Wendy's has a fairly predictable schedule.
The company shifts its menu on a quarterly basis, adding a new burger and fries while taking away the previous limited-time offer.
The chain makes other changes as well. It mixes up its Frosty flavors a few times a year and it seasonally brings back unique items like its Summer Strawberry Salad.
It's not as bold a limited-time-offer plan as the one Burger King uses, where the chain seems to randomly add new menu items.
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But Wendy's makes the most of any new ingredients it has. In most cases, the chain adds to the menu a new cheeseburger that includes ingredients not found on its current menu. That might be a new type of cheese and a different bun -- it's never that complicated -- but the company will also leverage the limited-time-offer ingredients to also add a new version of its cheese fries.
This clever strategy has helped the company keep its menu fresh without adding a lot of work to or complication in its kitchens. The chain's fans get something new to drive them back to Wendy's (WEN) -) while the company keeps its operations efficient.
Now, Wendy's -- which stands as the No. 2 fast-food burger chain behind McDonald's -- is using flavors familiar to fans of Yum Brands' (YUM) -) Taco Bell on a new burger and a new version of its cheese fries.
Image source: SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images
Wendy's adds Mexican-food-inspired burger, fries
Wendy's limited-time-offer burgers follow an old-school model that McDonald's used to use a lot and Burger King still uses with its famed Whopper: You add different toppings to offer something that's different but also familiar.
The chain's new Loaded Nacho Cheeseburger, Loaded Nacho Chicken Sandwich, and Queso Fries follow that model.
Wendy's is expanding its menu and giving customers something new, but the names of the new sandwiches and fries tell you almost everything you need to know.
"Wendy's Loaded Nacho Cheeseburger features a grilled square beef patty, American cheese, roasted poblano queso, new spicy corn tortilla strips, new spicy chipotle sauce, lettuce, and tomato on a new jalapeno cheddar bun," Brand Eating reported.
The Loaded Nacho Chicken Sandwich simply substitutes a fried chicken patty for the burger. Wendy's has also done something new with its jalapeno cheddar bun: It has previously sold a cheddar bun and a jalapeno bun but has never before put both flavors together.
"Wendy's new Queso Fries sees their natural-cut French fries topped with shredded cheddar cheese and roasted poblano queso," the website reported.
The items are being offered nationwide. A single patty Wendy's Loaded Nacho Cheeseburger comes in at 710 calories while the fried chicken version is 670 calories. Wendy's Queso Fries are 390 calories.
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Wendy's has been growing
While Wendy's remains a distant No. 2 behind McDonald's, it is bigger than Burger King and it continues to grow its sales. Chief Executive Todd Penegor talked about the growth during the chain's first-quarter-earnings call.
"Our U.S business delivered same-restaurant sales growth of 7.2%, holding our strong dollar and traffic share within the [quick-service-restaurant] burger category and widening our share gap to several competitors," he said.
The CEO says delivering value, like its $5 Biggie Bag, helped drive sales.
"These results were underpinned by the continued benefit of our strategic pricing actions alongside year-over-year customer count growth each month of the quarter," he said.
Our Q1 marketing programs make compelling value offerings like our successful two-for-six promotion with messaging behind our iconic fresh beef and hot and crispy French fries."
