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Wales Online
Wales Online
Entertainment
James Andrews & Victoria Jones

American chain Wendy's is set to open in the UK

From Subway and McDonald's to Burger King and Pizza Hut, we're all familiar with most big US chains.

But there is one famous name which isn't something British fans can try currently: Wendy's.

That could all be about to change, though, after top executives at the chain revealed plans for a major UK launch next year which could include as many as 20 locations, the Mirror is reporting.

Wendy's famously square-shaped burgers range from the Jr. Hamburger at 240 calories through to the awesome spectacle of the Bacon Jalepeno Triple Cheeseburger coming in at 1280 calories.

That's before we get to the breakfast options, salads and chicken dishes - it even has croissant buns available.

For the more budget conscious there are meal deals and a value menu, much like Burger King and McDonalds offer - and it could all be available near you soon.

The company revealed to shareholders it plans to open new British restaurants in the next 12 months and has begun looking for sites and franchise partners on this side of the Atlantic.

It's seen as a first step into Europe for the third-largest burger chain in the world, after McDonald's and Burger King.

The Wendy's Company president of the international division and chief development officer Abigail Pringle said the firm is looking to cash in on the growth of fast food in the UK.

"We believe their overall growth in the quick service restaurant segment – and hamburger specifically – is growing and we believe we can be a challenger brand in that market and have great success," Pringle said.

"The United Kingdom will be our beachhead to European expansion. We believe it is a growing market and it has lots of great growth ahead of it.

"We also know that great American brands have been successful. Burger brands have been unbelievably successful there. But we believe that we can challenge those brands."

Wendy's has more than 6,700 outlets in 30 countries around the world including the Americas, Asia and the Middle East.

Pringle said the company has been researching the UK as a location for more than a year, adding: "We are going there with our eyes wide open and with a lot of insights and preparation.

"We have done landmark research with thousands of consumers in the UK. We have talked to them and engaged with them and what they think about the Wendy's brand."

The company said it wants to open about 20 outlets in Britain, starting in the next 12 to 18 months.

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