According to a national study from Market Force, Panera Bread tops of the list of favourite sandwich chains in the USA. Panera was voted No. 1 sandwich chain in a restaurant industry survey of more than 7,600 consumers designed to uncover which sandwich chains consumers like most and why they prefer one to another.
For those serving sandwiches in the UK – whether dedicated ‘sandwich shop’ or not – the survey and the organisations that came top, may be worth a look. After all, it’s not unknown for trends to travel here from across the Atlantic, and it’s easy to take a look at and learn from sandwich chains mentioned in the report.
The results
Panera Bread was followed by Jason’s Deli and McAlister’s Deli, followed by Firehouse Subs, Quiznos, Jimmy John’s, Arby’s and Subway.
Of the 14 major national and region sandwich/wrap chains studied, Subway received the most total votes, which can be credited to the fact that it’s one of the nation’s largest franchises. However, when viewed as a calculation of favourite votes per location, smaller chain Panera took the top spot among the top eight brands.
With 1,600 locations across North America, Panera has seemingly found the recipe for growth with its bakery-café concept. Part of its success is due to a highly successful loyalty program that enables the chain to capture customer behaviour and use that information to inform its menu and marketing strategy.
On the heels of Panera is fast-expanding Jason’s Deli, which differentiates itself with a menu focused on healthy food. Both Jason’s Deli and third-ranking McAlister’s Deli also saw sales and unit growth in 2011.
Importance of the ‘Customer Experience’
Market Force also asked consumers to rank the sandwich chains based on attributes including food quality/taste, customer service, cleanliness, atmosphere and overall value. Jason’s Deli landed in the No. 1 spot in the food and value categories, as well as in cleanliness. Respondents praised Jimmy John’s for providing the best service, and recognized Panera for its inviting atmosphere. McAlister’s performed consistently well in all areas.
Janet Eden-Harris, chief marketing officer for Market Force comments:
“We’re seeing a shift in the sandwich industry, where now the customer experience is just as important as the convenience factor. Brands like Panera and Jason’s Deli are differentiating in areas like atmosphere and health-conscious food, and that’s drawing customers in the door and making them return visitors.”
Panera Bread
With the single goal of making great bread broadly available to consumers across America, Panera Bread freshly bakes more bread each day than any bakery-cafe concept in the country. Every day, at every location, trained bakers craft and bake each loaf from scratch, using the best ingredients to ensure the highest quality breads.
Panera Bread bakery-cafes showcase the art and craft of bread making, helping customers to appreciate and enjoy a great loaf of bread by studying its crust, crumb and craft. Panera Bread understands that great bread makes great meals, from made-to-order sandwiches to tossed-to-order salads and soup served in bread bowls.
For more information on Panera Bread click here
Market Force Information
Market Force is the leading global customer intelligence solutions company for multi-location businesses, including major retailers, restaurants, grocery and convenience stores, financial institutions, entertainment studios and consumer packaged goods companies. Market Force Information has pioneered the industry with a suite of customer intelligence solutions – from 600,000 field associates across North America and Europe who conduct mystery shopping, merchandising and retail auditing, to real customer surveys and proprietary decision-support tools.
For more information on Market Force click here