Wendy’s, one of the world’s best-known international quick service restaurant (QSR) brands, is entering the Romanian market in 2025 through a franchise partnership with JKC Capital, a Canadian entrepreneurial company.
The first two restaurants will open in the first half of this year, and by the end of 2025, five units will be open.
Across its entire portfolio, JKC Capital plans to invest over USD 200 million in Romania and create around 1,500 new jobs over the next 10 years.
A market study conducted by MKOR Consulting shows that Wendy’s is the second most desirable international fast-food brand. The study also shows that fast-food brands are very popular in Romania, with 94% of Romanians eating fast-food.
The new Wendy’s restaurants will serve Romanian beef and chicken.
JKC Capital, the Wendy’s franchise partner in Romania, owns and operates JKC Restaurants, Canada’s fastest-growing family-owned restaurant company founded in 2015 by Kathryn and John Chayka. JKC Restaurants is the largest Wendy’s franchisee in Canada with 61 Wendy’s restaurants in its portfolio.
For the expansion of Wendy’s in Romania, JKC Capital has partnered with Radu Bolohan, who is currently Vice President of JKC Capital.