The SUBWAY restaurant chain continues to be an industry leader not only in new product innovation but growth as well.
A short while back the company re-invigorated its brand with the simple but brilliant advertising message of the $5 footlong. As consumers were tight with their spending and on the lookout for healthier meal options, it was just the right message at just the right time. Even now as the economy continues to struggle, Subway continues to run these deals.
In addition, the company has successfully rolled out their breakfast offerings, and in April was named the 2011 recipient of the MenuMasters award by Nation’s Restaurant News in the “Healthful Innovations” category for their “Build Your Better Breakfast” brand offerings.
As the company continues with successful product innovation, the chain continues to grow at a record pace. SUBWAY currently operates nearly 35,000 stores in 98 countries, up nearly 1,000 from the beginning of 2011 and is projected to open somewhere in the neighborhood of another 1,000 stores in the next year. According to Don Fertman, SUBWAY’s Chief Development Officer, they have experienced a company record 137 months of consecutive positive growth.
In a recent release, SUBWAY announced that a franchisee has opened the 8,000th non-traditional location. According to Chain Store Guide data, the company operates stores in 20 different types of locations, including the traditional strip malls, lifestyle centers, outlet malls, etc… as well as the non-traditional airports, office complexes, parks, stadiums, etc. So what is next? As the brand continues to grow at a record pace, be on the lookout for more of the odd, non-traditional location openings – it could include airports, factories, convention centers, hospitals, hotels, and schools among other places.
The company is ranked number 17 on Chain Store Guide’s Top 100 Chain Restaurant Operators list ranked by foodservice sales, and ranked second only to YUM! Brands Inc. on the Top 50 Chain Restaurant Operators list ranked by Total Units.
About Matt Werhner, Managing Editor
Matt has worked at Chain Store Guide for 6 years. He began his career with CSG as a Research Editor and was promoted to Managing Editor in 2007. He graduated from the University of South Florida with a B.A. degree in English.
