Subway expanding to MoBay after 16 years in Kingston
Published:Sunday | January 15, 2012 | 12:00 AM
Sabrina Gordon, Business Reporter
Sandwich shop Subway will be expanding to Montego Bay, where it will set up a fourth location, according to the Jamaican franchise holder.
The MoBay store will represent the chain’s first attempt to grow its outlets in 14 years, and its second in 16 years of operation in Jamaica.
Meantime, the outlet at Mall Plaza in Kingston is currently being relocated to Manor Park.
“We have been looking for a long time and now we’ve get the opportunity,” said Ingrid McDonald Walker, managing director of Subway in Jamaica, regarding the Manor Park move.
McDonald Walker explained that for years, the outlet has been in breach of stipulated opening hours set by the US-based fast- food chain, because of the restrictive opening hours at the mall.
“The Mall Plaza has a stipulated number of hours, the plaza opens up to 6 p.m. in the week and 7 p.m. on weekends, and don’t open on Sundays and public holidays,” said McDondald Walker.
“Subway requires us to open on public holidays, although we can choose two of those holidays on which not to open,” she said.
The transferred operation will be located in a 400-square-foot shop in Manor Park Plaza.
The first Subway shop in Jamaica was opened in December 1995, with another two added two years late in 1997.
Since then, the number of shops have not grown, but now Walker said Subway plans to open a fourth store in the resort city of Montego Bay. The location is still to be determined.
“Plans are not fully concrete as yet but we are hoping to open an outlet in Montego Bay by the end of this year, or the beginning of the following year,” said Walker.
“It is to find a suitable location,” she said.
McDonald Walker declined comment on the investment to be made in the new shop.
Along with its new location in Manor Park, Subway shops can also be found at the Oaklands Shopping Centre and Liguanea.
With more than 35,000 locations in 98 countries, Subway is the world’s largest submarine sandwich franchise in the fast-service restaurant industry.
In Jamaica, it competes with other fast-food franchises such as Burger King, Wendy’s, KFC and Island Grill.
Subway products are pitched as a more healthy alternative, and priced at the higher end of the market.
It specialises in sandwiches, salads, and wraps, recently adding breakfast items to its offerings.
“We have been holding our own; however, we couldn’t compete with say a KFC, which can use local inputs and not so much specialised products,” said McDonald Walker.
“It’s tough because most of the meat products – except for pork which we buy locally – are imported as well as vegetables,” she said.
Since then, the number of shops have not grown, but now Walker said Subway plans to open a fourth store in the resort city of Montego Bay. The location is still to be determined.
“Plans are not fully concrete as yet but we are hoping to open an outlet in Montego Bay by the end of this year, or the beginning of the following year,” said Walker.
“It is to find a suitable location,” she said.
McDonald Walker declined comment on the investment to be made in the new shop.
Along with its new location in Manor Park, Subway shops can also be found at the Oaklands Shopping Centre and Liguanea.
With more than 35,000 locations in 98 countries, Subway is the world’s largest submarine sandwich franchise in the fast-service restaurant industry.
In Jamaica, it competes with other fast-food franchises such as Burger King, Wendy’s, KFC and Island Grill.
Subway products are pitched as a more healthy alternative, and priced at the higher end of the market.
It specialises in sandwiches, salads, and wraps, recently adding breakfast items to its offerings.
“We have been holding our own; however, we couldn’t compete with say a KFC, which can use local inputs and not so much specialised products,” said McDonald Walker.
“It’s tough because most of the meat products – except for pork which we buy locally – are imported as well as vegetables,” she said.