Wendy's Tops McDonald's Among Seniors 31.3% to 31.2% Despite 5.2% Sales Drop
Updated
Updated · Tasting Table · Jun 16
Wendy's Tops McDonald's Among Seniors 31.3% to 31.2% Despite 5.2% Sales Drop
3 articles · Updated · Tasting Table · Jun 16
Summary
31.3% of Americans 65 and older said they consider Wendy's for fast food, narrowly ahead of McDonald's at 31.2% in a new YouGov survey of 48,400 consumers.
That edge was unique to seniors: McDonald's ranked first in every age group under 65, while Wendy's placed third among ages 45-64 and missed the top five for consumers under 30.
40.1% of under-30 consumers considered Chick-fil-A and 34.5% Taco Bell, underscoring how younger diners drive fast-food demand more than older customers.
Wendy's senior appeal has not translated into business momentum, with U.S. sales down about 5.2% in 2025 and same-store sales falling 11.2%, putting more than 300 locations on track to close.
51% of regular fast-food eaters are under 45 even though 58% of the U.S. population is over 45, suggesting that winning older diners alone is not enough to lift chainwide sales.