Dive Brief:
- Subway is adding six sandwiches to its Subway Series Menu, including four subs that are updated recipes of classic Subway sandwiches, the company announced Monday.
- The Subway Series Menu, which allows diners to order sandwiches by name and number, has been a key part of the sandwich chain’s turnaround efforts since its launch last summer.
- This menu platform, along with a pivot toward multi-unit franchisees, have helped the chain reach 7.8% same-store sales growth in 2022 and 11.7% same-store sales growth in Q1 2023, according to the company.
Dive Insight:
Subway’s push to remake its menu began in 2021 with the Eat Fresh Refresh menu, which included more than 20 menu changes. A year later, the chain introduced its Subway Series, a suite of 12 signature subs that are faster to order than customized sandwiches. Monday’s update marks the first change to the Subway Series offerings, and increases the number of subs in the series by 50%.
Two of the subs, the Pickleball Club and Teriyaki Blitz, are entirely new to the chain’s menu. Subway did not immediately respond to a request to clarify if those subs had undergone any market testing. The company did not specifiy if all six of the new subs are currently available nationwide.
Subway’s sales performance and continued menu revamp efforts come as the company navigates a sale process. That process has reportedly proceeded to a second stage, with at least 10 potential buyers looking at the company’s fundamentals and proposed $10 billion valuation, according to The Wall Street Journal.
