WENDY’s, the third largest quick-service restaurant in the United States, is planning to set up here in Barbados and eight other markets in the Eastern Caribbean.Wendy’s/Arby’s Group Inc. announced the signing of a long-term restaurant development agreement that will give the Wendy’s(R) brand significant presence in the region.The agreement calls for the development of 24 Wendy’s restaurants over the next ten years in nine markets. The first of these restaurants is scheduled to open in 2011 in Trinidad.“This agreement will enable us to expand Wendy’s brand presence throughout the Caribbean basin,” said Wendy’s/Arby’s Group president and chief executive officer Roland Smith.“In the north, our franchise restaurants in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas generate some of the highest annual unit volumes in our international system; and, in the west, we have a growing presence in Central America. Now, we’re building on this regional momentum by entering the Eastern Caribbean with a highly capable franchise team.”The new franchisee is led by Dane Darbasie, who has 17 years’ restaurant industry experience, including serving as chief executive officer and director of a publicly traded restaurant management company for 12 years.“We’re honoured to have the opportunity to be associated with Wendy’s, one of the world’s leading restaurant brands. We believe the brand’s strong focus on premium quality, menu development and operational excellence provides us with a terrific platform for future growth in our target markets,” said Darbasie.Wendy’s restaurants are planned in Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Guyana, St Lucia, St Maarten, St Vincent and Suriname.The combined restaurant systems include more than 10 000 restaurants in the US and 24 countries and territories worldwide. (PR/AB)
