The directors of Gara Restaurants, the new franchisee for the Wendy’s sandwich chain do not foresee any major changes to the Wendy’s brand when it’s acquisition takes place effective Friday.

“The Wendy’s brand in Jamaica is built on high-quality products, great customer service and a team of great people running its high standards of operations. Therefore, we do not intend to make any major changes, but more to enhance the brand through more operational efficient processes, network expansion and stronger marketing efforts,” Michelle Myers Mayne a director of Gara Restaurants said in an interview with the Business Observer.

Gara Restaurants has recently acquired the franchise from Wisynco Foods Limited and will own and operate six of the seven Wendy’s Jamaica locations. The locations are Fairview Plaza in Montego Bay, Village Plaza on Constant Spring Road, downtown Kingston, Liguanea, Barbican and Sovereign Village Plaza in Portmore.

Myers Mayne brings her wealth of experience to the Wendy’s franchise, having been a director of Restaurants of Jamaica Limited, operators of KFC.

The network expansion will see the opening of two new Wendy’s restaurants within the next six months, namely Waterloo Square and Constant Spring Road, both in Kingston. This will create 75 new jobs.

“’Strategic plans are in place to ensure there is a smooth transition for everyone involved. Wendy’s has a great team of champions that we are excited to learn from and grow with,” Myers Mayne explained.

Wisynco Foods operated the Wendy’s franchise for 12 years.

“We have been the Wendy’s franchisee in Jamaica for the past 12 amazing years. Wendy’s is a fantastic franchise. We have great people, great food and a great culture of service. The development of Wendy’s in Jamaica needs full-time attention and we believe the potential to double/triple the existing restaurants is attainable. To be fair to our people, the brand and to Wendy’s International we felt the timing was not right for us to embark on such an expansion as we needed to ensure our resources continue to be focused on our mainstream business,” said Andrew Mahfood, director, Wisynco Foods Limited.

Gara Restaurants plans to make Wendy’s a dominant player in the industry through efforts that will increase brand affinity and customer loyalty, ultimately making Wendy’s a household name across Jamaica.

Said Myers Mayne, “Wendy’s is coming strong! We have big plans in store that will positively impact our customers, our team members and boost Jamaica’s economy even further.”

Wendy’s was founded in 1969 by Dave Thomas in Columbus, Ohio.