
Wendy’s Franchisee Meritage Enters Chapter 11 Amid Sales Slump
Meritage Hospitality Group, a major Wendy’s franchisee, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after closing about 60 locations. The Grand Rapids-based operator runs 314 Wendy’s restaurants (plus a Bojangles and five Morning Belle), with assets between $10 million and $50 million and roughly $150 million owed to City National Bank. Wendy’s says it supports franchisees and aims to strengthen the brand, while the company itself has seen six straight quarters of declining same-store sales (about 7% last quarter; over 10% two-year decline). Meritage previously hired a restructuring CEO, secured forbearance from lenders, and reported a 48% drop in store-level EBITDA to $36.2 million; it has paused or altered breakfast service at underperforming locations to protect margins.












