Jersey Mike’s Subs could also be identified for its basic, no-nonsense attraction, however its readiness to embrace change has confirmed equally essential. This yr marks Jersey Mike’s second yr in a row on the No. 2 spot on our rating, its seventh yr in a row within the Prime 10, and its eighth consecutive yr as No. 1 in its class. It is doing so effectively that in November, Blackstone introduced it was shopping for the sub franchise for $8 billion.
Operationally, this yr’s greatest growth is that just about each store now has separate strains for digital and in-store orders. “We began placing second strains in once we did the retrofits a pair years in the past, and it is simply been constructing and constructing,” explains Hoyt Jones, president of Jersey Mike’s. “We actually targeted on it this yr to verify the shops are utilizing it, in order that we’re rewarded with the effectivity of the drivers and our on-line clients coming in. The large factor is to not disrupt the client move within the retailer.” When you’re in search of proof of the technique’s success, look no additional than the corporate’s excessive on-line rankings.
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Operations are at all times Jersey Mike’s core focus, however homing in on digital strains is particularly essential now that digital orders account for 40% of its gross sales. DoorDash and UberEats are built-in instantly into the corporate’s proprietary point-of-sale system, eliminating the necessity for extra order tablets that trigger complications behind the counter. This aspect could also be invisible to clients, however for employees and franchisees, it results in much less confusion within the ordering course of and smoother sub supply.
In the meantime, consistency within the menu permits Jersey Mike’s to ship a top quality product to clients repeatedly. In 2024, there have been some limited-time menu gadgets — together with new cheesesteaks within the spring and a pastrami sandwich within the winter — however the breadth of its mounted menu retains the model’s loyalists coming again.
“It is enjoyable for the shops so as to add a little bit selection typically for purchasers which can be coming in for a lot of, a few years,” says Jones. “After we be ok with one thing and we’re enthusiastic about it, we’ll try this for a short-term foundation after which return to what we do greatest: make nice Italian subs.”
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