The sandwich that ate McDonald's

[Geee]

UK Independent:

Encircling the globe one over-stuffed and slightly soggy foot-long sandwich at a time, Subway has confirmed what some of us had probably begun to suspect: it has grown into the largest fast-food chain in the world, surpassing even its burger-flipping rival McDonald's and easily dwarfing Burger King.

With an "Eat Fresh" advertising slogan, the US-based chain has now established baloney'n'bacon beachheads in 95 countries. At the last count, there were 33,749 of them compared to 32,737 McDonald's restaurants. Burger King reported last year having just over 12,000 outlets in 73 countries. Britain alone has 1,350 Subway shops and in China, a 200th branch will soon open.

"Unbelievable," was the response yesterday from the company's co-founder, Fred DeLuca, who was just a 17-year-old wanting to generate extra cash to pay for university when he opened his first sandwich shop in Bridgewater, Connecticut, in 1965 with $1,000 loaned by a friend, Peter Buck, who became his business partner.

[pollyannaish]

Oh, that's great. Gotta get those elitist digs in the first sentence. And what's with the Brits are insulting OUR food?

 

I have to admit, that Subway is my favorite fast food restaurant. Good for them.

[Saltbag]

Subway is the largest, but not most profitable. Think about what equipment you'd need to open up a Subway versus a McDonalds. Refrigerator, bread oven, and a microwave. Still, the foot traffic through any subway is a fraction of McDonalds.

 

Personally, I eat at Subway, and not McDonalds. Subway may have more stores, but until people care about eating a little more healthy and waiting an extra couple minutes Subway will be distant on top profits.

 

Turkey breast sub, nine-grain oat bread, tomatoes, lettuce, black olives, banana peppers, pickles, spicy mustard, and oregano. My choice.

[Pepper]

I prefer Subway too.

McDonald's may be more profitable but it takes more to start up. Subways pop up as part of little add on places to a gas station. So the locations also differ, hence more stores.