Wimpy eyes expansion plan as it plots UK brand comeback
US-founded fast-food chain Wimpy is reportedly poised to make a big UK comeback, with the company revealing in a statement that it has some "exciting new plans" to announce at the start of next year.
The brand rose to prominence in the 70s but struggled to compete with the likes of McDonald's and Burger King
According to several reports in of UK tabloid newspapers, the chain, which now operates just 80 UK-based restaurants compared to the 500 plus it ran in its heyday, has some fresh plans to share in terms of continued expansion and investment.
"Our plans won't be for public consumption for until February/May 2018," a spokesperson is said to have added.
The burger brand rose to prominence in the 70s but struggled to compete with the likes of McDonald's and Burger King, seeing a decrease in high-street outlets.
The name Wimpy is believed to have been inspired by the comic strip Popeye, in which Popeye's affable friend J Wellington Wimpy was said to love hamburgers as much as Popeye loved spinach.
Last year, the South African conglomerate which owns Wimpy – Famous Brands –added Gourmet Burger Kitchen to its stable after snapping up the upmarket burger chain in a £120m deal.