Sandwich and sub businesses prepare and serve custom sandwiches and subs. The industry has maintained consistent growth by modifying menu options to accommodate the demand for low-fat and other health-conscious diets. Sandwiches and sub businesses that align with popular fast-casual features such as fresh ingredients, scratch kitchens, and made-to-order menu items have also helped businesses remain competitive in the broader restaurant industry.
Nearly everyone loves a sandwich, but your food isn’t going to sell itself. As with any business, you need to understand your target market and who you are serving with your sandwich shop. Think about these key points while putting together a business plan and getting ready to open your doors.
A Combination of Customers
When thinking about what types of customers will frequent a sub sandwich shop, the lunch rush is an obvious place to start. Sandwiches are a convenient lunch item; they can be prepared quickly and pair nicely with some chips. However, serving workers on their lunch break is only a portion of the market. Sub sandwiches can also make for a great quick dinner on a busy night, and they are popular with kids who are running from one event to another. Consider all these potential diners and position your marketing to make sure they all know about your new franchise location.
The Healthy Angle
For the hungry consumer who is in a hurry, there aren’t many healthy options available. Driving down the street in a busy city will often reveal one form of fried food after another. So, a sub sandwich shop can serve as an oasis in this desert, presenting something that isn’t fried and can be relatively light, depending on what the customer decides to order.
At the same time, you might not want to position your marketing too far on the “health food” side, as you may scare away some potential customers who want a tasty meal and aren’t worried about calories. When advertised correctly, a sandwich shop is one of the rare restaurants that can successfully serve the health-conscious and a general audience.
