UK Subway Franchise Overtakes Challengers
Posted on: 30/08/2006
The Subway® chain overtakes KFC, Pizza Hut And Burger King.
The SUBWAY® chain, renowned for its SUB sandwiches made fresh in front of you, has overtaken KFC’s store count in the UK and Ireland.
With 742 stores across the UK and Ireland and plans to open over 2,000 stores by 2010, the SUB from the SUBWAY® chain is now bought in more locations than KFC’s fried chicken (705 stores), Pizza Hut’s pizzas (699 stores) and Burger King’s burgers (631 stores).
Independent analysts MINTEL, in their latest Sandwiches Market Intelligence report (October 2005), states that more and more consumers are looking for fresh ingredients, with 15% of adults saying that they usually buy sandwiches that are made on the spot. With consumers continuing to work long hours and take short lunch breaks, the inherent convenience of the sandwich fits in well with such a lifestyle.
The report also points out that most of the specialist sandwich chains are likely to expand in numbers over the next five years, with sandwiches being perceived by many as a much healthier fast food option than burgers or pizzas. The report also stated that the rapid growth of the SUBWAY® chain was testament to this.
MINTEL’s food expert, Paul Rickard comments: “As a nation, we’re spending more money eating out than ever before. We’re also giving a lot more thought to what we eat, adopting healthier eating patterns and a more balanced diet. In the eating out sector, this means that innovative food outlets, which combine convenience and good value with nutritious, healthy food are bringing a new dimension to the domestic market.”
One of the SUBWAY® chain’s key attributes is that it makes all its SUBs fresh in front of you, exactly the way you want it. It also bakes its bread fresh throughout the day and one 6” SUB with all the vegetables provides customers with one of their recommended 5 A Day. The SUBWAY® chain’s ‘Under 6g of Fat or Less’ range means that customers can have a lower fat, lower calorie SUB that still tastes great.
The SUBWAY® chain’s Marketing Director, Paul Reynish comments: “Based on current growth, the SUBWAY® chain will have more outlets open in the UK and Ireland than McDonald’s within a few years. The reason for our growing popularity is that customers love the taste, choice and convenience that the SUBWAY® chain gives them. We offer fresh food fast, which is a world away from traditional ‘fast food’.”
MINTEL’s Paul Rickard adds: “The popularity of burgers is slowing in response to well documented health concerns - and attempts to push menus beyond traditional burger 'n fries into healthier options tends to find little resonance with the public.”
The SUBWAY® chain is continuing to expand at a phenomenal rate, with over 15 stores opening in the UK and Ireland every month, and more than 26,274 stores now open in over 85 countries worldwide.
To see how FranchiseUK can help you franchise your franchise business click here.
