By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE dual drive through/walk up window concept at Wendy’s (Bahamas) on Carmichael Road has worked so well that it could be exported around the world.

Emil Brolik, CEO and President of the fast food restaurant chain, is expected to be in the country within the next few weeks to examine the concept which could potentially be emulated in other markets.

Terry Tsavoussis, vice-president of Aetos Holdings, the company he heads with his brother Chris, which operates the Wendy’s and Marco’s Pizza franchise in The Bahamas said: “It’s like a Bamboo Shack with a drive through but it’s a Wendy’s. That has worked extremely well. That has worked so well that the CEO of the company is coming down to have a look at the footprint because they want to emulate this in other markets because the whole idea is you can build it for almost two thirds of the cost. Normally if it would cost you $1.5 million your doing it for $650,000 and you still do big numbers. That’s the great economic model. You don’t have to have a dining room, seating, or that extra space.”

He added: “They had something similar to that but it was more like Sonic in the US where they had two drive-throughs and two kitchen line setups. Our concept was a walk-up window, we went with a Y-lane where you start two lanes but you merge as one to the window. McDonald’s is quite famous for that in the US and it allows you to accommodate more cars in the line. It was my brother’s concept to begin with. Already the senior vice president of international has come down, spent three days here saw the restaurant and he told the CEO about the concept.”

Mr Tsavoussis said that while there were no immediate plans for another Wendy’s restaurant in New Providence, the company may look at opening another dual drive through/walk-up window outlet in the future if the location was right. Wendy’s (Bahamas) opened its dual drive through outlet in the Carmichael Road area last December expanding its New Providence brand presence to 11 locations. Wendy’s (Bahamas) employs 550 persons. Wendy’s has over 6,700 restaurants in over 25 countries.