Wendy’s Supply Chain Gets a Digital Boost from Palantir

Wendy’s Quality Supply Chain Co-op (QSCC) is an independent, not-for-profit cooperative managing the extensive supply chain for Wendy’s restaurants. As one of the largest purchasing cooperatives in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry, QSCC wields nearly $4 billion in buying power, ensuring that Wendy’s restaurants receive high-quality food, equipment, and services by working closely with suppliers and distributors. Their focus on strong supplier relationships and multi-year agreements guarantees consistent quality and value.

Recently, QSCC has partnered with Palantir Technologies, a leading provider of AI systems. This collaboration aims to accelerate digital transformation and AI adoption in QSCC's supply chain operations, enhancing operational decision-making and efficiency across the cooperative.

Ensuring Food Safety

QSCC employs several measures to ensure food safety:

• Supplier Code of Conduct: QSCC's stringent Supplier Code of Conduct focuses on food safety, food ingredients, farm animal health and well-being, human rights, labor practices, environmentally sustainable business practices, and business ethics.
• Quality Assurance Audits: Regular audits on farms, plants, facilities, and other supplier locations ensure compliance with safety standards.
• Blockchain Technology: QSCC has piloted blockchain technology to track and trace products through the supply chain, creating reliable, unalterable records that enhance traceability and transparency.
• Continuous Improvement: QSCC continuously invests in its Quality Assurance team and processes, always seeking ways to improve and build greater traceability into their supply chains.

The Palantir Partnership

The partnership with Palantir Technologies is set to bring QSCC towards a fully integrated Supply Chain Network with AI-driven, automated workflows, creating a future Wendy’s connected ecosystem of suppliers, distributors, and restaurants. This transformation’s cost savings and efficiencies will benefit all Wendy’s operators.

Initially, QSCC will move onto Palantir’s Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) to improve decision-making scale and speed across the Co-op. The platform connects disparate data sources into a single common operating picture, enabling technical and non-technical users to quickly make decisions, evaluate their efficacy, and custom-build modular applications.

Advanced Supply Chain Management

QSCC will use Palantir AIP for supply chain management and waste prevention in the second phase. This includes Dynamic Inventory Management, Variance and Gain Information for Restaurants, and Demand Deviation and Allocation. Palantir’s software empowers organizations to leverage large-language models and other cutting-edge AI with maximum security and trust, generating cost savings and efficiencies across the supply chain.

“Together with Palantir, we’re unlocking the inherent power of the supply chain ecosystem to drive new and compelling sales and operating efficiencies that will provide Wendy’s with a distinctive edge in the industry,” said Pete Suerken, QSCC President and CEO. “The sophisticated and nimble AI-powered planning and fulfillment system we’re developing will serve as the cornerstone for our state-of-the-art interconnected network.”

Ted Mabrey, Head of Global Commercial at Palantir, echoed this sentiment: “We’re proud to partner with Wendy’s QSCC and support the Co-op’s digital transformation for the benefit of restaurant operators, suppliers, and distributors alike. Our AI operating system powers many of America’s most important companies, giving them a technology-driven competitive advantage, and we are excited to continue to grow in the QSR sector with this iconic brand and an ambitious vision.”