Boston, MA 11/04/2013 (wallstreetpr) – The Wendy’s Co (NASDAQ:WEN) is a fast-food restaurant engaged mostly in hamburger sandwich service. As of Dec 31’12, the chain had 6,186 restaurants operating in the North America. The quick-service food restaurant had hoped to reopen its Christchurch restaurant on Nov. 11, after the Feb’11 earthquake which led to operations shutdown. However, that reopening date is largely in doubt after the company failed to recruit adequate staff for the scheduled reopening. In the recruitment drive performed last month, WEN only ended up with just a fraction of the number of staff it needed, thus jeopardizing its rebound in Hereford St after the earthquake. The company’s business in Christchurch, Hereford St, didn’t last more than three months before earthquake struck. It received a rebuilding consent early this year and appointed contractors to begin work of the restaurant in July.
The company’s staff shortage is biting in its key ingredient section and this lack of staff is being seen in the light of accommodation shortage and buoyant job market in the city. This is according the company’s CEO Danielle Lendich. In the fresh staff hunt for the restaurant reopening, the company was looking for five managers and a 60 member crew. But only a quarter of the crew could be hired although the company had filled the managerial slots internally. The employees who worked for the company before the earthquake had found employment in other stores during the shutdown period, and WEN could only find a small number among its former crew to re-employ. Without adequate workforce especially in the key areas, it’s highly likely that the fast-foods operator might be forced to shelf its reopening in Christchurch. The housing crisis in the city hasn’t helped matters either as it makes it difficult for the company to relocate additional staff to fill the staffing gap.
WEN is expected to issue its Q3 data before markets open on Nov. 7, followed by a conference call. The release and the call conference will be webcast live to investors.
