Subway renewed its focus on strategically growing its non-traditional business as part of its ongoing transformation journey to deliver better food and a better guest experience.
Along with expanding its brick-and-mortar presence in non-traditional locations, such as airports, truck stop plazas, college campuses, convenience and gas stores and hospitals, Subway is rolling out flexible, innovative platforms that give franchisees an opportunity to expand their portfolios and better serve their "on-the-go" guests.
For the first three quarters of 2022, approximately 5,900 non-traditional locations across the US and Canada – representing about 25% of Subway's North American footprint – saw an average 13% increase in same-store sales, compared to the same period in 2021. Locations that were hit hardest by COVID-19 restrictions, such as airports, college campuses and hospitals, experienced an average 22% increase, indicating a strong recovery in 2022 across channels impacted by the pandemic.
In 2020, to meet consumer demand for quick, convenient food options, Subway began piloting its Subway Grab & Go® platform, in which sandwiches are prepared fresh daily by franchisees and distributed to Subway Grab & Go retail locations, including casinos, convenience and gas stores, hospitals and airports. Now available in more than 400 locations across North America, Subway Grab & Go serves as the basis for several off-premises concepts, with plans for continued growth in the coming year.
In September, Subway installed its first interactive, fully unattended smart fridge at the University of California San Diego, supported by Subway Grab & Go and stocked fresh daily by the franchisee's nearby restaurant location. Featuring artificial intelligence and natural language processing, guests can talk directly to the smart fridge and ask about any of the products inside. Weight-sensor shelves help ensure guests are charged correctly, resulting in a completely contactless and cashless transaction, and UV-C light sanitation after every purchase helps guests stay confident in the quality of their food.
Initial feedback on the smart fridge is extremely positive, with college students enjoying the convenience and ease of being able to get a sandwich at any time of day. Subway is already seeing strong interest across its system of franchisees interested in expanding their portfolios with smart fridges.
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