Subway - statistics & facts
Subway is one of the most prominent fast food chains in the world. With over 27,000 Subway stores worldwide, it is no wonder the brand has become so well-known. It is so prominent, in fact, that in 2024 it had the most units of any quick service chain in the United States, beating other fast food behemoths like Starbucks and 惭肠顿辞苍补濒诲鈥檚. Subway鈥檚 philosophy of growth not only applies to its franchising efforts, but also to its food, with many menu items having a 鈥渇ootlong鈥 option, including not just its subs, but also its cookies and dippers.
Subway controversies
Subway is no stranger to controversy. Ranging from a dismissed lawsuit filed against the company for its tuna allegedly containing no tuna, to Ireland鈥檚 Supreme Court ruling that Subway鈥檚 bread is not bread, the chain has had to contend with its fair share of negative media attention. That said, the company鈥檚 darkest scandal was when Subway spokesperson Jared Fogle was sentenced to 15 years in prison on child pornography and child sex charges. Despite this string of bad publicity, Subway is still one of the most valuable quick service restaurant brands worldwide, with a brand value of over 12.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2025.
How successful is Subway?
In 2025, Subway just managed to make it to the ranking of the 10 leading U.S. chain restaurants by sales, generating almost nine billion U.S. dollars. This figure represented the second consecutive year of annual decline, with Subway sales in the United States reaching their lowest point since 2021. When focusing on the brand鈥檚 popularity, Subway鈥檚 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) score increased in 2025 over the previous year, after reporting an all-time low in 2024. With a rating of 76 out of 100, however, the company still sat below the industry average of 79. Meanwhile, competitors Panera Bread and Arby鈥檚 both received higher ACSI scores than Subway that year. That said, the sandwich chain did rank in a list of the most popular dining brands in the United Kingdom in 2026, where almost 60 percent of the British public had a positive opinion of the brand.
While Subway鈥檚 global franchise count and brand value remain impressive, it would appear the company still has a way to go in ensuring that revenue and customer satisfaction stay equally strong in the future.
