The purchases are expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2018 and the additional 57 restaurants are expected to add over $100 million in annual sales. Exact locations have not been released at this time.

Meritage Hospitality Group Inc., a West Michigan-based restaurant operator, has announced the acquisition of 57 additional Wendy’s locations.

The acquisitions include the purchase of two Wendy’s restaurants in Virginia and also three independent purchase agreements to acquire 55 additional restaurants in eastern and midwestern U.S.

The purchases are expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2018 and the additional 57 restaurants are expected to add over $100 million in annual sales. Exact locations have not been released at this time.

“The consummation of these transactions is consistent with our growth plans and investment strategy of ‘profitable growth’ within the Wendy’s franchise system,” said Robert Schermer, Jr., chief executive officer for Meritage Hospitality Group Inc.

Schermer said the plan once the purchases are completed is to remodel the locations to modernize the restaurants in an effort to “enhance overall guest experience.”

The recent purchases are part of Meritage Hospitality Group Inc.’s plan to increase its restaurant portfolio to 400 by 2021. Last year, the company had 173 locations and today are at 250 restaurants.

In May 2017, the company also announced the purchase of another 57 Wendy’s restaurants located in Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi and Tennessee.

Meritage currently operates four Wendy’s locations in the Holland area including locations on Washington Avenue, 16th Street, River Avenue and Westshore Drive.

Weston Persons, brand manager — Wendy’s Division for Meritage Hospitality Group, said the goal of the modernization process is to create a more bold, sleek, ultramodern design that includes flat-screen televisions, wireless internet, outdoor seating and more.

The Wendy’s location at 816 E. 16th St. in Holland was recently included in the modernization process and it reopened in early November.

The projects are part of a larger, national project to update all locations with the goal to update 10 percent of the locations per year.

Meritage Hospitality Group has locations in Arkansas, Florida, Michigan, Georgia, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Virginia and employs approximately 7,700 employees.

— Follow this reporter on Twitter @SentinelAustin or @BizHolland.