MILFORD, Conn. -- The Subway restaurant chain has been named Brand of the Year in the Quick Service Restaurant category according to the 2013 Harris Poll EquiTrend study. This marks the ninth year in a row that the sub sandwich franchise has received the highest score among QSR brands included in the annual study which measures consumer perceptions of more than 1,500 brands in more than 155 categories.
The Harris Poll EquiTrend study, conducted by Harris Interactive, reveals the brands that Americans rank highest in brand equity. Surveying more than 38,000 American consumers, the study measures the level of quality, familiarity, and purchase consideration for each brand, and then awards "Brand of the Year" status to the top-ranked brand from each category.
"Receiving such high marks from consumers and being recognized by the well-respected Harris Poll study certainly indicates that we have been on the right path," said Suzanne Greco, Subway vice president of research and development and operations. "The combination of excellent service, great-tasting sandwiches and salads, healthier options, convenience and all at a good value are cornerstones of the Subway experience, and we continually hear from our customers that these are factors they consider to be most important when deciding where to eat."
With a reputation for offering an alternative to traditionally fatty fast food, the Subway brand strives to improve the nutritional benefits of its menu and offers a variety of sandwiches and salads that are trans-fat free and low in saturated fat and cholesterol, including many with six grams of fat or less, it said.
In addition, the Subway chain was among the first brands to offer nutritional transparency, providing calorie, sodium and fat content of menu items before the call for requirements to do so, it said.
The Harris Poll EquiTrend study is a benchmarking tool that analyzes the impact of consumer engagement on brand equity. This annual assessment details consumer perspectives on competitive brands. Harris Interactive is based in Rochester, N.Y.
Based in Milford, Conn., the Subway brand was co-founded by Fred DeLuca and Dr. Peter Buck in 1965. With more than 39,000 locations in 101 countries, the Subway brand--mostly through its franchisees--provides more than 400,000 job and career opportunities worldwide.
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