Wendy's plans NZ expansion

United States-headquartered fast-food chain Wendy's is planning to open 20 new outlets in this country in the next five years, more than doubling its presence in New Zealand.

Danielle Lendich, chief executive of the New Zealand family business which owns franchises for all 15 existing Wendy's, said the business was doing well and had great growth prospects.

She cited a change in eating habits saying that instead of dining in high-class places, more people would be heading for fast food in future, The New Zealand Herald reported today.

Miss Lendich is chief executive of Wendco (NZ) which has operated all the Wendy's restaurants under franchise for the past 20 years.

She said another advantage was the fast changing labour market.

"Over the last few years, finding excellent staff and managers has been difficult in such a tight employment market. Now we are finding highly skilled employees are becoming available to manage and work in our new restaurants," she said.

Wendy's could not expand when property prices were so high this decade and labour was in such short supply, she said.

The chain is hunting for four sites in Wellington, two to three in Hamilton, one in Rotorua and one in Palmerston North. New stores in the South Island and Auckland are also on the cards.