PHOTO: FILE
Wendy’s New Zealand has been acquired by the American franchise giant Flynn Group for an undisclosed amount.
The Lendich family from West Auckland, who have operated Wendy’s NZ since 1988, put the franchise up for sale in 2022.
Flynn Group, the world’s largest franchise operator, announced today that it has acquired Wendco (NZ), the sole franchisee of Wendy’s in New Zealand.
Wendy’s operates over 20 restaurants and employs 500 staff in New Zealand.
Flynn Group has been expanding internationally over the past year, including obtaining the master license for Wendy’s and Pizza Hut in Australia.
Globally, Flynn Group owns and operates more than 2,700 consumer-facing businesses, including Applebee’s, Arby’s, Taco Bell, Panera, Pizza Hut, Wendy’s, and Planet Fitness, across the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
“The acquisition of Wendy’s New Zealand represented a compelling opportunity to grow our international presence and strengthen our partnership with the beloved Wendy’s brand,” said Flynn Group Chief Operating Officer Ron Bellamy.
“Wendco New Zealand has a proud 35-year history of delighting customers, and we are honored to continue that tradition,” Bellamy added. “Our immediate focus will be to collaborate with the existing team to leverage our scale and capabilities to build on their success as we embark on this next chapter of growth together.”
Danny and Dianne Lendich founded Wendy’s in New Zealand in 1988, with their daughter Danielle serving as chief executive. Danielle will continue to support the business through the transition as an advisor to Flynn Group, a spokeswoman confirmed.
Having worked in the business for the last 25 years, Danielle Lendich mentioned in 2022 that she was open to remaining involved in the business in a chief executive, board, or management role. “The business is well-positioned for someone else to grow the brand in New Zealand and possibly further,” she said.
Phil Reed will take on the role of President for Flynn ANZ, overseeing operations in Australia and New Zealand. “With multiple brands across two key markets, we see a clear opportunity to build on the strong foundation established by the Lendich family and the talented team at Wendy’s New Zealand,” Reed stated.
SOURCE: NZHERALD