# Starbucks, Chipotle, and Wendy’s > Starbucks ends Chipotle talks; Wendy’s franchisee fights termination. - Title: Starbucks, Chipotle, and Wendy’s · Nation's Restaurant News - Summary: Starbucks ends Chipotle talks; Wendy’s franchisee fights termination. Starbucks abandoned plans to buy Chipotle after Financial Times reported it, while… - Keywords: starbucks, chipotle, wendys, meritage hospitality group, franchisee, termination, store closures, food, business, Wendy, Nation's Restaurant News - Source: Nation's Restaurant News — https://nrn.com/quick-service/starbucks-chipotle-and-wendy-s - Read time: 1 min - Topics: starbucks, chipotle, wendys, meritage hospitality group, franchisee, termination, store closures, food, business ## Starbucks ends Chipotle acquisition talks Starbucks stated it is not buying Chipotle after Financial Times reported it was exploring an acquisition. > Starbucks said in a statement on Monday morning that it is not buying the burrito chain ## Chipotle's sales and traffic challenges Chipotle faced negative sales and traffic for a year before Jason Kidd became its COO. > Jason Kidd has been in the chief operating officer role at Chipotle just over a year now ## Wendy’s franchisee disputes termination Meritage Hospitality Group, which operated 314 locations when it filed for bankruptcy, is fighting Wendy’s termination and store closures. > Meritage, which operated 314 locations when it declared Chapter 11 ## Meritage pushes back on termination process Meritage claims Wendy’s termination wasn’t proper because it wasn’t delivered by mail and lenders weren’t notified. > Meritage is also pushing back on Wendy’s pre-bankruptcy termination, saying in a filing that the termination wasn’t proper because it wasn’t delivered by mail and because lenders haven’t been notified ## Wendy’s wants different store closures Wendy’s wanted Meritage to close different locations than the 41 it plans to shut. > Wendy’s wanted the company to close some different locations, which the franchisee balked over ## Chipotle's COO focuses on guest experience Jason Kidd prioritized guest obsession and speed, accuracy, friendliness, and cleanliness at Chipotle. > One of his first directives was making sure employees were guest obsessed and delivering on the basics like speed, accuracy, friendliness, and cleanliness ## Chipotle accelerates equipment rollout Chipotle sped up high efficiency equipment to reduce cooking time and improve consistency. > It also accelerated the roll out of its high efficiency equipment package, which reduces cooking time and delivers more consistency ## Meritage seeks to close 41 locations Meritage, which filed for bankruptcy, plans to close 41 locations as part of its Chapter 11 process. > Meritage is in the process of closing 41 locations ## Wendy’s franchisee balks at closures Meritage refused to close locations Wendy’s wanted to shut, citing poor finances. > the franchisee balked over, citing the locations’ poor finances ## Chipotle’s employee empowerment Chipotle boosted its apprentice program to ensure employees were in the right spots at the right times. > The company bolstered its apprentice program to make sure employees were in the right spots in the right restaurants and at the right times ## Key takeaway Starbucks abandoned plans to buy Chipotle after Financial Times reported it, while Wendy’s franchisee Meritage Hospitality Group disputes its termination and store closures.