The world's largest franchise restaurant chain Subway opened its 300th outlet in India on Friday at the Mumbai airport.
Subway aims to add 150 new restaurants in India by the end of the next calendar year, driven by growth in a country where it caters to a younger and increasingly wealthy demographic who have a rising appetite for western tastes.
The company, which currently has 300 restaurants in India, is planning to increase its focus on smaller Indian cities in the coming years, it said in a statement.
"Mumbai figures prominently in Subway's growth plans. The rising inclination of people towards healthy eating has also given an added impetus to Subway's performance," said Robby Gulri, Area Development Manager, according to the Hindu Business Line.
Mumbai International Airport, which sees the highest density of travellers in transit, now has its own Subway store. "Subway, as a global brand, has always encouraged developing opportunities in non-traditional locales such as airports, hospitals, college and university campuses," said Chetan Arora, Development Agent for Subway Mumbai and Maharashtra.
In order to cater for Indian customers, Subway has adapted a specific menu sans beef and pork. Subway also has vegetarian restaurants in Noida, Mumbai and Jalandhar. Two more are planned in Gurgaon and Amritsar.
Globally, the Subway brand has more than 37,000 restaurants spread throughout 100 countries.
