More than two decades after a failed market entry, the US fast food chain Wendy’s is planning a return to the UK. The move is expected to bring thousands of jobs to the British economy.

Wendy’s, known for its square burgers, plans to open up to 400 stores nationwide, creating 12,000 jobs, with 30 to 50 employees per restaurant.

The company, which left the UK market 21 years ago after complaints about high costs, plans to open its first store in Reading next month, followed by Stratford and Oxford.

As part of the launch, the menu will include new dishes tailored to the UK market, such as more vegetarian options, as well as offering Baconators for breakfast, giant triple-layer beef burgers and Chocolate Frosty desserts.

Wendy’s said it would use the UK as a springboard for further expansion in Europe, starting with company-owned stores and later moving to a franchise model.

“The UK launch will spearhead a pan-European expansion as Wendy’s looks to build on strong growth across the Atlantic, where the brand overtook Burger King last year to become the second-largest player in the US hamburger market,” the company said in a statement.

Abigail Pringle, head of development at Wendy’s, said in media interviews over the weekend that Brexit would have no impact on the company’s “course (or) further expansion in Europe”.

Wendy’s faces tough competition in the casual dining market.

The fast-food chain, which claims it has “dethroned the king” by overtaking Burger King in terms of sales in the US, will also compete with McDonald’s (MCD), which has around 1,300 restaurants in the UK.

The company dealt a blow to struggling Deliveroo (ROO.L) by hiring rival Uber Eats for delivery instead.

Founded in 1969, Wendy’s has over 6,800 stores and a market valuation of over $5 billion (£3.6 billion).

Read more: Iconic US fast food chain Popeyes launches in the UK

Several US fast food chains are aiming to expand into the United Kingdom following Brexit and the recovery of the British economy from the Corona crisis.

In March, Popeyes, the fast-food chain behind the chicken sandwich that captivated the US, announced it would launch in the UK this year.

Popeyes made a splash in 2019 with the introduction of its chicken sandwich, part of the so-called “chicken sandwich war” with competitors like Chick-fil-A and Wendy’s. The new menu item sparked online hype and became a meme on Twitter (TWTR), leading to long lines, shortages, and even opinion pieces from newspapers like the New Yorker.

The story continues

The iconic fast food chain plans to open its first restaurant in the UK by the end of 2021. As part of a European expansion plan, the aim is to open hundreds of restaurants in the coming years.

The launch is expected to lead to major investments in talent and digital innovation and create new jobs, including “critical operational roles in construction, supply chain and distribution,” Popeyes UK said.

The UK will be the brand’s eleventh country in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, which already has more than 350 Popeyes restaurants. Popeye’s opened in Spain in 2019 and Switzerland in 2020.

The company is owned by Restaurant Brands International (QSR) and currently owns over 3,400 restaurants in 29 countries.

Watch:Chicken sandwiches are big business