The leaders of the National Restaurant Association share in the loss of one of our industry’s giants, Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy’s, who passed away early this morning.
 
The passing of Dave Thomas is a profound loss for the restaurant industry.   Dave was a courageous and compassionate American innovator and entrepreneur who touched the lives of so many people. 

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more


More than a popular culture icon, created by his appearance in thousands of television commercials, Dave Thomas lived and worked the American Dream.  From humble beginnings, he achieved an unprecedented level of success in a highly competitive segment of the restaurant business.  Although Dave Thomas achieved the American dream and had incredible success, he always remembered his roots and where he came from.  He truly was an American business hero.


Dave Thomas embodied the quintessential values and spirit of the American restaurateur.    While he was recognized countless times for his leadership and ingenuity within the industry, he was most passionate about participating in and serving communities around the country.  His inspiring acts of generosity and his devotion to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption will be forever remembered.  


Within the restaurant industry, his influence will certainly be missed, but his impact will remain for generations to come.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact