Subway India to open 2,000 new outlets

Subway was among the first few international fast food brands to enter India in the early 2000s. Thanks to a growing exposure to international cuisine clubbed with a large diaspora of expatriates, the footlong-bread retail chain has grown to over 700 stores across India including Airports, Malls, highway pit-stops and even tier 2 towns. The brand operates through a number of franchisees in India as well as operates a clutch of Company owned stores which are infamous for their freshly baked breads, fresh ingredients including vegetables and sauces. The company has signed up with Sameer Sain’s Everstone Group as a Master Franchisee for the Indian subcontinent region and plans to open over 2,000 new outlets in the coming decade across the region.

John Chidsey, CEO, Subway, said, “Today’s announcement represents a significant step in Subway’s transformation journey and global expansion plans. Everstone, with extensive knowledge and proven restaurant operational expertise in the region, is the ideal partner as we begin this new chapter for Subway in India and South Asia.” Mike Keheo, EMEA president, Subway, said, “The scale of this agreement is unprecedented and will ensure that Subway’s presence across India will more than triple over the next 10 years. We’ve seen huge demand from existing Subway guests in India and couldn’t be more excited to partner with Everstone to strengthen our presence and bring our beloved subs to even more Indian guests.”

Sameer Sain, founder and CEO, Everstone Group, said, “Subway is an iconic brand and its philosophy of freshly made-to-order and better-for-you food delivered at-home and in-store is central to one of the greatest structural consumer trends we see in South Asia. Everstone Group is delighted to be a partner and custodian of Subway in the region. We strongly believe that our significant experience in the QSR space, our strong digital focus, our ability to innovate, as well as our proven execution capabilities, will enable Subway to become a dominant player in the region.”

Thanks to the pandemic lockdown, WFH and EFH (Education), at-home consumption of fast food through ordering apps like Swiggy and Zomato is at an all time high. Due to offers and promotions lured at customers from time to time by the Apps and Food brands, many customers have tried new brands for the first time ever and have stuck to them over time. Subway is one such. While the subs could get soggy by the time they are delivered, it is in fact considered one of the specialities of the brand’s iconic offering which has endeared millions of customers across India. Being close to customers, in crowded neighbourhood areas, office complexes, malls and airports has benefitted the brand immensely.