March 15/Bangkok/The Nation -- Fred DeLuca, Subway's president and co-founder, said that under the company's strategic plan, Subway will increase the number of franchised restaurants worldwide from the present 34,000 outlets to 45,000 by 2015.

"Our strategic plan is also set to increase store profitability in every market we operate in," he said.

DeLuca said that about 200 new Subway franchise outlets would be opened in Asia this year.

He said Subway restaurants had a presence in 90 countries around the world. In Asia, the company has opened 200 franchise restaurants each in India, China and Japan. The company has also opened 100 franchise outlets in Taiwan, 92 in Singapore and 55 in Malaysia. It also opened its first Subway restaurant in Vietnam last month. The company has also opened some franchise outlets in South Korea and the Philippines.

"We plan to open Subway franchise outlets in 10 more countries within the next five years," DeLuca said.

Michael Allan, Subway's local franchisee and development agent, and managing director of Allan & Associates, said that in Thailand, Subway expected to increase its number of franchise restaurants from 36 across the country at present to 120 by 2015.

He said the first Subway franchise sandwich restaurant was opened in Bangkok seven-and-a-half years ago in Silom. At that time, the restaurant had no Thai customers at all.

"Today, about 40% of Subway customers in Thailand are Thais, and 60% foreigners," Allan said.

Subway will open 10 more franchised restaurants in Thailand this year, he said, including at Seacon Square in Bangkok and Karon Beach in Phuket, which would be opened in May. Another five to six Subway restaurants would be opened in Bangkok, and two to three stores up-country by the end of this year.

"We want to increase our sales by 30% this year. Our sales increased by 15%, to Bt250 million, last year," Allan said.  

From the March 17, 2011, Prepared Foods' Daily News
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