Subway named fastest-growing franchise in the US

Entrepeneur.com has released its annual Franchise 500 rankings and this year there is a big surprise – sandwich chain Subway has overtaken McDonald’s as the fastest-growing franchise of the year.
Entrepeneur.com has released its annual Franchise 500 rankings and this year there is a big surprise – sandwich chain Subway has overtaken McDonald’s as the fastest-growing franchise of the year.

Subway, which has marketed itself as providing healthier alternatives to fast-food, now has 30,342 franchised stores in 87 countries. While it is only the third-biggest franchise in the world, it is now the fastest-growing.

Just behind the fast-food giants was tax-return preparation group Liberty Tax Service, which began in Canada in 1972 but began selling franchises in the US in 1997. It is the fastest growing tax preparation service in the world with over 2,900 offices in the US and Canada.

Others included in the list were home improvement retailer Ace Hardware in sixth place, shipping and postal service UPS Store at eighth and convenience store chain Circle K at ninth.

1. Subway
2. McDonald’s
3. Liberty Tax Service
4. Sonic Drive-In Restaurants
5. InterContinental Hotels Group
6. Ace Hardware
7. Pizza Hut
8. UPS Store, The/Mail Boxes Etc.
9. Circle K
10. Papa John’s International