Iconic sub sandwich chain plans to open 165
restaurants across Australia in
next 10 years
TORONTO, Feb. 18,
2025 /PRNewswire/ - Firehouse Subs®, the
iconic American sub sandwich restaurant chain renowned for
delivering large, flavorful portions and exceptional customer
experience, is coming to Australia
this year. Retail Food Group (RFG), Australia's largest multi-brand retail food
franchisor, intends for Firehouse Subs to become the #1 sandwich
choice in the country, with plans to open 165 restaurants in 10
years, and the first restaurant planned to open in Southeast Queensland in late 2025.
Founded in Florida, U.S., in
1994 by two former firefighter brothers, Firehouse Subs is
celebrated for its made-to-order sandwiches, each layered with
premium meats and cheeses sliced in-house and then steamed hot to
bring out delicious and bold flavours. The brand lives up to the
founders' original vision to be a restaurant where people can come
and enjoy hot and hearty portions with quality service. Its
products frequently rank among the very best in U.S. consumer
surveys for food quality and taste.
This marks the entry into the Asia-Pacific region for the brand, through a
development and franchise agreement between a subsidiary of the
parent company, Restaurant Brands International (RBI), one of the
world's largest quick service restaurant companies, and RFG. RFG is
the owner of popular brands Gloria Jeans Coffees, Donut King,
Brumby's Bakery, Beefy's Pies and Crust Pizza.
Thiago Santelmo, President of RBI
International, said: "We are excited to expand Firehouse Subs in
the Asia-Pacific region, bringing
our iconic sandwiches and rich brand heritage to Australia. This is made possible through our
partnership with RFG, whose deep local expertise will be
instrumental in delivering an outstanding guest experience."
RFG Chief Executive Officer Matt
Marshall said the introduction of Firehouse Subs to the
growing A$1.7bn sandwich market in
Australia represented a tremendous
addition to RFG's suite of high-performing food brands and an
exciting opportunity for Australians to enjoy this iconic food
brand.
"I am convinced that Australians have never tried anything like
the quality and flavour of Firehouse Subs®. This is a brand that is
all about the highest quality sandwiches with exceptional service,"
he said. "We couldn't ask for a better partner than RBI, bringing
global scale and new market entry expertise."
The Firehouse Subs® menu includes signature products
such as the Hook and Ladder, Firehouse Italian, and the Firehouse
Beef & Cheddar Brisket.
Mr. Marshall said RFG is expected to open 15 company-owned
restaurants in the next three years, before launching franchising
opportunities in year four. The Firehouse Subs® brand
caters for a range of small and large store formats which provides
flexibility in reaching consumers in a wide variety of locations.
RFG's rights to open and franchise stores after 2027 are subject to
the satisfaction of certain conditions.
The launch of Firehouse Subs® is expected to support thousands
of careers over the next decade, including construction, supply
chain and distribution, head office support, and restaurant
employees and management.
Firehouse Subs is a growing and exciting brand boasting over
1,300 restaurants across the U.S., Canada, Switzerland, Mexico, Albania and the United Arab Emirates, with plans to open its
first restaurant in Brazil later
this year. The brand is built on decades of fire and police service
and is committed to saving lives through grants for equipment,
training and support to emergency workers.
About Retail Food Group Limited
RFG is a global food and beverage company headquartered in
Queensland. It is Australia's largest multi-brand retail food
franchise manager and is the owner of iconic brands including
Gloria Jean's, Donut King, Brumby's
Bakery, Crust Gourmet Pizza and Beefy's Pies. The Company holds the
exclusive licence to grow Firehouse Subs restaurants in
Australia and expects to open the
first restaurant in 2025. RFG distributes high quality pies
from our Sunshine Coast Bakery and coffee through our Sydney
Roastery.
For more information about RFG visit: www.rfg.com.au
About Firehouse Subs®
Firehouse Subs® is a restaurant chain with a passion
for hearty and flavourful food, heartfelt service, and public
safety. Founded in Jacksonville,
Florida in 1994 by two brothers and former firefighters,
Firehouse Subs is a brand built on decades of fire and police
service, hot and hearty subs piled high with the highest quality
meats and cheeses and its commitment to saving lives through the
establishment of the non-profit Firehouse Subs Public Safety
Foundation®.
Firehouse Subs is part of of Restaurant Brands International
Inc. ("RBI"), one of the world's largest quick service restaurant
companies with nearly US$45 billion in annual system-wide
sales and over 32,000 restaurants in more than 120 countries and
territories. RBI owns four of the world's most prominent and iconic
quick service restaurant brands – TIM
HORTONS®, BURGER
KING®, POPEYES®, and FIREHOUSE
SUBS®.
Enjoy more subs. Save more lives. To learn more,
visit http://www.firehousesubs.com and follow us on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking
statements and information, which reflect management's current
beliefs and expectations regarding future events, initiatives and
operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof. These
forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance
and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These
forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements
about our expectations regarding the ability of the Firehouse Subs
business in Australia to open 165
restaurants in 10 years, including 15 stores in the first three
years, the ability to sub-franchise stores beginning in year four,
consumer demand for the product and creation of thousands of career
opportunities. The factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from RBI's expectations are detailed in filings
of RBI with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and with
the securities regulatory authorities in Canada, such as its annual and quarterly
reports and current reports on Form 8-K and include the following
risks: ability to meet conditions to continue opening and to
franchise restaurants after 2027, risks related to the ability to
successfully implement its domestic and international growth
strategy and risks related to its international operations; risks
related to the ability to compete in an intensely competitive
industry; global economic or other business conditions that may
affect the desire or ability of our customers to purchase the
products; the relationship with, and the success of, franchisees
and risks related to the franchised business model; supply chain
risks, and the effectiveness of marketing and advertising programs.
Other than as required under applicable laws, we do not assume a
duty to update these forward-looking statements, whether because of
new information, subsequent events or circumstances, change in
expectations or otherwise.
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SOURCE Restaurant Brands International Inc.
