Wendy's Earns Top Rating in University of Michigan Customer Satisfaction Survey; Ranks Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Quick-Service Restaurants

Business Wire, May 17, 2007

DUBLIN, Ohio -- Wendy's International, Inc. (NYSE:WEN) took the top spot for customer satisfaction in the "limited service restaurants" category in this year's American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) survey.

The ACSI survey, which is produced by the University of Michigan's Stephen M. Ross Business School, measures customer attitudes about the quality of products and services available across the country.

Wendy's[R] scored 78 in the survey, up 2.6 percent from the previous year, while Burger King[R] and McDonald's[R] scored 69 and 64, respectively. The overall quick-service restaurant industry score remained unchanged this year at 77. With a score of 70 in 2000, Wendy's has consistently improved its ASCI rating in the past years.

"Quality plays a significant role in satisfying customers, and we take great pride in the fact that Wendy's rates at the top in customer satisfaction," said Wendy's CEO and President Kerrii Anderson. "At Wendy's, we use fresh, never frozen, beef and make every hamburger to order right off the grill. We top every sandwich with fresh condiments - whole leaf lettuce and tomatoes and onions that we slice every day in our restaurants. Quality is our recipe, and a major point of distinction between Wendy's and other quick-service restaurant chains."

Last week, Zagat Survey[R], which is considered a world-leading provider of consumer survey-based leisure content, named Wendy's as having the "Best Burger" in the quick-service restaurant industry. Wendy's also received the top spot among quick-service "mega-chains" (i.e., those with at least 5,000 outlets) for "Food, Facilities and Popularity."

ACSI information

The American Customer Satisfaction Index is an economic indicator based on customer evaluations of goods and services purchased in the United States. ACSI was developed by the National Quality Research Center (NQRC) at the Stephen M. Ross Business School at the University of Michigan. More information about ACSI is available at www.theacsi.org.

Wendy's International, Inc. overview

Wendy's International, Inc. is one of the world's largest and most successful restaurant operating and franchising companies. More information about the Company is available at www.wendys-invest.com.