American fast food giant Wendy’s has officially entered the Armenian market with the grand opening of its first restaurant in Yerevan’s city center on December 6, marking the start of a national rollout that will bring 20 Wendy’s locations to Armenia by 2030 through Wen Restaurant LLC’s exclusive franchise agreement with The Wendy’s Company.
Earlier this year, Wen Restaurant LLC, part of the Connect Group, secured an exclusive franchising agreement to develop Wendy’s restaurants across the country. This partnership supports Wendy’s broader international growth strategy, which targets 2,000 international restaurants by 2028, and strengthens the brand’s presence in global markets while contributing to a new food culture in the Caucasus region. The development is expected to generate approximately 600 new jobs across Armenia as the expansion progresses.
The newly opened restaurant at 1/3 Abovyan Street introduces Wendy’s modern service model to Armenian consumers. It features an open kitchen and the brand’s well-known menu items, including its made-to-order square hamburgers, Spicy Chicken Sandwiches, nuggets, and the iconic Frosty dessert. Wendy’s is known globally for its focus on fresh ingredients and modern hospitality, and its brand promise, “Fresh Famous Food, Made Right, For You,” will be central to its offering in Armenia. Guided by the principle “Delicious around the world, even better locally,” the Armenian menu also includes items tailored to local tastes.
“We are thrilled to open the first Wendy’s in Armenia, bringing consumers a brand that is beloved worldwide for its quality and hospitality,” said Hrant Grigoryan, CEO of Wen Restaurant LLC. “This is only the beginning, and we are committed to offering Wendy’s fresh food and unique restaurant experience to make Wendy’s a favorite choice across the country.”
“We are excited to welcome both Wen Restaurant LLC and Armenian consumers to the Wendy’s family as we continue expanding our global footprint,” said Chris Conway, Vice President for the APMEA region at The Wendy’s Company. “Together, we will deliver a high-performance and distinctive fast food experience that fully reflects Wendy’s approach, ‘Delicious globally, even better locally.’”
“We are thrilled to partner with Wen Restaurant to bring Wendy’s fresh, famous food and unmatched hospitality to local communities in Armenia,” added E.J. Wunsch, President, International at The Wendy’s Company. “Seventy percent of our expansion will occur outside the United States, and this partnership marks an exciting milestone on our international growth journey. With the power of the Wendy’s brand and the deep local knowledge of our Wen Restaurant partners, we will build a high-performing, differentiated QSR brand that reflects our globally great, locally even better mindset.”
Wendy’s was founded in 1969 by Dave Thomas in Columbus, Ohio, and was named after his daughter Wendy, whose likeness appears in the brand’s logo. Today, Wendy’s is one of the world’s most recognized fast food brands, operating more than 7,300 restaurants in over 35 countries and known for its focus on fresh, made-to-order food and modern hospitality.
As part of Wendy’s larger global footprint, the Armenia expansion aligns with the company’s broader European growth strategy. This includes a separate agreement with Your Food S.R.L. to open 170 Wendy’s restaurants across Italy by 2035, with the first two locations scheduled for Milan in 2026. Together, these efforts signal a significant strengthening of Wendy’s presence across Europe.
