Just as Wendy's
At this point, even a full-blown confession wouldn't satisfy Wendy's and its shareholders. The company has suffered a great deal of financial harm, especially in the California market where the incident took place.
Whether the allegations are real -- as was the fried chicken head at McDonald's
Even Jack in the Box
That's why Wendy's best friend right now isn't a giveaway of kid-sized dairy treats, even if its smooth texture will help drum down illusions of chunkier finds elsewhere on the menu. No, Wendy's best friend right now is time.
Shareholders, especially the impatient, speculating kind, aren't going to like that. Waiting isn't fun at quick-service restaurants, including the 6,700 restaurants that Wendy's owns worldwide. Yet waiting is the one proven remedy to heal these scars -- even the ones that weren't self-inflicted.
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Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz has eaten at Wendy's since the Ayala incident, but he hasn't ordered the chili. He owns shares in CBRL Group. The Fool has a disclosure policy. He is also part of the Rule Breakers newsletter research team, seeking out tomorrow's ultimate growth stocks a day early.