Finger-in-chili hoax hurts annual sales at Wendy's restaurants

[question everything]

Finger-in-chili hoax hurts annual sales at Wendy's restaurants

By Carrie Spencer Ghose
ASSOCIATED PRESS

February 4, 2006

COLUMBUS, Ohio – For the first time in 18 years, annual sales at Wendy's hamburger restaurants open more than a year fell in 2005 – partly because of fallout from a woman who planted a human finger in a bowl of chili, a story that took a few weeks to discredit.

(snip)

Sales were hurt by competition from the other big chains and the finger hoax, said Jack Schuessler, chairman and chief executive.

Competitors have been promoting their value menus, similar to Wendy's menu of 99-cent items, spokesman Bob Bertini said. This week, industry leader McDonald's introduced a spicy chicken sandwich similar to one at Wendy's. Wendy's has not said the exact amount of sales lost to the hoax, but it was in the millions, Bertini said.

A Nevada couple gained national attention and spawned material for late-night television comics by claiming the woman bit into a finger in chili at a San Jose Wendy's. The two pleaded guilty in September to conspiracy to file a false insurance claim and attempted grand theft with damages exceeding $2.5 million.

(snip)

Find this article at:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060204/news_1b4wendys.html

[Nevernose]

1. Wendy's saw huge gains w/ the into of salads

They were the first major chain to introduce decent-tastin, healthier salad meals. A friend of mine who managed a Wendy's told me that the salads were accounting for 50% of all their business within the first six weeks. I suspect it more to do with people reverting to their cravings for a fried burger and a jumbo-sized fry and/or the introduction of similar offerings from other companies than anything else, and thus returning their profits to normal.

[electropop]

4. I got very bad food poisoning from a Wendy's salad.

That was about 15 years ago, and I have not set foot in one since.

[Nevernose]

5. The "new" salads, not the old ones

Personally, I try NEVER to set foot in one of those places. But after twelve or fourteen hours on the job and a kid to feed besides, the grease and the convenience are awfully appealing.

[davidinalameda]

2. I quit going to Wendy's after that

even though I knew it was a hoax

I haven't been back since

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

3. what about all those Cows' fingers (and toes) in that Wendy's Chili ?

and those lungs, and tesitcles, and pancreases, and gall bladders, and eye socket muscles, and gray matter, and spinal fluid, and urinary tract residue, and salivary glands, and thyroid glands, and pituitary glands, and stomachs, and nostril membranes...

and every single other body part that can be ground up?

Wha about it?

Tastes good?

[Nevernose]

6. Well, yeah.

If it doesn't come from a human being or a breed of animal bred as a pet, then it doesn't really bother me.

Just chalk me up to a another product of evolution.

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

10. never nose? is that true-or will you really eat nose chili or a snoutkabob

Some folks have pet pigs-they can use a litter box-smarter than a dog and very cute-

Some Koreans bring their dogs to the park on sunday and hang them by their leashes from a tree-
-then eat the eyeballs fresh and and raw--- then Barb- Eew-Que man's best friend's body--
I saw the photos at Venice Beach--the guy's there every Sunday who posts photos on a big board
and sells vegan bumper stickers.

We may as well eat people if we eat animals--
I won't eat any "body:"
Too much love to eat them.

[Renew Deal]

11. Better than eating tofu

and veggies. :9

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

12. yeah, decomposing bloody body parts are much better than health food eh?

[Renew Deal]

13. No

just tastier. :9

[FreedomAngel82]

7. Aww

:( I love their food. It's not bad at all like McDonalds and stuff. Their chicken fingers is good.

[awoke_in_2003]

8. Their chili fingers aint bad either

:)

[BuyingThyme]

9. I've been to a Wendy's once in my life.

I bought chili, for some reason.

It was about 15 years ago, so I'm probably not making a big dent in sales.