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Subway to open in Greater Jakarta in Q4
The sandwich chain is returning to Indonesia after pulling out in the early 2000s.
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nited States-based sandwich chain Subway is to open shop in Greater Jakarta by the fourth quarter of this year, marking the chain’s return to the Indonesian market after pulling out in the early 2000s.
Subway wrote in a statement on Aug. 23 that it had signed an exclusive franchising agreement with PT Sari Sandwich Indonesia, a subsidiary of publicly listed lifestyle retailer PT Mitra Adiperkasa (MAP), to open shop in Indonesia. The sandwich company noted that Indonesia was the first country in the world to use such an agreement.
Subway first entered the Indonesian market in the 1990s, opening outlets in Jakarta and Bali, but closed in the early 2000s.
"MAP, Indonesia’s leading lifestyle retailer, is the ideal partner to kick off our expansion in the Asia Pacific region, where we know convenient, better-for-you options are in demand. This is just the start of our global expansion plans,” John Chidsey, chief executive officer of Subway, said in the statement filed with the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX).
MAP’s decision to expand its F&B business in the fourth quarter comes as the government plans to relax multitiered mobility restrictions (PPKM) starting October, hoping that the second coronavirus wave can be brought under control by then.
Read also: Govt bets on Q4 growth to cover Q3 losses
Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data show that household spending on restaurants and hotels surged 16.79 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, the strongest growth among seven categories that make up household spending, amid a relatively looser PPKM.
MAP, through restaurant operator subsidiary PT Map Boga Adiperkasa (MBA), also runs international brands Starbucks, Pizza Marzano, Krispy Kreme, Cold Stone Creamery, Genki Sushi and Paul Bakery in Indonesia.
Read also: Emergency curbs reverse recovery in consumer confidence, retail sales
"MBA recognizes the importance of food retailing and works with best-in-class brands, making Subway a natural choice," said VP Sharma, chief executive of MAP, in the same statement.
MBA hopes to replicate the successful expansion of Subway in South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and Singapore.
"The Subway model of making every sandwich customized, in addition to its convenience and affordability, will attract many guests and position it for growth in Indonesia for many years to come,” Anthony Cottan, president director of MBA, said in the statement.
