Jun. 5—The two Wendy’s franchises in Aiken are under new ownership as of June 3.

JAI Restaurant Group, based in Pompano Beach, Florida, will manage the Wendy’s restaurants located on Richland Avenue and Whiskey Road, and will renovate the restaurants.

Renovations include installation of digital menu boards and other interior and exterior changes that should make them look like other modern Wendy’s, JAI Marketing Manager Ana Adarmes said.

Adarmes also said JAI is a unique fast-food restaurant franchisee because of its fast growth and standards.

The restaurant group acquired 20 Taco Bell locations in Atlanta in 2023.

JAI provides workers with sales incentives; if a location sells enough of one menu item, employees get a bonus.

“It’s not just growth,” Adarmes said. “But to make our employees happy. Make sure that they feel like they are working for a company that they really want to work for.”

The new franchise owners plan to have more community outreach, particularly with local schools, including fundraisers and team sponsorships.

Adarmes said JAI will manage more than 100 Wendy’s and Taco Bells, mostly in the Southeast, by the end of 2024.

The franchisee manages around 4,000 employees across all its restaurants.

“We strive to remain leaders in the nation’s evolving quick service restaurant industry by delivering an exceptional experience of quality, service and cleanliness to our customers through high quality food, friendly staff, high operational standards and being engaged in our communities,” JAI Chairman Jhonny Mercado said in a news release. “JAI looks forward to expanding Wendy’s presence and positively impacting communities across the country.”