Wendy’s International, Inc. Confirms August Strong Performance
Monthly Same-Store Sales Increased 4.7%
Marketing Strategy, New Products Continue to Drive Turn-Around
DUBLIN, Ohio (September 5, 2006) – Wendy’s International, Inc. (NYSE: WEN) today confirmed its preliminary same-store sales increased 4.7% at domestic company stores for the August period, which ended Sunday, September 3, 2006. The Company had previously announced that its August sales were trending stronger than in July, which showed a 3.6% same-store sales increase compared to July 2005. The August increase represents the Company’s strongest month of same-store sales in more than two years.
The strong August sales performance came in spite of the negative impact of inclement weather from Tropical Storm Ernesto, which is primarily affecting regions where Wendy’s® operates a substantial number of company stores on the east coast.
“Our second quarter represented the best same-store sales period for the Wendy’s brand in more than a year and a half, and the third quarter is off to an even better start,” said Kerrii Anderson, Wendy’s interim Chief Executive Officer and President. “Our marketing strategy is revitalizing the Wendy’s brand as we clarify our positioning with customers, improve our advertising messages and introduce new products.”
New products introduced by Wendy’s since April include:
- Frescata™ deli sandwiches, which feature high-quality deli meats, fresh toppings and par-baked artisan bread
- A 99-cent crispy chicken sandwich, which is the Company’s latest addition to its Super Value Menu®
- Three-tier combos, which adds a third combo option to the menu and replaces the Biggie® and Great Biggie® with small, medium and large sizes
- Wendy’s Kids’ Meal® Choices, featuring two nutritious Turkey and Cheese and Ham and Cheese sandwiches
- A new Frescata Italiana, which is the fifth Frescata sandwich, containing sun-dried tomato, vinaigrette dressing, roasted red peppers, natural Swiss cheese, lean black forest ham, real Genoa salami and Romaine lettuce on freshly baked artisan bread
- A vanilla Frosty™
The Company is also offering several hamburgers exclusively in certain regions, such as the Carolina Classic (North and South Carolina) and the Brutus Buckeye Burger (central Ohio).
In addition, Wendy’s announced last week that it is now cooking with oil that has zero grams of trans fat per serving at its 6,000 U.S. restaurants. With the move, Wendy’s became the first major quick-service restaurant chain to switch to non-hydrogenated cooking oil for its French fries and chicken products. Wendy’s plans to communicate this change to its customers with point-of-purchase nutrition posters in all its stores in September.
Safe Harbor statement
Certain information in this news release, particularly information regarding future economic performance and finances, and plans, expectations and objectives of management, is forward looking. Factors set forth in our Safe Harbor under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, in addition to other possible factors not listed, could affect the Company's actual results and cause such results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. Please review the Company’s Safe Harbor statement at http://www.wendys-invest.com/safeharbor.
Wendy’s International, Inc. overview
Wendy's International, Inc. is one of the world's largest restaurant operating and franchising companies with more than 9,900 total restaurants and quality brands, including Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers® and Baja Fresh® Mexican Grill. The Company also has investments in three additional quality brands – Tim Hortons®, Cafe Express™ and Pasta PomodoroÒ. More information about the Company is available at www.wendys-invest.com.
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