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Bob Barney, one-time Wendy’s CEO, dies at age 70

COLUMBUS Ohio Bob Barney, a former chairman and chief executive officer of Wendy’s International Inc., died May 31 at age 70.

Barney joined the quick-service company after founder Dave Thomas had opened just two Wendy’s stores. He was largely credited with building it into a national chain, though with a few setbacks along the way.

Barney began his foodservice career in 1962 as a franchise owner of Kentucky Fried Chicken in Athens, Ohio. He had met Dave Thomas in 1964, when he moved to Columbus to manage four KFC restaurants with him. When Thomas sold his franchise back to KFC in 1968, Barney became a vice president of KFC, overseeing 135 restaurants.

He rejoined Thomas in 1969 as director of the burger chain Thomas had decided to create. Despite the prominence at the time of McDonald’s, Burger King and a number of regional burger powerhouses, Thomas believed there was a niche for a concept that used fresh beef and made every burger to customers’ specifications. Barney agreed, and was named president of Wendy’s two years later. He became chief executive in 1980 and chairman in 1982, and continued to lead the company until 1989.

During his tenure, Barney established a territorial franchising system and diversified the chain’s menu with customer options like the Garden Spot Salad Bar, a longtime signature. He also spearheaded a diversification into the fried-chicken business through the purchase of the Sisters Chicken and Biscuits chain, the brainchild of the man who would succeed him at Wendy’s helm, Jim Near. Wendy’s sold the chain in 1987.

Barney also led Wendy’s into breakfast, already a major source of business for such competitors as McDonald’s, Hardee’s and Burger King. The chain developed a menu of made-to-order omelets and other items more likely to be found in diners than in than fast-food places. The program proved to be an operational nightmare, with slow service alienating customers who started to rethink Wendy’s as a lunch or dinner choice, too. The misstep threw the chain into a wobble, leading to tensions with franchisees and a drop in sales. Barney opted to retire.

Among his accolades was being named Operator of the Year by Nation’s Restaurant News at its Multi-Unit Food Service Operators conference, and receiving the Gold Plate Award in 1986 from the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association.

Barney is survived by his wife, Anita, six children, seven grandchildren and a sister, Marlene Simmerman.

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