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&ldquo;Subway continues to downsize its domestic footprint, closing more than 1,000 restaurants in the U.S. last year, about twice as much as originally planned, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/02/business/subway-store-closures/index.html?utm_source=twCNN&amp%3Butm_medium=social&amp%3Butm_term=image&amp%3Butm_content=2019-05-06T05%3A58%3A58&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=fresh-tensions-arise-between-subway-corporate-and-franchisees-2709884" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">according to CNN</a>,&rdquo; reported <a href="https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/more-franchisee-trouble-for-subway-as-its-accused-of-arbitrary-infractions/554206/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=fresh-tensions-arise-between-subway-corporate-and-franchisees-2709884" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Restaurant Dive</a>. With &ldquo;836 closures in 2017&rdquo; and &ldquo;359 closures in 2016,&rdquo; the made-to-order sub brand is now at its &ldquo;smallest footprint since 2011,&rdquo; according to the article.

It&rsquo;s not only a shrinking footprint that has Subway making waves, however. Amid&nbsp;the closures come allegations from Subway franchisees &ldquo;accusing the company of going after them for minor infractions, such as smudged glass, in an attempt to put them out of business and restructure the organization,&rdquo; the article said.

According to the article, &ldquo;As one <a href="https://nypost.com/2019/05/05/subways-arbitration-for-minor-infractions-is-out-of-control-franchisees/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=fresh-tensions-arise-between-subway-corporate-and-franchisees-2709884" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Ohio-based operator told the New York Post this week</a>, the company&#39;s inspections led to complaints about coats in the backroom, while another was found out of compliance for slicing his vegetables in a choppy manner. Stores found in violation have been sold to the company&rsquo;s development agents who are in charge of the inspections, the plaintiffs allege.&rdquo;

The article also said that franchisees are now accusing &ldquo;the development agents of attempting to acquire those stores themselves to facilitate a system restructure.&rdquo;

&ldquo;As the New York Post reports, Subway initiated 702 arbitration actions against U.S. franchisees in 2017, compared to one by McDonald&rsquo;s, two by Dunkin&#39;, and none by Pizza Hut, Burger King or Wendy&#39;s,&rdquo; according to the article.

Subway insists that &ldquo;these inspection failures are simply to ensure high standards,&rdquo; the article said.

Read the full story <a href="https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/more-franchisee-trouble-for-subway-as-its-accused-of-arbitrary-infractions/554206/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=fresh-tensions-arise-between-subway-corporate-and-franchisees-2709884" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">here</a>.

Fresh Tensions Arise Between Subway Corporate and Franchisees

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As the sub chain closes shop at over 1,000 US locations, some owners allege that the franchisor came after them for arbitrary infractions in the interest of restructuring.

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