Subway - statistics & facts
Subway is one of the most prolific fast food chains in the world. With over 25,000 Subway stores worldwide, it is no wonder the brand has become so well known. It is so prolific, in fact, that in 2023 it had the most units of any quick service chain in the United States, beating other fast food behemoths like Starbucks and McDonald’s. Subway’s philosophy of growth not only applies to its franchising efforts, but also its food, with many menu items also having a “footlong” option, including not just its subs, but also its cookies and dippers.
Despite this string of bad publicity, Subway is still one of the most valuable quick service restaurant brands worldwide, with a brand value of nearly 11.9 billon U.S. dollars in 2024.
While Subway’s global growth in franchises continues, it would appear the company still has a way to go in assuring that quality and customer satisfaction grow at the same rate.
Subway controversies
Subway is no stranger to controversy, particularly regarding the quality of its food. Ranging from the company getting sued for its tuna allegedly containing no tuna, to Ireland’s Supreme Court ruling that Subway’s bread is not bread, the chain has had to contend with its fair share of negative media attention. That said, the company’s darkest scandal was when Subway spokesperson Jared Fogle, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on child pornography and child sex charges.Despite this string of bad publicity, Subway is still one of the most valuable quick service restaurant brands worldwide, with a brand value of nearly 11.9 billon U.S. dollars in 2024.
How successful is Subway?
While Subway may have placed low in the ranking of leading U.S. chain restaurants by sales in 2023, it was the leading sandwich restaurant chain in the U.S. by sales that year, generating almost 10 billion U.S. dollars. Competitors in the U.S. sandwich category include Panera Bread, Arby’s, and Jersey Mike’s Subs. But do Subway’s sales reflect its customers’ satisfaction? In 2024, Subway received its lowest American Customer Satisfaction score in the past decade, with a rating of 74 out of 100, sitting below the industry average of 79. Meanwhile, competitors Panera Bread and Arby’s both received higher ACSI scores than Subway in that year, and were above the industry average. That said, in 2024, Subway did rank in a list of the most popular dining brands in the UK, where over half of the British public had a positive opinion of the brand.While Subway’s global growth in franchises continues, it would appear the company still has a way to go in assuring that quality and customer satisfaction grow at the same rate.
