From More Than 15,000 to Just Six

The Subway restaurant chain named six outstanding franchisees as recipients of its 2009 Franchisee of the Year awards and three highly respected members of its development community as recipients of its Development Agent of the Year awards during the company's recent convention in Washington D.C.

Subway Franchisee of the Year awards are presented to the overall winners of the multiunit and single unit owner categories from North America and the chain's international emerging and developed markets.

Selected from among the chain's more than 15,000 franchisees from around the world, the six recipients are: Ashwin Dhanuka of Mumbai, India; Saeeda Rehman Malik of London, England; Lee Jamieson and Tom Jamieson of Bakersfield California; Lana Vieira Martins of Brasília, Brazil; Hazel Johnstone and Mark Johnstone of Toowoomba, Queensland Australia; and Jonathan Feld of New York, New York.

Competing among 75 regional finalists from around the globe, the Franchisees of the Year are honored for accomplishments such as adding new stores, building sales and increasing profitability while also achieving excellent store evaluations.

All Subway restaurants are individually owned and operated by independent franchisees who pride themselves on being active members of the communities in which they live and work. They come from all different backgrounds, with varying education, business and life experiences, yet share a basic entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to compete in the quick serve restaurant industry.

"The franchisee is the heart and soul of the Subway family. We know that our success depends upon their excellence in operating their restaurant and motivating their team to provide the best tasting sandwiches to our customers. We take great pride in the hard work and effort made by the thousands of franchisees throughout the world and in the millions of customers that they serve," says Don Fertman, director of development for the Subway restaurant chain.

The recipients of the 2009 Subway Development Agent of the Year awards are Marwan Al-Hamar of the United Arab Emirates; Frederico Pereira of Brazil; and Jim Smith of Maryland.

Often from the ranks of franchisees themselves, and chiefly responsible for building and managing a geographical territory, Subway development agents, or DAs, provide their local franchisees with the necessary support and expertise to run a successful business.

Selected from among many outstanding candidates in the U.S., Canada and the chain's developed and emerging markets from around the globe, Development Agents of the Year are honored for their accomplishments in developing the Subway brand within their territory, increasing sales and profitability and the level of service and support provided to their local franchisees.