees.
Marketing Claims (Burger Size Discrepancy)	At least 15% larger in ads	Basis for ongoing false advertising class action litigation.
International Expansion Target (Italy/Armenia)	190 new units planned	Increases exposure to varied international franchising laws.
Advertising Regulation (UK/US 2025)	Ad ban effective October 2025 (UK)	Forces immediate review of digital and TV marketing spend.
Q3 2025 Net Income	$44.3 million	Shows the financial impact of operational and external pressures.

You need to review all digital marketing copy against the new US guidelines being considered by the FTC, and ensure all international franchise agreements explicitly address IP indemnification for local advertising breaches. Finance: draft 13-week cash view by Friday.

The Wendy's Company (WEN) - PESTLE Analysis: Environmental factors

You're looking at how The Wendy's Company is handling the increasing scrutiny on its environmental footprint, which is a major driver of investor sentiment right now. Honestly, the pressure is real, especially since beef, your signature ingredient, is such a big part of the climate conversation.

Pressure from investors and consumers to meet aggressive ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting standards

Investors are definitely pushing for more clarity on how The Wendy's Company plans to hit those big climate targets. Just this past May 2025, a shareholder proposal got 5.1% of the vote demanding more detail on the sustainability strategy, showing this isn't going away. Beef production is the elephant in the room; it accounts for 58% of the total emissions from the goods and services The Wendy's Company purchases, according to the United Nations data. The Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer, Liliana Esposito, is leading the charge, but the market wants to see the roadmap for reducing that impact. It's about mitigating climate risk, plain and simple.

Here are the key climate targets you need to track:

• Reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 47% by 2030 (compared to 2019 base year).
• Reduce Scope 3 GHG emissions intensity (per franchise restaurant) by 55% by 2030.

What this estimate hides... The latest reported data (from 2024) shows Scope 1 and 2 emissions are down 37%, but Scope 3 emissions from purchased goods actually increased by 1% per metric ton since 2019. That's the challenge.

Commitment to sustainable packaging goals, requiring costly material sourcing changes by 2025-2030

The goal to sustainably source 100% of customer-facing packaging in the U.S. by 2026 is a tight deadline, and it means real spending on new materials. As of the end of 2024, The Wendy's Company had reached 76% of that goal. This involves transitioning to options with higher recycled content or sourcing from responsibly managed forests, which costs more upfront than standard materials. For example, new packaging for Chicken Tenders is aligned with the Sustainable Forestry Initiative's (SFI) certified sourcing standard. You can see the scale of the material shift in the 2024 numbers:

Packaging Material Type (2024 Data)	Weight Used (Metric Tons)	Sustainability Note
Fiber-based (Renewable)	49,729	Fry cartons and chili cups use SFI certified fiber.
Plastic-based (Non-renewable)	36,685	Clear plastic drink cups are being transitioned to 20% recycled content.

If onboarding new suppliers for certified fiber takes longer than expected, that 2026 target is definitely at risk.

Managing the environmental impact of beef sourcing and supply chain emissions

The Wendy's Company is tackling the beef footprint head-on through partnerships, not just internal cuts. In 2025, they launched the Fresh Resilience Beef Cattle Program with AgSpire to help small- and medium-sized feeders in the Central Plains and Midwest improve nutrient optimization and feed efficiency, which is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Plus, they joined the Legacy Landscapes Program to support ranchers in key beef-producing regions like Texas and Kansas with adaptive grazing plans. This is supplier relationship management in action. They also hit a key milestone: completing the water risk assessment for direct beef suppliers, meeting the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef's (USRSB) 2025 direct supplier water tracing goal. Still, absolute forest, land, and agriculture Scope 3 emissions were only down 6% from the 2019 baseline as of 2024.

Increased focus on reducing food waste across corporate and franchised locations

Because The Wendy's Company makes its food to order, they naturally have less significant leftovers than some competitors, but the commitment remains. They signed on as a U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champion, pledging to reduce food loss and waste by 50% by 2030 in Company-operated U.S. restaurants, aligning with the USDA/EPA national goal. This involves preventing waste, donating wholesome food, and recycling what's left over. For instance, unused product samples from the Restaurant Support Center, like from the Quality Assurance Kitchen, are regularly donated to the Mid-Ohio Food Collective. It's a good system, but the 50% reduction target is still a long way off.

Finance: draft 13-week cash view by Friday