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4d ago

Subway's U.S. Restaurant Count Falls Below 20,000 Amid Global Expansion

The sandwich chain continues its domestic contraction while achieving international growth through master franchise deals and modernization efforts.

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Subway closed more than 600 locations in 2024.

Overview

  • Subway closed 631 U.S. locations in 2024, reducing its domestic footprint to 19,502 restaurants—the lowest in two decades.
  • Despite the closures, Subway remains the largest U.S. restaurant chain by unit count, ahead of Starbucks and McDonald’s.
  • The company has shifted focus to global markets, securing commitments for 10,000 new restaurants worldwide over the past three years, including expansion into Paraguay and Mongolia.
  • Subway introduced its Fresh Forward 2.0 prototype in late 2024, emphasizing localized design elements, improved layouts, and enhanced customer experiences.
  • Under private equity ownership by Roark Capital, Subway is implementing a data-driven 'Smart Growth' strategy to optimize U.S. locations while bolstering digital sales and loyalty programs.