Wendy's Thomas delivers investment into Rail Van. (purchase of stake in Rail Van Inc by Wendy's founder R. David Thomas)

An investment firm partly owned by Wendy's founder R. David Thomas has purchased an interest in a Worthington-based logistics company that hopes to become a major player in a consolidating industry.

Though neither party would disclose the amount of the investment, Rail Van Inc. Chairman William Lee said his $350 million company will use the investors' business contacts to help Rail Van grow to $1 billion in annual sales and update its technology.

"The smaller players are sort of being swallowed up by the bigger ones or they're consolidating and doing IPOs," said Lee. "If you don't get larger in the logistics business, you don't survive."

KDR Ltd., a …