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Wendy's gets ready to make one of its biggest changes since 1969

The beef will still be fresh. The spicy chicken still spicy. It’s just how you order from the 50-year-old Wendy’s is about to look a little different, if you want it to be.

At long last, Wendy’s (WEN) is getting serious about delivery, to cater to the growing on-demand consumer ordering environment. Wendy’s is looking at bringing in Uber Eats and GrubHub as delivery partners before year end, CEO Todd Penegor tells Yahoo Finance. Spokespeople for GrubHub and Uber Eats didn’t immediately return requests for comment.

Wendy’s currently has an exclusive arrangement with delivery service DoorDash. But now that its technology systems have been updated, Penegor says Wendy’s is ready to welcome more delivery partners to its platform to fatten up sales and profits.

“We are now open for business on technology,” Penegor says. Wendy’s has been a chain best known for picking up burgers at the drive-thru and or eating chili inside resturants.

Hand holding bag of Wendy's fast food, graphic element on black
Hand holding bag of Wendy's fast food, graphic element on black

Coupled with enhancements to its app — notably the addition of mobile ordering — Penegor thinks Wendy’s digital sales could reach 10% of its business by 2024. Today, that ratio stands at 2% — below most of Wendy’s larger competitors in fast-food.

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Wendy’s would be the latest big-name burger chain to expand the number of third-party delivery services heading into 2020. Restaurant Brands’ (QSR) said Tuesday its Burger King chain will soon begin delivery through Uber Eats. A spokesperson for Burger King tells Yahoo Finance GrubHub will remain a delivery partner under a pre-existing agreement.

Back in July, McDonald’s (MCD) dropped Uber Eats as its exclusive delivery partner and also added DoorDash.

Brian Sozzi is an editor-at-large and co-anchor of The First Trade at Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter @BrianSozzi

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