Dublin, OH - Wendy's once again is named best hamburger chain overall by Restaurants And Institutions' annual "Choice in Chains" survey, featured in their March 1 issue. Wendy's has won the top hamburger chain title 16 times in the survey's 17-year history.
"Wendy's has been named tops repeatedly by the people who matter most -- their customers," says Patricia Dailey, Restaurants And Institutions managing editor. "In our survey, Wendy's has surpassed the competition for 16 years -- a truly impressive record in such a competitive industry. Wendy's leads the competition again this year by providing consistent food quality and strong menu variety -- two areas where they ranked highest in the category."
The "Choice in Chains" survey, conducted by NFO Research Inc., Greenwich, Conn., in September 1996, polled 4,000 households nationwide. Respondents rated chains on food quality, menu variety, value, service, atmosphere, cleanliness and convenience. Wendy's overall top score represents the combined ratings of all seven categories.
"We're very pleased to be named number one again by our customers," says Wendy's Founder Dave Thomas. "We pioneered the concept of making fresh, hot and juicy hamburgers to order; and it's still our top priority today.
"We want our hamburgers to be the best our customers have ever tasted. So we start with 100% pure U.S. beef prepared hot-off-the-grill, and use a variety of fresh toppings, including cut tomatoes, whole lettuce leaves and fresh onions."
Other chains have tried -- and are still trying -- to imitate Wendy's made-to-order offerings, but as the R&I survey shows, Wendy's still leads the pack.
More than 28 years ago, Wendy's set out to build a better hamburger with an exceptional commitment to quality. Today, Wendy's continues that tradition by offering customers a variety of nutritious choices, and of course, hamburgers remain one of its most popular items.
"Our goal is to give our customers high-quality food in clean, comfortable surroundings with fast, friendly service," adds Thomas. "Our ability to consistently deliver on that promise is what makes Wendy's America's favorite."
Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers Restaurants was founded in 1969 by Dave Thomas, who named the chain after one of his daughters. In 1995, Wendy's merged with Tim Hortons, the second largest quick service restaurant chain in Canada, which features coffee and fresh baked goods. There are more than 5,200 Wendy's restaurants worldwide and 1,500 Tim Hortons restaurants in Canada and the U.S., with combined annual sales of $6 billion.
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