• by Fern Siegel , Yesterday

Wendy's is playing fast and loose with its moniker.

To showcase its new chicken tenders and six new sauces, the restaurant franchise's latest creative ad changes its name to Tendy's.

This creative by VML runs across social and digital, in 15- and 30-second iterations. It parodies the logo by rebranding it.

The reveal post on TikTok was the brand's highest-performing this year.  To drive home the humor, Wendy's also teamed with comedian Connor Wood. 

Alli Pierce, Chief Creative Officer, VML, told Agency Daily: “With lots of competition in the chicken space, we knew we had to deliver something only Wendy’s could -- Tendy’s. Going full Tendy’s mode was a way to signal that this wasn’t just another product launch. It’s the beginning of the new chicken era at Wendy’s.” 

Dave Thomas launched his first Wendy's in Columbus, Ohio, in November 1969, named after his daughter.

Lindsay Radkoski, Chief Marketing Officer, Wendy’s, added: “We’re excited about the next step in our chicken journey. Consumers told us what they wanted in a chicken tender, and we listened - taste-tested, fine-tuned and delivered. Crispy, juicy and full of flavor – so good our fans will know them on a first-name basis.”

VML's roster also includes Oreo, Ford, Coca-Cola and the U.S. Navy.