- Business
- Meritage Hospitality Group Inc. Meritage Hospitality Group Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates and franchises quick-service and casual dining restaurants primarily under the Wendy's brand, alongside proprietary concepts including Morning Belle, a garden-themed breakfast, brunch, and lunch venue offering indulgent and healthy options such as daytime cocktails like mimosas, bellinis, Bloody Marys, and spiked cold brew coffee; it also manages brands like Stan's Tacos and Blue Porch Bar & Grill. The company, founded in 1986 and headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, employs over 11,000 people and conducts operations across 15 states including Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia, with in-house capabilities in restaurant accounting, information technology, real estate development, financing, planning, and permitting. Recent developments include commitments under long-term Wendy's agreements to develop 52 new restaurants by November 30, 2025, and reimage 100% of its portfolio by December 31, 2028, with 42 new restaurants completed and 75% of reimaging finished as of June 2025; a July 31, 2025, development agreement for 15 new restaurants by April 30, 2031 with an estimated $34.2 million investment; plans for 7-10 new Wendy's and 3-5 new Morning Belle locations in 2025 alongside 35-40 reimaged sites; implementation of Wendy's FreshAI drive-thru technology; strong Morning Belle same-store sales growth of 16.9% in Q2 2025 driven by menu innovations; and a doubled second-quarter dividend to $0.06 per share in 2024.