Will Subway someday unseat McDonalds as the world's #1 fast-food chain?

[SmileyBoy]

I've been thinking lately about the proliferation of Subway restaurants around the Upper Midwest, and how this is related to its corporation and Subways around the world. Farm towns with populations as low as 1,000 people around the Upper Midwest are opening Subway restaurants. The Fargo-Moorhead metro area already has 12 Subways with a population of only 190,000. There's at least 100 of them in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. When I went to Toronto last summer, I swear there was one Subway restaurant on every street corner. There must have been hundreds of them in Toronto's area.

I read in Eric Schlosser's book Fast Food Nation that Subway is currently the #2 fast-food chain in the world, and might soon pass McDonalds in the number of total establishments. Subway is basically the official fast-food joint of the state of North Dakota, which has more Subways per-capita than any other state in the US.

But IMO, that's not to say that's bad, or anything. Subway has some pretty healthy food, and it's a LOT healthier than McDonalds. I think McDonalds' recent foray into light, healthy "adult" menus has been brought on by Subway nipping at their heels in terms of popularity and profits. This meteoric rise then results in the mass proliferation of Subway restaurants.

Now, do you think this is a good thing? Can you give examples of the rise of Subways in your city? Do a lot of you eat at Subway frequently? I'm just looking at what people think about this...

[cheezus]

1. People pay $7 for a sandwich and chips

...?

[Deja Q]

16. Must be pretty good chips.

I work in a city that requires a high cost of living. I always thought $7 seemed normal for the area. But if $ubway is charging that much nationwide, what keeps them going?

[truhavoc]

2. Yum...processed meat! n/t

[Kellanved]

3. With the Subways popping up all over Europe...

I think it might be possible. At the moment Subway has a simple problem: their spongy stuff is among the sorriest excuses for bread I've ever seen. It's not a problem limited to European Subways either: the "bread" stateside is identical (at least at the ones I frequented).
Another, minor, problem is the microwaved hot food - no thanks.


Edit:
to clarify: There are many Subways being opened, especially in Berlin. However, they are all empty; very few people go there. Without a major overhaul in quality, Subways has no chance; especially as McDonalds went "healthy" (har har) prior to Subways's arrival.

[patriotvoice]

4. Subway is a scam.

Go to the grocery, or the deli, and save 50%.

[boxster]

11. It's no more of a scam than any other fast food restaurant.

Your suggestion applies to them all. If they weren't marking up their products, they wouldn't stay in business.

In fact, your claim actually applies to just about every restaurant in existence. Subway is certainly not the only place where products are marked up substantially.

[patriotvoice]

15. Frame of Reference

Though I wasn't precise, I was referring specifically to the "sub" genre. Subway uses (in my gourmet-sensitive palette's opinion) inferior product but charges prices similar to e.g., Quizno's.

Subway is a scam because they have no major competitor (only local ones) and can, therefore, keep their prices closer to other, higher quality sandiwch shops, despite the fact that their products are inferior.

[sally343434]

5. Doctor's Associates?

I've always wondered about the "Doctor's Associates, Inc." ownership. And I miss McDonald's bagel sandwiches and wonder if they dropped that line off the menu because of the silly mean-industry-concocted "atkins diet," whose namesake died of a heart attack.

[Dogmudgeon]

12. If you're gonna trash Bob Atkins, at least don't lie about him

1. The meat industry didn't like Atkins any more than PeTA did. He opposed factory farming and promoted free-range animal husbandry. In the eyes of the Cattleman's Association, that made him a "hippie".

2. He didn't die of a heart attack. He suffered a brain injury after he fell on ice; his treatment may have been mismanaged, since he developed severe, untreated edema while in a coma.

The level of hatred shown toward Robert Atkins -- even in death -- is amazing.

--bkl

[St. Jarvitude]

17. Er, is 'free-range animal husbandry' really what I think it is?

Just curious :)

[Massacure]

6. Subways food is damn good and a hell of a lot healthier than McDumbass

[Nikia]

7. I think there are more Subway's in the US

I think I read that someplace. McDonald's has had to close some stores in recent years while Subway continues to add. I don't know how popular Subway is overseas. In my little town there is one Subway and one McDonald's close to one another. We probably eat there a couple times per month. Like many Subways, our Subway doesn't have a drive thru. If it is busy, it is slow since they assmble to order and get in each others way if they are trying to make multiple orders. I think that is the main thing that McDonald's has over Subway besides more calories for your buck.

[Nikia]

8. There are sub places I like more than Subway

We prefer Quiznos, Jimmy John's, and Erbert's& Gerbert's. These places aren't as prolific. In my opinion they are made with better quality ingredients and taste much better. Quiznos is a different type of sub because it is fresh grilled. These subs are more expensive though.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

9. Just saw the movie "Super Size Me"

and McDonald's took a huge PR hit. Subway is really capitalizing on the whole "Jared" healthy weight loss thing, while McD's struggles to redefine themselves. Personally, I'll take Subway anytime, and avoid McD's at all costs. It does seem like there are more and more Subways around.
MKJ

[bicentennial_baby]

10. Three in my town of 18,000 people

and only 2 McDonalds. Subway's very popular here. I can think of at least 5-6 total in the surrounding 20 mile area (rural W. Mass.)

[Doctor Smith]

13. I much prefer Quiznos or Schlotzsky's

I never eat Subway, unless someone else drags me there.

[SmileyBoy]

14. Kick

:kick:

[SmileyBoy]

18. Nightly kick

:kick: