Quiznos Franchisees Walloped by Recession

While the recession and banking crisis have taken a toll on the entire restaurant industry, Emily Bryson York writes in Advertising Age that a number of Quiznos franchisees claim to have been disproportionately affected. Beset by higher-than-average commodity costs, lackluster marketing, a bruising promotional war with Subway and a premium-pricing structure incompatible with a tight economy, the chain has shuttered 150 stores this year.

It's also embroiled in three separate class-action lawsuits in which franchisees allege, among other things, that the chain overcharges franchisees for food and other supplies. The suits are pending in Colorado, Illinois and Wisconsin.

"We can't make money," said Quiznos franchisee Marty Tate, who said his Erie, Pa., store leads the region in sales. Mr. Tate, who is not part of the lawsuit, said 40% of his sales go directly into advertising, royalties and food for the next week. He added that three of seven locations in his county have closed in the past year. Mr. Tate said that when his contract expires next spring, he will open his own independent store.

Quiznos admits there are problems but said they are common to the restaurant industry as a whole. "Anybody who hasn't noticed a change has their head in the sand," said Quiznos Exec VP Rich Emmitt. "Consumers are reticent to open their pocketbooks, and the consumers have become much more keen on making sure that what they are purchasing is a value purchase."