Quiznos’ U.S. unit count continues to decline, but the fast-casual sandwich chain is pushing into Asia in a big way over the next few years.
The Denver-based operator said last month it had signed a master franchise agreement with AUM Hospitality, or AUMH, and Parkson Holdings Berhand, a large Chinese retailer, to open 1,500 Quiznos locations in China over the next 11 years, starting in 2015.
On Oct. 28, AUMH opened the first of 100 Quiznos units planned in Malaysia.
Another master franchisee, Trilogy/Sense-Meal International, plans to open 100 units in Taiwan over the next decade. The first unit in Taipei opened in August at the base of Taipei 101, one of the world’s tallest buildings.
Later this year, Indonesia-based franchisee PT QuiznosIndo plans to open the largest Quiznos in the world, a 10,000-square-foot restaurant that will be open 24 hours a day and will feature the brand’s Q Café platform, which offers bakery products and brewed coffee along with its traditional subs.
The agreements are part of an overall strategy to reach more than 1,000 international locations in more than 40 countries by 2020, said Kenneth Cutshaw, president of Quiznos’ international division.
Currently, the chain franchises about 650 locations internationally. Domestically, it has shrunk to about 1,100 units, compared with the roughly 5,000 units in 2006.
After emerging from bankruptcy earlier this year, Quiznos continues to work with domestic franchisees to make the business model more successful, Cutshaw said.
“We’ll continue to reshape Quiznos in the U.S. to have a very successful business model, as it has been in the past, but we’re not going to stand on the sidelines as regards to international because there’s a tremendous opportunity to grow,” he said.
Quiznos is also eyeing the Middle East. In September, the chain’s first unit opened in Abu Dhabi, where master franchisee Royal Bun Café plans to open another seven restaurants before the end of this year in the region. The group has committed to opening 75 Quiznos locations by 2021, in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Oman.
Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected].
Follow her on Twitter: @livetodineout
