American quick service restaurant Subway is showing confidence in Indian market, planning to open 700 new stores in five years time.

The world’s largest fast food chain – it has nearly 38,000 restaurants in 100 countries; more than McDonald’s – currently has 300 stores in India, 263 run through franchise agreements.

“Mumbai figures prominently in Subway’s growth plans. The rising inclination of people towards healthy eating has also given an added impetus to Subway’s performance,” said Robby Gulri, area development manager.

Gulri said the chain will focus on second-tier and third-tier cities to achieve its target of operating 1000 outlets in India in five years, including 450 by the end of 2013.

Subway restaurants in India do not serve beef and pork products, and sell an extended vegetarian range. Last month, Subway opened its first ever all-vegetarian outlet on the campus of Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Jalandhar, Punjab.

GB