Fast food business Wendy’s NZ up for sale after three decades

American quick meals burger franchise Wendy’s is available on the market after 33 years of being run by West Auckland household the Lendichs.

The native franchise enterprise which operates 22 eating places all through the nation is in search of
a brand new proprietor and has employed an advisory agency to help the method.

Present house owners Danny and Dianne Lendich began Wendy’s in New Zealand in 1988, unintentionally falling into the enterprise, again once they have been opening petrol stations.

Wendy’s chief govt Danielle Lendich mentioned her household was trying to cross on the enterprise as her mother and father have been now of their mid-70s.

Lendich, who has been working within the enterprise for the final 23 years, is open to staying on throughout the enterprise, both in a chief govt, board or administration function, however is hoping to liberate a while to spend together with her youngsters.

“The shops are performing very well, we have opened numerous shops outdoors of Auckland over the previous 10 years and people have actually began to hit their straps, so it’s a good time now for somebody to come back alongside and take the model to the following stage,” Lendich, who took over as firm chief govt at age 27, advised the Herald.

The Lendichs have been redeveloping land for a retail centre in Te Atatu, Wendy’s of which was geared as much as change into a tenant when the cope with the occasion initially set to launch the model out there fell by, forcing them to step in.

“We knew of the Wendy’s model as a result of we travelled to America quite a bit with my Dad’s midget automobile racing, and we had this purpose-built retailer and doubtlessly no tenant so my mother and father form of fell into it. They opened 5 eating places fairly shortly [shortly after].

“It was by no means a deliberate acquisition it simply form of occurred,” Lendich says of the early days.

Lendich wouldn’t share firm gross sales income figures, however mentioned the Wendy’s NZ enterprise was experiencing document gross sales.

The long-lasting American burger model has an formidable technique to speed up international progress.

The Wendy’s grasp franchisor needs to double the variety of shops in New Zealand. On the finish of final 12 months it opened its one thousandth worldwide restaurant.

Globally, Wendy’s has opened greater than 90 new eating places within the first quarter of 2022 and has not too long ago re-entered the UK with plans to develop its model presence throughout the better Europe area and different markets throughout the globe.

Lendich mentioned Wendy’s needed over 40 shops within the New Zealand market within the coming years.

“They should see New Zealand develop and now that the enterprise is in a very good place for another person to come back alongside and develop the model in New Zealand and probably additional afield,” mentioned Lendich.

“We’re very pleased with what we have performed. Wendy’s as I say to many individuals is like my first little one, and in reality typically takes precedent over each of my youngsters, as a result of it’s a 24-hour a day, 365 day-year enterprise, it definitely permeates into every little thing we do.

“For my mother and father will probably be onerous for them – they’re often known as the Wendy’s individuals. Fairly probably I’ll proceed to be concerned someplace alongside the road. We’re nonetheless passionate for the model and love the model and joyful to remain concerned however we need to see it develop.”

Lendich was 16 years outdated when her mother and father took on the Wendy’s model, but it surely was not till 10 years later after finishing college, her OE and stints in different jobs that she determined to return to work throughout the household companies.

“I form of acquired thrown into the deep finish at 27 and I am 50 in a month.

“I am joyful to proceed to be concerned in any method, form or kind. I would love to have the ability to liberate a few of my very own time and spend a bit little bit of time with my household who’re quickly reaching the final couple of years of college, so I wish to have a bit extra flexibility.”

Lendich mentioned she was open to consulting, shareholding or governance involvement with potential new house owners.

Regardless of dealing with staffing points within the native workforce, Lendich mentioned quick meals was an thrilling enterprise to work in, notably with developments in expertise coming to the fore.

“It’s fast-moving, fast-paced and you’ll see outcomes actually shortly with issues that you just do – and it is rising. It has been the proper enterprise by Covid as a result of we have been in a position to function eating places by the drive-thru and Uber Eats. The gross sales that we’ve managed to push by through our drive-thrus have been phenomenal after we’ve had the eating rooms shut for therefore lengthy.”

Wendy’s employs 450 employees in New Zealand and operates 12 shops in Auckland, two within the South Island and eight all through the North Island.

The sale of Wendy’s NZ is being dealt with by Spencers Chartered Accountants & Advisers regionally and by companion Azure, internationally.