The first franchised store of Subway, the sandwiches and salad chain, in a Lidl supermarket has been opened at Cromer, Norfolk, by franchisee Raj Rao.
The 800 sq. ft. store, which is Rao’s 12th Subway, is on the A148 and follows the franchisor’s plan to open in more non-traditional, off-high street locations, such as forecourts, convenient stores, universities and colleges.
“As my 12th, it testifies to my confidence in the brand and its operational simplicity,” said Rao. “A supermarket makes the perfect choice for a Subway.”
Trevor Haynes, Subway’s area development manager for the UK and Ireland, emphasised that non-traditional sites were a key area of the brand’s growth.
“The simple operations involved in running a Subway franchise and its convenience to customers makes it a perfect fit for these types of locations,” he added. “Regarding our new partnership with Lidl, we are excited to see what this could lead to in the future.”
Subway, headquartered at Milford, Connecticut, has 39,000 stores in more than 100 countries.