American fast food giant Wendy’s is officially entering the Armenian market through a newly signed exclusive franchise agreement with Wen Restaurant LLC, part of the Connect Group. The partnership will bring 20 new Wendy’s® locations to Armenia by 2030, starting with the first restaurant in Yerevan’s city center.
The development is expected to generate approximately 600 new jobs and marks a significant move in Wendy’s global expansion strategy, which aims to reach 2,000 international locations by 2028. The franchisee, Wen Restaurant LLC, is a recognized leader in Armenia’s food, retail, hospitality, and distribution sectors. Backed by deep operational expertise and local market insight, the company plans to redefine the quick service restaurant (QSR) landscape in Armenia.
“We are proud to introduce Wendy’s to consumers in Armenia,” said Hrant Grigoryan, CEO of Wen Restaurant LLC. “Wendy’s is an iconic brand with proven success and untapped potential in the region. We are confident that Armenian consumers will embrace Wendy’s high-quality, fresh food, and we look forward to delivering the exceptional customer experiences that will create lifelong brand fans across the country.”
Wendy’s is known globally for its made-to-order square hamburgers, Spicy Chicken Sandwiches and nuggets, the Frosty® dessert, and its focus on fresh ingredients and modern hospitality. The company’s brand promise—Fresh Famous Food, Made Right, For You—will be central to its offering in Armenia.
E.J. Wunsch, President, International at The Wendy’s Company said, “We are thrilled to partner with Wen Restaurant to bring Wendy’s fresh, famous food and unmatched hospitality to local communities in Armenia. Earlier this year, I shared that 70 percent of our expansion will occur outside the United States, with plans to reach 2,000 international restaurants by 2028. This new partnership supports that goal and 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.”
Grigoryan further emphasized: “Launching Wendy’s in Armenia represents a bold step forward in redefining the quick service restaurant experience in our country. We are bringing a fresh perspective—one rooted in quality, innovation, and modern hospitality. From made-to-order menu items to a customer-first approach, we are proud to introduce Wendy’s high-quality menu to Armenian consumers in a way that reflects their evolving tastes and sets a new standard in the region.”
About Wen Restaurant LLC
Wen Restaurant LLC, part of the Connect Group, is a market leader in Armenia’s food, retail, hospitality, and distribution sectors. With a focus on operational excellence and market insight, the company is introducing Wendy’s fresh, made-to-order menu to the Armenian market with a strong emphasis on customer service and quality. Wen Restaurant LLC aims to become a dominant player in Armenia’s QSR industry.
About Wendy’s
The Wendy’s Company (Nasdaq:?WEN), founded in 1969, operates over 7,250 restaurants worldwide, including more than 1,350 international locations, and employs hundreds of thousands through its global franchise network. As of mid?2025, the company’s market capitalization stands at approximately $2.1?billion. In the trailing twelve months, Wendy’s generated around $2.24 billion in revenue — up modestly from about $2.18?billion the previous year. The brand is renowned for its crave?worthy menu, including fresh?beef hamburgers, the Spicy Chicken Sandwich, Baconator®, and the iconic Frosty® dessert.
Global Context
The Armenia expansion is part of Wendy’s broader international growth push, which 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 slated for Milan in mid-2026. Together, the Armenia and Italy agreements will add 190 new Wendy’s locations across Europe. Wendy’s global strategy aims for 70% of its new unit growth to occur outside the U.S., supporting its goal of reaching 2,000 international restaurants by 2028.
