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Wendy Thomas

Melinda Lou "Wendy" Thomas-Morse (born September 14, 1961) is the daughter of American businessman Dave Thomas, the founder of the fast food brand Wendy's. She is the namesake and mascot of the brand. She uses the name Wendy Thomas in her role as a spokesperson for Wendy's.

Early life and education

Thomas was born in Columbus, Ohio, grew up in Upper Arlington,[1] and is the fourth child of Dave and Lorraine Thomas.

Her siblings couldn’t pronounce her name, so they started calling her Wenda, which then turned into Wendy.[2] The eight-year-old would eventually become the namesake of her father's restaurant Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers, or just "Wendy's" for short. In addition to being the namesake, her likeness was used as the Wendy's logo in the form of a young freckle-faced girl in red braids. Thomas graduated from the University of Florida in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in consumer behaviorism.[3]

Career

Thomas owned several Wendy's restaurants near Dallas, Texas until 1999. After the death of her father Dave Thomas in 2002, she and her siblings bought restaurants in her native Columbus area. As of September 2010, Thomas herself owned or co-owned more than 30 Wendy's stores. In November 2010, she began appearing in Wendy’s ads on camera for the first time. (Her voice was featured in a 1989 ad giving her father advice from off-camera.) The 2010 ads aired first in Las Vegas, Nevada; Mobile, Alabama; and Virginia Beach, Virginia; test markets before being rolled out nationally.

Beginning in April 2012 she starred in a series of ads for Wendy's called That Wendy's Way. She also appeared in the 'Dave's Hot 'N Juicy Cheeseburger' commercial produced by Publicis Groupe's Kaplan Thaler Group..

Further reading

References

  1. Notable People of Upper Arlington 11 May 2015, retrieved 2022-01-03^
  2. https://www.wendys.com/who-we-are-daves-legacy-founding-wendys^
  3. GARY KIRKLAND. Fast food Gator: Wendy Thomas is proud of her UF connection retrieved 2016-09-15^
  4. Re-run on January 31, 2010. Dave Thomas: Made to Order retrieved February 1, 2010^
  5. Karlene Lukovitz. Grown-Up Wendy Stars In Wendy's TV Spots Marketing Daily, November 9, 2010, retrieved November 13, 2010^
  6. The family way figures big in commercial campaigns The Milwaukee Journal, September 24, 1989, retrieved August 6, 2011^
  7. After 20 Years of Fame, Wendy Thomas Still Relishes Being on a Roll People, January 15, 1990, retrieved August 6, 2011^
  8. David Kiefaber. Wendy Thomas starring in first Wendy's ads Adweek, November 12, 2010, retrieved August 6, 2011^
  9. Gianna Englert. Woman on Top: Melinda Lou 'Wendy' Thomas Capitalist Chicks, retrieved August 6, 2011^
  10. Amanda Finnegan. Las Vegas to serve as test market for Wendy's burger line; Ad campaign next week will feature daughter of founder Dave Thomas Las Vegas Sun, November 5, 2010, retrieved August 6, 2011^
  11. Maureen Morrison. Real Wendy Takes Star Turn in Wendy's Advertising Advertising Age, November 12, 2010, retrieved August 6, 2011^
  12. Gary Kirkland. Fast food Gator: Wendy Thomas is proud of her UF connection Gainesville Sun, April 30, 2007, retrieved October 9, 2011^
  13. New Advertising Campaign Reveals Why "Wendy's Way" has High Quality Ingredients, Fresh Preparation The Wendy's Company, April 27, 2012, retrieved July 11, 2014^
  14. Maureen Morrison. Why Wendy's Needs Two Redheads to Push Burgers Advertising Age, April 27, 2012, retrieved July 11, 2014^
  15. Stuart Elliott. After 27 Years, an Answer to the Question, 'Where's the Beef?' The New York Times, September 25, 2011, retrieved July 11, 2014^
  16. Board & Staff Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, retrieved August 6, 2011^
  17. UA resident Wendy Thomas joins Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Board of Trustees City Scene Magazine, February 1, 2010, retrieved January 16, 2012^