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Wimpy (restaurant)

This article is about the multinational chain of hamburger restaurants. For the unrelated Canadian chain, see Wimpy's Diner.
Wimpy
FormerlyWimpy Grills, Wimpy Bar
Company typeWholly owned subsidiary
IndustryRestaurants
Founded1934 (1934) in Bloomington, Indiana, US
1954 (1954) in Coventry Street, London
FounderEdward Gold (US)
J. Lyons & Co. (UK)
Headquarters
Johannesburg
,
South Africa
Number of locations
523 (2023)
Areas served
South Africa, United Kingdom, Kuwait, Egypt, Lesotho, United Arab Emirates
ProductsHamburgers, Chicken, French fries
ParentFamous Brands
Websitewww.wimpy.uk.com
www.wimpy.co.za

Wimpy is a fast-food chain that was founded in the United States. It found its success internationally, mainly in the United Kingdom and South Africa. It has changed between being a table-service establishment and counter-service establishment throughout its history.[1]

The chain was founded in Bloomington, Indiana, by Edward Gold in 1934 as Wimpy Grills, with the chain in the United States hitting its peak with 26 locations in 1947. In 1954, Gold signed a license with J. Lyons and Co. for them to operate Wimpy Bar across the United Kingdom, with further international agreements a few years later through its subsidiary company, Wimpy International. By 1977, there were only seven Wimpy locations in the United States, which all folded following Gold's death in that year. Despite the brand's demise domestically, the chain would peak at 1,500 international locations the following year.[2]

The company was sold to United Biscuits in 1977, and then to Grand Metropolitan in 1989. Grand Metropolitan began to phase out the Wimpy Bar in the United Kingdom, rebranding many of them as Burger King (which it also owned) because Burger King had the greater brand recognition amongst consumers, and to aid market competition against McDonald's.[3] Following various buyouts, Wimpy was sold to Famous Brands in 2007. Famous Brands had operated the South African Wimpy franchise for a number of years, and the acquisition made it the parent company.

As of June 2023, the company remains headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, where it has 453 outlets;[4] this is followed by the United Kingdom with 62 outlets.[5] In 2017 and 2020, the company announced plans for nationwide expansion in the United Kingdom.[6][7] There are also outlets in Kuwait, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Lesotho.

  1. ^ Castelow, Ellen. "Food in Britain in the 1950s and 1960s". Historic UK. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference ct-1978jul28 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Pickering, Jasper (13 January 2018). "We ate at Wimpy — the UK's forgotten fast food chain that was almost wiped out by McDonald's". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  4. ^ "All Wimpy Restaurants". wimpy.co.za. Archived from the original on 17 January 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  5. ^ "Wimpy UK". wimpy.uk.com. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  6. ^ Mullan, Laura (17 May 2020). "Wimpy planning a comeback with UK expansion plan | Franchising". Food Digital. Archived from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  7. ^ "Wimpy planning UK expansion". The Caterer. 23 October 2017. Archived from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.

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