Meritage Hospitality Group Inc. sought Chapter 11 protection on Thursday after a long buildout that now has it operating 314 Wendy's locations, one Bojangles, and several other eateries. The company reported approximately $725.9 million in assets and about $651 million in liabilities, and said its restaurants will stay open while it works through options to restructure.
In a sworn filing on Saturday, Chief Restructuring Officer Kevin Cleary said Meritage closed 60 lagging Wendy's units late last year, and it plans to continue trimming or selling more stores while the case proceeds. Meritage also flagged a "franchise termination dispute" with Wendy's Co., which says it is owed about $147 million in overdue royalties and fees.
Meritage pointed to a cost squeeze, especially on beef. It said average beef prices it pays were up almost 19% for the quarter that ended in June compared with a year earlier, driven by tariffs and "historically low herd levels." The company also blamed "unusual winter weather" connected to the La Niña cycle across the southern US for hampering sales.
The franchisee cited brand-level issues, too, including the "reduced frequency and effectiveness of Wendy's brand marketing" under earlier management. It also said "deep discounting and national promotional strategies at the brand level" weighed on margins.
Wendy's is attempting a reset with Bob Wright as its new Chief Executive Officer, who assumed the role earlier this year. Same-store sales have fallen six quarters in a row, and analysts polled by Bloomberg expect the slide to persist. Recent stumbles include leaning on discounts and value deals that failed to bring in customers and a deterioration in food quality. Last month Wright scrapped Wendy's 2026 outlook and reduced its dividend.
Meanwhile, Burger King, owned by Restaurant Brands International Inc., has leapfrogged Wendy's for the No. 2 burger spot after boosting sales with remodels and a refreshed Whopper.
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Meritage operates across Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. According to the bankruptcy filings, Wendy's and Meritage struck a set of agreements beginning in November after Meritage defaulted on franchise terms. Those records state that Wendy's claims $27.3 million in overdue royalties and fees, along with an additional $119 million labeled as operations fees.
According to a Wendy's spokeswoman, the company supports franchisees facing difficulties "to identify the best and most sustainable path forward." She added, "Our focus remains on serving our customers, supporting our franchise system, and strengthening the long-term health of the brand."
Meritage has around 8,850 employees and has asked the court for the customary approvals to keep payroll going and pay ordinary operating costs while under Chapter 11. The case is Meritage Hospitality Group Inc., No. 26-02947, in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Michigan.
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