Watami acquires Subway's Japan operations in fast-food pivot

Company looks to move past izakaya pubs to find long-term growth

20241025N Watami Subway

Subway CEO John Chidsey, left, and Watami President Miki Watanabe at a press conference in Tokyo on Oct. 25. (Photo by Satoko Kawasaki)

YUI SATO and YURIKA YONEDA, Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO -- Watami is taking over the Japan operations of sandwich chain Subway, it announced on Friday, with plans to more than double locations in the country as it looks to transform from an izakaya pub company into a comprehensive restaurant operator.

"We want to change the Watami brand," said Watami Chairman and President Miki Watanabe at a press conference in Tokyo on Friday.

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