Subway franchisees air their beef with owner amid sale rumors

A group of Subway Restaurant store owners are vying to be heard amid rumors that America’s largest restaurant chain is gussying itself up for a potential sale.

An anonymous group of franchisees who claim to represent 250 Subway stores, or 1 percent of its total US locations, posted an open letter on Monday to Elisabeth DeLuca, the widow of chain co-founder Fred DeLuca, with a list of demands they claim could help improve their lot — as well as Subway’s. Requested changes include giving store operators the ability to source their own produce, to negotiate changes to franchise agreements, and to lease properties from landlords other than Subway.