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| The new-look Wendy's on The Queensway in Etobicoke. |
PopGoesTheNews.com With McDonald's in the midst of a billion-dollar blitz to renovate 1,400 of its restaurants in Canada and A&W adding "urban concept" outlets to the market, fast food chain Wendy's is testing a spiffy new look.
The company opened its first Canadian concept store today in Toronto with plans for another in Kingston in December. Designed by San Francisco-based Tesser, the new restaurant features several kinds of seating options in a dining room decorated with natural colours, brick and wood as well as a fireplace. It has digital menu boards, a new ordering process and free WiFi. Employees dressed in updated uniforms serve food in redesigned packaging.
Wendy's has also added its proprietary Redhead Roasters coffee and fresh baked goods including oatmeal bars, cookies, muffins and brownies.
It's an attempt to keep up with McDonald's, which is revamping its outlets with new seating, fireplaces and plasma TVs and McCafé counters featuring coffee beverages, smoothies and baked goods.
Earlier this year A&W opened several urban concept restaurants in Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary with plans for more across the country. They feature self-serve ordering kiosks, reusable mugs and plates and new menu items like salads.
In June, the owner of more than 200 KFC outlets in Ontario and B.C. announced plans to renovate its outlets.
