Wendy's Signs Two Development Agreements in Mexico
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Wendy's Signs Two Development Agreements in Mexico

Franchisees in Mexico City and Monterrey to open more than 60 new restaurants

March 31, 2008 // Franchising.com // DUBLIN, Ohio – Wendy's International, Inc. (NYSE:WEN) announced today it has signed development agreements to open Wendy's® restaurants in two major Mexico cities – Monterrey and Mexico City.

Under these agreements, two new franchisees will build and operate more than 60 restaurants over the next seven years. The first of these restaurants is expected to open before year-end.

Wendy's existing franchisee, Wenco-Mexico S.A., currently operates 12 restaurants in the northern Mexico cities of Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua.

" Mexico is an important market for the Wendy's brand, and we are pleased to enter into these new franchise relationships," said Chief Operations Officer Dave Near. "These agreements are part of Wendy's long-term plan to focus development efforts in specific key markets outside of the United States. We have been developing and preparing our support infrastructure, while conducting detailed market analyses of various global markets as part of a disciplined approach to grow our International business."

New franchisees are experienced business operators

The new Mexico City franchise is an affiliate of Corpogas S.C., and the new Monterrey franchise is Grupo Refran.

Corpogas, based in Mexico City, is headed by Ricardo A. Vega Serrador, whose family has been in the restaurant business since 1959. Under his leadership, the company has grown from a single restaurant to a conglomerate that includes a chain of fine dining restaurants under the Grupo Castellano brand. Corpogas is one of the largest gasoline and convenience store retailers in Mexico, with more than 100 locations. They are the exclusive representatives and distributors for Ferrari and Maserati in Mexico. In addition, Corpogas operates a commissary and food service distribution facility.

Grupo Refran, of Monterrey, has operated Sirloin Stockade restaurants for over 15 years and they currently have 12 locations in Mexico. Grupo Refran was also part of the group that brought Applebee's restaurants to Mexico. Grupo Refran's CEO, Jorge Emilio Garza Treviño, is a prominent businessman in Monterrey, serving on various corporate boards and philanthropic institutions. He is currently a District Governor of Rotary International in Mexico. Grupo Refran also owns and operates commercial properties, retail stores, an automobile dealership and a convention venue and commissary.

"Both Corpogas and Grupo Refran are proven restaurant operators with extensive distribution experience," said James C. Hartenstein, Wendy's senior vice president, international. "These franchises, along with Wendy's existing franchise in Mexico, will provide consumers with more opportunities to experience the quality, freshness and variety offered by Wendy's."

Wendy's has more than 190 restaurants in the Latin America/Caribbean region in 14 markets.

Wendy's international division also operates in the Asia/Pacific region where its most recent new international market, Malaysia, was announced late last year.

Wendy's International, Inc.

Wendy's International, Inc. is one of the world's most successful restaurant operating and franchising companies, with more than 6,600 Wendy's restaurants in the United States, Canada and international markets. More information about the company is available at www.wendys.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain information in this news release, particularly information regarding future development of new restaurants and the plans, expectations and objectives of Wendy's management, is forward looking. Factors set forth in Wendy's Safe Harbor under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, in addition to other possible factors not listed, could affect Wendy's actual results and cause such results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. Please review Wendy's Safe Harbor statement at http://www.wendys-invest.com/safeharbor.

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