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It’s a big undertaking for the fast food company. Wendy’s plans to hire about 20,000 US employees for the initiative, the company said Monday.
Breakfast is an important meal for fast food chains. More people prepare breakfast at home than any other meal, and the morning remains the only growth market for the fast food industry, according to research group NPD.
Currently, Wendy’s offers breakfast, including a bacon sandwich and a honey butter chicken biscuit, at about 300 locations. The nationwide launch “provides incredible growth opportunities,” said Todd Penegor, the company’s president and CEO, in a statement.
Menu innovations have helped boost Wendy’s sales. A number of new menu items — including a new $5 Giant Junior Bacon Cheeseburger, a new line of chicken sandwiches and a $5 meal deal called the Biggie Bag — helped boost first-quarter sales at North American stores open at least a year.
Breakfast may help drive growth, but it’s a costly endeavor. The company expects to spend about $20 million to serve breakfast throughout the country, and is lowering its 2019 financial outlook. Shares dipped about 3% after the market closed Monday on the news.
Wendy’s is not the only fast food chain focusing on breakfast. Panera started rolling out improvements to its breakfast offerings in the spring. McDonald’s (MCD) has experimented with indulgent breakfast items like donut sticks. Dunkin (DNKN)‘ has tried out breakfast bowls and sandwiches, and is testing a breakfast sandwich featuring a plant-based sausage in its New York City stores.
For Dunkin’, the efforts are paying off. The chain’s sales at US stores open at least a year jumped 2.4% in the first quarter, thanks to higher-priced espressos and frozen drinks, as well as strong demand for its breakfast sandwich value deals.
— CNN Business’ Jordan Valinsky and David Goldman contributed to this report.
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