Unit growth slows, driven by Subway’s shedding of 1,100 U.S. stores
Limited-Service chains emphasized pricier bundled meals as value wars raged on in a year marked by wage pressures, declining foot traffic, a frenzy of store remodels and increasing skepticism over the incrementality of third-party delivery sales.
But the drive to survive is like drinking from a firehose. The segment is drowning from a wide variety of unrelenting consumer demands that center on improving food quality, speed and convenience.
“The endless shakeout continues,” said analyst Mark Kalinowski of Kalinowski Equity Research. “It’s a constantly changing industry. If you keep up with a very demanding consumer, you will be rewarded. And if you don’t, people are going to move away from your brand — and in some cases quite q...
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