This post is part of our Battle of the Brands feature. Let us know which brand you prefer, and check out other Battle of the Brands posts.
Businesswise, it's no real competition between Subway and Quiznos. Subway, the number 1 sub sandwich chain, claims to have more than 29,000 locations in 86 countries, earning more than $11 billion in 2007. Quiznos, on the other hand, has more than 5,000 locations in 20 countries, earning $130 million in 2004, making it a distant number 2. In fact, Subway is the third largest fast-food chain globally after Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM) (Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC, etc.) with 34,000 locations and McDonald's (NYSE: MCD), with 31,000 locations.
Both Subway and Quiznos are privately owned, franchise fast-food chains. While Quiznos is a limited liability company controlled by chairman Rick Schaden and his family, Subway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Doctor's Associates, Inc., a company founded in 1965 by Fred De Luca and Dr. Peter Buck specifically to oversee the Subway chain of restaurants.
Subway menus vary by store. For instance, its restaurants in Muslim countries serve Halal menu, and Subway has kosher restaurants in New York, Los Angeles, Kansas City, and a suburb of Cleveland. All locations feature submarine sandwiches, ranging from four-inch "mini subs" to its three-foot giant subs. Popular sandwiches include Turkey Breast, Italian BMT, and the Subway Club. All of Quiznos' sandwiches are served toasted, and its best-sellers include the Classic Italian, the Mesquite Chicken with Bacon, the Prime Rib Cheesesteak, the Chicken Carbonara. Last fall Quzinos introduced flatbread "sammies."
When it comes to advertising, Quzinos has been all over the map, including ads featuring a man suckled at a mother wolf's teat, talking "Baby Bob" ads, a dig at its larger rival with ads featuring a "Wrong Way" restaurant -- and then there were the creepy but short-lived Spongmonkey ads. Subway's best-known spokesman is Jared Fogle, who in 1999 is said to have lost 245 pounds on a diet featuring Subway sandwiches.
But don't think that the smaller Quzinos has had no influence on Subway. In 2003, when most Subway locations switched their beverage contracts from PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP) products to Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) products, Coca-Cola helped pay for the initial rollout of toaster ovens to Subway restaurants in North America, This allowed customers the option to have sandwiches toasted, in response to increased competition from Quiznos.
But the real competition is not between one company and another, but between their product offerings. Who has the tastiest offerings? Who provides the best value? Vote in our poll and let us know what you think.
Vote in our poll for Subway or Quiznos as your preferred brand, and let us know in the comments why you love it.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
4-29-2008 @ 7:44AM
Bill said...
Subway advertises one thing and serves a totally different and substandard product. Try going to a Subway and getting a sandwich like they advertise, you won't. You get half of the amount of meat and cheese that they show in thier advertisements, the vegetables are usually dry and/or wilted, and the people behind the counter could give a care about what they're making for you, something you're paying good money for and are going to eat. I made the mistake of complaining to Subway and got a totally disinterested and standard corporate response. I do not patronize any Subway anymore and never will again. They don't care about the customer, just the bottom line.
4-30-2008 @ 8:13AM
sinc said...
personal preference but I like Quiz because of their low carb salads and soups. Great for diabetics and I lost 30 lbs.
4-30-2008 @ 8:59PM
Ken said...
I really don't like Quiznos food and they are VERY EXPENSIVE! Also, i really did not appreciate the fact that they advertised that they had 2x the meet on their subs as Subway does. HA! Actually they do, it's just that they wanted me to pay almost $3 more for my footlong steak sub which would have made my ONE FOOTLONG SUB cost over $10.00 - for one sub! Gimme a break. Subway has always had quality food and my lunch trips will never include Quiznos again.
4-30-2008 @ 8:25AM
pam said...
I like Zero's Subs out of the North East. I live in Virginia Beach and Zero's Subs have the best subs in the world!! Try them! Theyr'e better than Subway and Quizno's by a long shot! Small franchise company but the customer service and quality is incredible.
4-30-2008 @ 8:31AM
Jefe said...
I've gotta say, I would NEVER pass up a Quizno's to go to a Subway; Q's has great promotional selections, their standard fare is far superior in filling quantity (Subway is too often like a bread sandwich), I like their condiment (read: hot peppers and sauce choices) bar, and toasted is just plain tastier....which is probably why Subway finally started offering a toasted option. Try any of Quizno's prime rib offerings...Yum! This new "Sammies" thing will go away soon...two bucks for three bites!?!, but their standard sizes are a great value.
4-30-2008 @ 8:48AM
dreadnaught1906 said...
I eat at Quiznos 3 or 4 times a week, and fined their sandwiches of a much higher quality and value, than Subway's. I have had problems with Subways products and management. When I contacted Subways corporate offices, I was treated with contempt. Thats when I tried Quiznos, what a world of difference.
4-30-2008 @ 8:59AM
ken said...
Subway sandwhichs are horrible. I used to buy the kids meal for my son and could barely find the meat. They would put 2 very skimpy slices of turkey on a roll, fortunately he liked cheese so that added something. I have never been happy with the quantity or the quality of Subway. Isn't all of their meat a Turkey based product processed to look like something else? No wonder people loose weight with Subway!
4-30-2008 @ 9:35AM
JFend said...
Quizno's is the BEST! I have not gone to Subway in about 8 years. I love the toasted subs and the good quality meats and chesses. The stores are always clean and the staff friendly. I love the sammies, just the right size for lunch!
4-30-2008 @ 10:41AM
Frank said...
The four pro-Quinzo's comments were posted by the same person. The meat, cheese and veggies at the two chains are the same. The difference is Subway's bread is fresh, and Quinzo's toasts stale bread.
4-30-2008 @ 9:59AM
Monty Python 1975 said...
I usually get the Subway meatball or tuna w/cheese. I can't eat Quiznos because they toast the bread and I don't have any teeth. Sorry Quiznos!
4-30-2008 @ 10:05AM
Michele said...
I used to love Quiznos when they had a "healthy choice" menu, but now that that has been obliterated...you have to really get picky and descriptive for them to do a healthy sandwich. The Sammies are plaiin disgusting. Thick, heavy flatbread, little meat and a ton of sauce - YUK! Give me Subway anytime.
4-30-2008 @ 10:18AM
Tyke said...
OK all you Quisno's bloggers, if Quisno's is so great, then why is it that Subways are packed and Quiznos are Empty. Why is there a Subway every where you look and a Quiznos is almost impossible to find. By the way, Subway puts ounce for ounce the same amount of meat as Quiznos the big difference is that Quiznos's bread is prebaked and who knows how old the bread is when you get it, Subways is baked fresh daily, as well as the Veggies are Prepped Daily, making thier sandwiches a much better fare. And finally, who the Heck wants to eat a Quiznos lunch for 8 or 9 DOLLARS. Give me a break, I can do a lot better than a Quiznos for 9 Bucks, at least at Subway I get what I pay for, which is a great, Really fresh sandwich for under $4. So all you Quizno's bloggers out there, you are really poor liars, or you are really jealous Quiznos owners out there trying to Fool the Public !!! Either Way, Eat Fresh, Eat Subway !!!
4-30-2008 @ 10:19AM
M.Paul Johnson said...
There is no comparison as far as I'm concerned. There is a gourmet taste and quality to Quiznos that can't be found in any subway I've ever eaten.
Getting past all the bread, toasted or not, in the Subway, has always been difficult and unpleasant for me. Quiznos wins, hands down!
4-30-2008 @ 11:02AM
Lloyd said...
At Subway you get see-through lunch meat slices, they don't put the mayo and mustard on the bread which makes for a dry sandwich(they put them in the middle with all your other condiments and when you bite into it the stuff slides out). I have gotten their apple slices twice from different stores and they both expired the next day which made for some nasty tasting apple slices(I asked for a different package and the 1 place said that's all they had untill their delivery the next day and the other place said that's all they had). I have never had a bad meal at a Quiznos and I wouldn't hesitate to go to a Quiznos. I would pass up Subway to get to a Quiznos. I can see how Jared lost all that weight eating Subway. I would too.
4-30-2008 @ 1:09PM
rae oconnor said...
The Subway in this area is DIRTY. The people wear gloves, but never change them. They clean tables, empty garbage, make change and then turn around and make a sandwich for you. Quiznos has a completely different atmosphere and is clean.
4-30-2008 @ 12:03PM
Mel Strickland said...
Quiznos medium black angus sub is the best
tasting and best bargain out there anywhere.
M. Strickland
4-30-2008 @ 12:21PM
Sub Lover said...
Quiznos may be a bit pricier but it is worth it. In the downtown financial core the Quiznos stores are always busy. If you can't afford it, go to McDonald's (or cut back on the beer and smokes). Subway's toasting machine doesn't do the trick. Comparing Quiznos and Subway is like comparing a sirloin burger to a McDonald's hamburger.
4-30-2008 @ 12:37PM
bj said...
I stopped eating at subway after I saw the worker take the $ from the guy before me, put it in the cash register then plunge her bare hands into the lettuce to go on my sandwich. When I told her I saw what she did without washing her hands, she dumped the salad stuff back in the pan & then washed her hands! I told her forget it and left. Since then I heard they are supposed to use the disposable gloves.
4-30-2008 @ 12:37PM
Fred King said...
The biggest problem is that the service in both places is the pits. They hiring is a bad as their subs.
You want something better, go to Firehouse Subs and get good service and their food is much better.
Hot steamed subs and like 50 kinds of hot sauce.
Quiznos and Subway better get their acts together!
4-30-2008 @ 12:55PM
lee said...
Subway is not fresh all their meats are pre sliced,for real fresh sandwich go to blimpies,every is cut fresh every day and their breads are great.