Wendy's
- Wendy's just opened its first Walmart location in Ohio.
- The hamburger stand has exclusive nugget and frosty sundae flavors.
- Walmart has partnered with Domino's and Taco Bell to open in-store locations.
- See more stories on Insider's business page.
Wendy's just opened a restaurant inside a Walmart in Heath, Ohio with some variations on the typical menu.
The Wendy's Hamburger Stand inside the Walmart is much smaller than a regular restaurant, and has "a look and feel that's whimsical, reflecting our brand identity in a unique and modern way," a Wendy's spokesperson told Insider.
Wendy's says the location will have some classic menu items, plus some exclusive items only available there. Nuggets will be available in Buttermilk Ranch and Jalapeno Cheddar flavors, and the store will sell a new strawberry frosty flavor. The stand will also sell frosty sundaes in Chocolate Lover and Strawberry Celebration flavors.
"There are big opportunities for Wendy's to reach consumers where they live, work, and play, and that includes non-traditional venues where we have captive market audiences like airports, universities, and retail environments, like Walmart. We know that Wendy's fans are looking for great food on the go, at a reasonable price, to feed themselves and their families," the Wendy's spokesperson told Insider.
Walmart leases space, often near the front of its stores, to other businesses, including restaurants. The big-box chain partners with national chains and local businesses, depending on the needs of the community, a spokesperson previously told Insider.
"We're looking to both restaurants and services that are really relevant to our customers - be it local businesses, a service that has localized relevance, or a larger chain that is really delivering on how customers are looking to shop and get their meals and create an eco-system for our customers," a Walmart spokesperson told Insider.
While hundreds of McDonald's restaurants inside Walmart stores closed over the last several years, Walmart has slowly added Domino's and Taco Bell locations. There are also plans for an even smaller Wendy's Snack Shop in another Walmart in Ohio.
Do you have a story to share about a retail or restaurant chain? Email this reporter at [email protected].