-KH News Desk (cbdigital@imaws.org)
Subway, one of the world’s largest restaurant brands, is strategically expanding its global presence and recently achieved a significant milestone by signing its 15th new master franchise agreement within the past two years.
These latest agreements, spanning Bahrain, Georgia, Mainland China, Uruguay, Costa Rica, and Panama, will pave the way for the opening of more than 4,000 Subway restaurants across Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), Asia Pacific (APAC), and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) over the next 20 years.
Since 2021, Subway has successfully secured a total of 15 master franchise agreements or country development agreements across various regions, committing to over 9,000 future restaurant locations.
This approach aligns with Subway’s international strategy of partnering with experienced operators who possess market expertise and ample resources to facilitate the brand’s global expansion. The master franchisees will have exclusive rights to manage and develop Subway locations in their respective countries, and they have committed to both remodeling existing restaurants and opening new ones, following Subway’s contemporary image.
Subway’s CEO, John Chidsey, expressed confidence in the brand’s growth prospects worldwide, stating that the new master franchise agreements reflect operators’ trust in Subway and its ongoing transformation journey. The company is eager to collaborate with new and existing international multi-unit and multi-brand operators, aiming to serve more customers across the globe.
One noteworthy agreement is in Bahrain, where Subway will re-establish its presence after opening its first restaurant outside the US in 1984. The new master franchisee, Food Innovation Company, a long-standing family-owned business in Bahrain, will reconnect loyal customers with the brand and introduce fresh customers to Subway’s craveable, freshly-made food.
Over the past 18 months alone, Subway has successfully opened more than 1,000 new restaurants worldwide, with master franchise agreements driving over 40% of these openings. This growth strategy highlights Subway’s commitment to expanding its global footprint and meeting the demands of customers worldwide.
