Transactions with Related Parties (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 29, 2024

The following is a summary of transactions between the Company and its related parties:


	Year Ended
	2024		2023		2022
Transactions with QSCC:
Wendy’s Co-op (a)	$	3,493	$	363	$	427
Rental receipts (b)	277		231		198
TimWen lease and management fee payments, net (c)	$	21,172	$	20,653	$	19,694
Transactions with Yellow Cab (d)	$	15,417	$	14,757	$	13,404
Transactions with AMC (e)	$	2,010	$	2,366	$	—

_______________

Transactions with QSCC

(a)Wendy’s has a purchasing co-op relationship structure (the “Wendy’s Co-op”) with its franchisees that establishes Quality Supply Chain Co-op, Inc. (“QSCC”). QSCC manages, for the Wendy’s system in the U.S. and Canada, contracts for the purchase and distribution of food, proprietary paper, operating supplies and equipment under national

agreements with pricing based upon total system volume. QSCC’s supply chain management facilitates continuity of supply and provides consolidated purchasing efficiencies while monitoring and seeking to minimize possible obsolete inventory throughout the Wendy’s supply chain in the U.S. and Canada.

Wendy’s and its franchisees pay sourcing fees to third-party vendors on certain products sourced by QSCC. Such sourcing fees are remitted by these vendors to QSCC and are the primary means of funding QSCC’s operations. In addition, QSCC collects certain rebates, price variance and other recoveries, technology fees, convention fees and other funding from third-party vendors as part of the administration and management of the Wendy’s supply chain in the U.S. and Canada. Should QSCC’s sourcing fees exceed its expected needs, QSCC’s board of directors may return some or all of the excess to its members in the form of a patronage dividend. Wendy’s recorded its share of patronage dividends of $3,493 in 2024, of which $2,909 is included in “Other operating income, net” and $584 is included as a reduction of “Cost of sales.” Wendy’s recorded its share of patronage dividends of $363 and $427 in 2023 and 2022, respectively, which are included as a reduction of “Cost of sales.”

(b)Pursuant to a lease agreement, Wendy’s leased 14,493 square feet of office space to QSCC for an annual base rent of $217. The lease was amended in June 2021 to increase both the leased square footage to 18,774 and the annual base rent to $250 beginning in 2023, subject to annual increases, and to extend the lease term through January 31, 2027. The Company received lease payments from QSCC of $277, $231 and $198 during 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, which has been recorded to “Franchise rental income.”

TimWen Lease and Management Fee Payments

(c)A wholly-owned subsidiary of Wendy’s leases restaurant facilities from TimWen, which are then subleased to franchisees for the operation of Wendy’s/Tim Hortons combo units in Canada. Wendy’s paid TimWen $21,409, $20,894 and $19,927 under these lease agreements during 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, which has been recorded to “Franchise rental expense.” In addition, TimWen paid Wendy’s a management fee under the TimWen joint venture agreement of $237, $241 and $233 during 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, which has been included as a reduction to “General and administrative.”

Transactions with Yellow Cab

(d)Certain family members and/or affiliates of Mr. Nelson Peltz, our former Chairman and Chairman Emeritus, Mr. Peter May, our Senior Vice Chairman, and Mr. Matthew Peltz, our Vice Chairman, hold minority ownership interests in Yellow Cab Holdings, LLC (“Yellow Cab”), a Wendy’s franchisee that, as of December 29, 2024 owned and operated 89 Wendy’s restaurants, and/or certain of the operating companies managed by Yellow Cab. During 2024, 2023 and 2022, the Company recognized $15,417, $14,757 and $13,404, respectively, in royalty, advertising fund, lease and other income from Yellow Cab and related entities. In all transactions involving Yellow Cab, the Company’s standard franchisee recruiting and approval processes were followed, no modifications were made to the Company’s standard franchise agreements or related documents, and all deal terms and transaction documents were negotiated and executed on an arm’s-length basis, consistent with the Company’s comparable franchise transactions and relationships. As of December 29, 2024 and December 31, 2023, $1,132 and $1,153, respectively, was due from Yellow Cab for such income, which is included in “Accounts and notes receivable, net” and “Advertising funds restricted assets.”

Transactions with AMC

(e)In February 2023, Ms. Kristin Dolan, a director of the Company, was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of AMC Networks Inc. (“AMC”). During 2024 and 2023, the Company purchased approximately $2,010 and $2,366, respectively, of advertising time from a subsidiary of AMC. The Company’s advertising spend with AMC was made in the ordinary course of business and approved on an arm’s-length basis, consistent with the Company’s comparable advertising decisions. As of December 29, 2024 and December 31, 2023, approximately $17 and $584, respectively, was due to AMC for advertising time, which is included in “Advertising funds restricted liabilities.”