Subway opens first franchise within a Lidl supermarket
Specialist sandwich retailer Subway has opened its first ever franchise outlet within a Lidl store. The partnership is the first of its kind for the German supermarket chain.
The 800 sq ft franchise store in the Lidl supermarket on the outskirts of Cromer is operated by Subway franchisee Raj Rao, who now has 12 outlets.
The development of stores away from high street locations is a major strategic focus for Subway which now has more than 300 stores open or in development within locations such as forecourt sites, convenience stores or universities and colleges.
Trevor Haynes, Subway area development manager, explained: “The non-traditional locations are a key area of growth for the Subway brand in the UK and Ireland. The simple operations that are involved in running a Subway franchise and the convenience offer make it a perfect fit for these style locations. The partnership with Lidl is the first of its kind and we are excited to see what this could lead to in the future.”
Raj Rao, Subway franchisee, added: “The opening of a Subway store within a Lidl supermarket is a big step for us, there are no other branded quick service restaurants in the local area and this dual partnership really capitalises on customers needing to shop and eat all in one place.”
