Subway in France: The Chain of Medium-Sized Cities
At 400 restaurants in 2024, Subway is the 5th largest fast-food chain in France by number of points of sale (behind McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC and Domino’s). Its particularity: a more distributed network than its competitors, with a strong presence in medium-sized cities rather than in only the largest metropolises.
Our Scope
Our SIRENE database lists 35 franchised Subway companies tagged, representing approximately 10% of the real park. This sample is statistically limited but provides indications on the geographical dispersion.
Top 5 Departments
| Rank | Department | Companies tagged |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hérault (34) | 4 |
| 1 | Nord (59) | 4 |
| 3 | Ille-et-Vilaine (35) | 3 |
| 3 | Essonne (91) | 3 |
| 3 | Gironde (33) | 3 |
The Distributed Network
Let’s compare the top Subway departments with those of McDonald’s and BK:
| Position | Subway | McDonald’s | Burger King |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Hérault / Nord (4 socs) | Paris (10) | Gironde (13) |
| 2nd | Ille-et-Vilaine, Essonne, Gironde (3 socs) | Val-de-Marne / Seine-et-Marne (9) | Seine-et-Marne (12) |
Subway has a geographically flatter network: no very strong concentrations, but a dispersion over many departments. This is consistent with a format less demanding in pedestrian flow (a Subway can be profitable with 200 customers per day, a McDo requires 500+), a ‘active lunchers’ target present in all medium-sized cities, and less premium locations (secondary shopping street rather than regional shopping center).
Future Expansion: Target Zones
Subway France does not announce massive opening targets. The strategic plan seems to be consolidation around 400-450 restaurants by 2030, with some closures of unprofitable locations, some selective openings in still unserved zones, and targeted renovations to modernize the existing park.
The priority opening zones are:
- Brittany interior
- Southwest (excluding Gironde already well covered)
- Rhône Valley
- Central-east (Lyon outskirts, Burgundy)
To Learn More
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