The reason you won't find Wendy's in Europe

[Mr Janny]

Just a fascinating story of how a multi billion dollar corporation found out how stubborn a Dutchman can be. I come from strong Dutch stock, so this tale comes as little surprise, given some of the interactions I've had with fellow countrymen. Stubbornness is a way of life.

How This Tiny Dutch Restaurant is Keeping Wendy's Out of Europe

It’s fast food’s greatest David and Goliath story. You can’t get a Frosty in Europe, thanks (or no thanks) to this Dutch hole-in-the-wall.

www.thrillist.com

 

[keepngoal]

TL;DR version:

After all, Wendy’s operated in a handful of countries across the EU in the ‘70s and ‘80s, including Germany, Greece, and even Benelux cities like Rotterdam and Brussels. When they all shut down in the mid-80s, Wendy’s lost their beloved trademark -- what some may call a biggie mistake.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

Good for him.

 

[Jeremy]

I figured it was because they like good service over there. Love Wendy’s but always the worst run of any fast food chain wherever we go.

 

[VeloClone]

I figured it was because they like good service over there. Love Wendy’s but always the worst run of any fast food chain wherever we go.

There is a McDonald's and a Burger King near me that will put that claim to a serious test.

 

[Macloney]

I figured it was because they like good service over there. Love Wendy’s but always the worst run of any fast food chain wherever we go.

Every Taco Bell on Earth would like a word.

 

[LeaningCy]

Every Taco Bell on Earth would like a word.

I raise you a Popeye's

 

[SCNCY]

I figured it was because they like good service over there. Love Wendy’s but always the worst run of any fast food chain wherever we go.

I feel that any Wendy's is just like any other of the big fast food chains. It probably takes a little longer to get your order compared to McDonalds, but otherwise, I can't say I've noticed anything different.

What problems have you experienced at Wendy's?

 

[cyIclSoneU]

Couldnt Wendy's just use a different name like how Burger King is Hungry Jack's in Australia? Or even how the same chain in the US is Hardee's or Carl's Jr. depending on your region.

 

[Clonefan94]

I feel that any Wendy's is just like any other of the big fast food chains. It probably takes a little longer to get your order compared to McDonalds, but otherwise, I can't say I've noticed anything different.

What problems have you experienced at Wendy's?

What I have noticed at Wendy's is that they are a little slower in general, but I've always just given them the benefit of the doubt that they don't have a pile of food sitting under warmers for 45 minutes waiting for the rush. My experience with Wendy's is that you may wait a little longer, but your food is actually Hot when you get it, not just warm.

I'm with LeaningCy though as he said above. Popeye's is the worst. I absolutely love their chicken but refuse to go there anymore. They always have a pile of chicken sitting under the warmers, with a bunch of workers standing around staring at stuff. It's very odd. Their food, especially their sides are all designed to be cooked ahead of time and sitting under a warmer ready to be packaged, but it seems they have 4 people taking orders, two at the drive up window and one person trying to pack all the orders. It leads to getting slow service and on more occasions than not, an incorrect order.

The waiting I could probably deal with. It's the fact that they screw up the order so often that made me quit going there. And it hurts. I do not eat fast food very much at all anymore. Maybe if I'm on a road trip. Popeye's used to be my once every month or two cheat food. I loved that stuff.

 

[Mr Janny]

TL;DR version:

Thank you for the summary. Can you imagine how furious it must make Wendy's corporate to not be able to operate there? Think of how much money they have to be leaving on the table. I'd imagine it's the source of a lot of consternation. I'm curious why they wouldn't just do a European rebrand tho. Certainly they could explore using a variant of their logo but with a different name. It's not like it's unheard of, even in the fast food industry, see Hardee's/Carl's Junior.
I'm not expert on EU trademark law, but it seems that they should be able to figure something out.

 

[20eyes]

Just a fascinating story of how a multi billion dollar corporation found out how stubborn a Dutchman can be. I come from strong Dutch stock, so this tale comes as little surprise, given some of the interactions I've had with fellow countrymen. Stubbornness is a way of life.

How This Tiny Dutch Restaurant is Keeping Wendy's Out of Europe

It’s fast food’s greatest David and Goliath story. You can’t get a Frosty in Europe, thanks (or no thanks) to this Dutch hole-in-the-wall.

www.thrillist.com

My ex is Dutch...truer words never spoken...

 

[harimad]

Or even how the same chain in the US is Hardee's or Carl's Jr. depending on your region.

Hardees and Carl's Jr. aren't actually the same restaurant-- they were different restaurants that both happened to come under the same ownership.

 

[20eyes]

I raise you a Popeye's

THE. WORST.

 

[Rabbuk]

Isnt there like a welsh restaurant that sells a big mac and like straight up is a clone of mcdonalds that registered a trademark first.

 

[3TrueFans]

I'm glad this mystery is finally solved.

 

[Mr Janny]

Hardees and Carl's Jr. aren't actually the same restaurant-- they were different restaurants that both happened to come under the same ownership.

But effectively they're the same. In addition to sharing an owner, they share nearly identical branding, utilize the same ad campaigns, share very similar menus, and use the same suppliers. The hamburger patty that you get in your Hardee's thick burger is the same burger you get at a Carl's junior.

On the basis of semantics, yes they're different restaurants, but in practice they operate mostly as a single chain.

 

[theshadow]

Isnt there like a welsh restaurant that sells a big mac and like straight up is a clone of mcdonalds that registered a trademark first.

 

[Mr Janny]

I'm glad this mystery is finally solved.

It's the off-season, dude.

 

[mramseyISU]

Just a fascinating story of how a multi billion dollar corporation found out how stubborn a Dutchman can be. I come from strong Dutch stock, so this tale comes as little surprise, given some of the interactions I've had with fellow countrymen. Stubbornness is a way of life.

How This Tiny Dutch Restaurant is Keeping Wendy's Out of Europe

It’s fast food’s greatest David and Goliath story. You can’t get a Frosty in Europe, thanks (or no thanks) to this Dutch hole-in-the-wall.

www.thrillist.com

My wife is Dutch on her mom's side. When I choose a hill to die on I make sure it's a damn high one so it takes her a while to climb up to smite me where I stand.