Graduate students at Western Carolina University were challenged to create a PEST analysis. I’ve chosen to stick with Subway Sandwiches since I’ve already begun exploring them in my previous SWOT analysis. If you missed that, please take a moment to check it out!
Please enjoy my presentation, which can be viewed below.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by, and don’t forget to leave me your thoughts and comments!
References
Bush, T. (2024, April 9). Pestle analysis of the food industry (with example). PESTLE Analysis. https://pestleanalysis.com/pestle-analysis-of-the-food-industry/#:~:text=Political%20Stability%3A%20Political%20unrest%20may,services%20can%20affect%20the%20indus
How do I do a pestle analysis? – steps and examples. Business Documents UK. (2023, April 15). https://business-docs.co.uk/scenario/how-do-i-do-a-pestel-analysis/
Kenton, W. (2024, February 27). What is pest analysis? its applications and uses in business. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/pest-analysis.asp
Keyser, W. (2023, April 4). Pest analysis. Venture Founders. https://venturefounders.com/pest-analysis/
Innovative Leadership and Entrepreneurship: A Graduate Student's Perspective 
6 replies on “The Professional Student: Subway PEST Analysis”
Shawn,
Great job with the PEST! The first thing that comes to mind with Subway currently is the recent California law changes that mandate minimum wage be $20 hourly. For many in the fast food industry, this is a barrier that cannot be overcome and has led to many shutting down. Subway seems to be a model that could possibly get by with less staffing, though I imagine margins are slim and this legislation at the state level bring serious political impact to the business. These same factors play into the economic impact. That could be something worth looking into!
The health and wellness angle is really interesting for Subway, as its been their mainstay marketing strategy for many years, with Jarrod serving as a key figure. In that regard, I wonder how his downfall has impacted Subway perceptions in terms of social acceptance? While I doubt there is much in the way of publicly available measurement data on that, my guess is that corporate Subway likely did attempt to measure the impact of this scandal on their brand and it would be fascinating to see.
Overall, super thorough and thoughtful PEST that covered almost all angles. Well done!
Cheers,
Zane Breeding
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Hi, Zane!
Thank you so much for your kind words! Also, thanks for sharing about the law changes in California, as I pay a little attention to what is going on regarding minimum wage outside North Carolina. A minimum wage of $20 is going to have a significant impact on many businesses inside or outside of fast food. It will be interesting to see how it plays out in the future!
Kindly,
Shawn
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Hi Shawn,
Great analysis! Your presentation was very thorough. While Subway is a healthy option, or “healthier”, I do recall claims and court battles related to their processing methods and even contents of some of their processed items like the tuna salad. I believe the case was dismissed, but I remember hearing, “don’t eat the tuna at subway”. Apparently it was testing positive for other animal dna, but I’m sure it’s not uncommon for contents in their sandwich bar to cross contaminate.
Great work!
Taelor
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Thank you, Taelor! You are correct regarding the court case about their tuna being dropped. I recall coming across that information in previous frameworks.
Kindly,
Shawn
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Hi Shawn!
Great job on your PEST analysis. As Zane mentioned, the hourly wage in California should be going up to $20.00 an hour. I think McDonalds is following suit to raise the minimum wage as well. I wonder if this is why they are trying to figure out ways to have a store that you don’t go in. Subway was popular for a reason. You get a load of toppings for no extra charge unless they are premium toppings. Your sandwich is customizable to your tastebuds. I think Subway needs more employees at any given site and better meat. Maybe if the ramp up to deli-cut meat they would attract a lot more curiosity and customers would return for the process that they are now utilizing. Also, all locations should be made to honor the coupons because it’s frustrating when you go for a deal, but the franchise owner has decided not to accept them. Jimmy John’s is also run by the same company is allegedly their “upscale brand”. Maybe they will close out the subway and operate more Jimmy John stores as they close the Subways.
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Hi, Tonya!
Subway needs more employees and a better system for operations. Switching over to automated kiosks would save a lot of time, but it would also eliminate customer interaction, which I think people enjoy. It’s tough to think about the positive aspects of the kiosks or the repercussions. I think doing some test stores would be best before making a major switch over. It will be interesting to see where Subway goes under new ownership. Your insights and observations are great. Thanks for stopping by again!
Kindly,
Shawn
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