Sandwich chain Subway to be sold to fast-food investor Roark Capital

Sandwich chain Subway will be sold to Roark Capital, a private equity firm with expertise in restaurant management that could help the company expand and improve its stores.

Private equity acquisition ; a term for welcome to full on late stage capitalist exploitation.

What the hell has happened to all the Subways I used to enjoy here in Japan? Really hard to find them now, in Kansai at least.

Subway in the states is not bad. I used to go to the one at Minatomirai station in Yokohama until they stopped offering turkey which is the only one I order.

Subway bread is disgusting inedible c*ap. I don’t know how you can make a mess of something so simple as bread but they succeeded.

Subway is subpar here.

Agree so subpar here. Let’s hope new management will introduce meatball and turkey a staple of subway. Singapore Malaysia and Indonesia all seem to welcome traditional sandwich’s but Japan seems to need to change a winning menu for a subpar variety of microwaved prepared products

In my opinion it's the bread that is the problem with Subways.

Thanks, posters, for ignoring my simple question.

Thanks, posters, for ignoring my simple question.

Hey mate, here is a link to locate the Subways here.

https://www.subway.co.jp/shops/en/

Many restaurants in Japan lock into short term leases so even big name ones like Subway might only stay in the same spot for 2-5 years before closing up and moving to a different site ( or not).

It's healthier than junk food but yeah....their bread is so-so and compared to other countries, they're cheap with included toppings in Japan. You ask for olives and you get..........three maybe four. They could be a little more generous.

No wholewheat bread but otherwise looks very good. Never tried them.

gcFD1

I don’t know how long you’ve been in Japan -maybe not very long. Subway has (had?) been a decades long fixture here. Hence my question inviting theories. I know about Google Maps etc, mate.

I don’t know how long you’ve been in Japan -maybe not very long. Subway has (had?) been a decades long fixture here. Hence my question inviting theories. I know about Google Maps etc, mate.

Well, per my answer where I mentioned restaurant leases 2-5 years, it can be extrapolated I've been here at least 5 years.

And as for your simple question below:

What the hell has happened to all the Subways I used to enjoy here in Japan? Really hard to find them now, in Kansai at least.

This seems to be more of a question focused on the locations of Subway, and if you know about Google Maps etc. you wouldn't comment how Subway is hard to find in Kansai; but if you actually intended to invite theories, then, through my long experience in Japan (maybe you haven't been here very long) I provided an answer:

Many restaurants in Japan lock into short term leases so even big name ones like Subway might only stay in the same spot for 2-5 years before closing up and moving to a different site ( or not).

The ones I've gone to in Tokyo have been really popular with long lines around lunchtime, and then they went out of business. I often spent more time standing waiting in the lines than eating my lunch.

No, my “what the hell” frustration indicates “where’d they go?” Since everybody I knew liked them, strange that with their long term popularity they’d fade away.

The bread is slightly better if you get them to toast it. They will do this if asked, but don't go out of their way to tell you it can be done. I only know because a family member worked there.

Instead of doing healthy looking sandwiches served on meh bread that is full of sugar, or so the EU says, I wish Japanese Subway would do unashamedly unhealthy sandwiches like meatballs or Philly cheesesteak.

The Jared Fogle scandal had an impact not long after the GFC.

New entrants with better offerings and the family owners knowing the decline will continue, are selling up.

Fresh, yes, but stingy, joyless and not value for money anymore.

Pfffff, fast food garbage...

I cannot even look at the name 'Subway' without feeling sick, for personal and health reasons.