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What indigestion, McDonald's!

The hamburger chain loses its global leadership to Subway. A victory for healthy food?

The year 2010 was particularly unpalatable for McDonald's. For the first time in decades, the chain famous for its hamburgers lost its title as the world's largest to its competitor Subway. Subway informed... The Wall Street Journal which ended 2010 with 33.749 units, compared to McDonald's 32.737 outlets worldwide. This is a symbolic turnaround, as it can be seen as the victory of a healthier lifestyle over neglect of well-being. Subway has always emphasized that its menu consisted of natural and light sandwiches, while McDonald's maintained the image of offering high-calorie and fatty meals, although it has made a great effort in recent years to change this reputation. The chain has even started offering salads and juices, alongside sandwiches and soft drinks.  

The dispute between the two brands also reveals the effects of the crisis that has been dragging on in the United States since 2008. With the economy faltering, Americans have started eating out less, or have opted for chains with lower prices. The solution was to accelerate expansion in other countries – especially Asia. Subway itself accelerated the opening of restaurants in other countries and recently opened its first restaurant in Vietnam. In Brazil, the chain has mainly established its presence in the food courts of shopping malls.
With information from Agência Estado