Quiznos's U.S. units continue to drop, but still the sandwich chain makes a leap into Asia for the next few years.
A master franchise agreement with AUM Hospitality (AUMH) and Parkson Holding Berhand, a large Chinese retailer, was signed last month, according to the Denver-based operator. The agreement plans to open 1,500 Quiznos locations in China for the next 11 years that will start in 2015.
Trilogy/ Sense, a master franchisee, also plans to open 100 units of Quiznos in Taiwan over the next decade. In August, Quiznos' opened its first unit at the base of one of the world's tallest building, Taipei 101.
Later this year, Indonesia-based franchisee PT QuiznosIndo, plans to open a 10,000 -square-foot restaurant which is the largest Quiznos in the world. It will be open 24 hours a day and will feature the brand's Q Café platform that is known to offer baked goodies and coffee that matches the traditional subs.
President of Quiznos' international division, Kenneth Cutshaw, said the agreements are part of an overall strategy to reach more than 1,000 international locations in more than 40 countries by 2020.
The sandwich chain franchises almost 650 locations worldwide. Locally, it shortened about 1,100 units compared in 2006 that 5,000 units shrunk.
Cutshaw said, earlier this year, that after emerging from bankruptcy Quiznos continues to work with domestic franchisees to make the business model successful.
"We'll continue to reshape Quiznos in the U.S. to have a very successful business model, as it has been in the past, but we're not going to stand on the sidelines as regards to international because there's a tremendous opportunity to grow," said Cutshaw.
Eyeing the Middle East, Quiznos opened its first chain in Abu Dhabi last September, with plans to open seven restaurants in the region by the end of the year under the master franchisee Royal Bun Café.
The group committed to open 75 Quiznos branches by 2021 in Bahrain, The United Arab Emirates and Oman.
