Subway® launches ordering of sandwiches and salads on Facebook with a bot for Messenger

SAN JOSE, Calif. and MILFORD, Conn., April 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Subway® restaurants launched a bot for Facebook Messenger today that allows guests to order sandwiches and salads from more than 26,500 Subway® restaurants in the U.S. The first-of-its-kind sandwich ordering bot was announced at the F8 Facebook Developer Conference with Agilitee, one of Subway's digital partners, and is the latest innovation from Subway® Digital. Guests can use the bot to order a sandwich or salad, customize it with their favorite bread; cheese; vegetables; and sauce, and pay on any device that supports Messenger. The bot for Messenger is the latest addition to the brand's mobile order systems that includes web ordering and app ordering.

To use the bot: launch the Messenger app, visit Messenger.com or visit Facebook.com/subway and tap 'Start Order.' The bot will ask for the user's location to find the closest Subway® restaurant. Then, the user is guided through selecting the sub bread, cheese, vegetables and sauce, as well as drinks, cookies or chips. Users choose their payment method: Facebook's payment system or Masterpass, a digital payment service from Mastercard, and the order will be ready for pick up in 15 minutes or less.

"Our bot for Messenger was just deployed in more than 26,500 U.S. Subway® restaurants- the largest deployments of a Messenger bot in the restaurant industry. We're proud to offer our guests an innovative new way to order and pay outside the restaurants," said Carman Wenkoff, Subway's Chief Information, and Digital Officer. "This is a new initiative in the on-going quest to enhance the guest experience."

"We're excited that Subway® is expanding their mobile order capabilities with a bot," said Stan Chudnovsky, Vice President of Product for Messenger. "It's a simple way to order food, and available to anyone who already has Messenger."

The Subway® Digital team is innovating the brand's digital properties, enhancing the guest experience with a comprehensive global strategy. Subway® Digital, created in 2016, is hiring more than 150 people for jobs supporting the brand's omnichannel approach.

About Subway® Restaurants

Guests in 112 countries have easy access to a fresh line-up of vegetables for their made-to-order sandwiches and salads at more than 44,600 franchised locations. Sandwich Artists serve 7.5 million sandwiches a day around the world. The company, founded over 50 years ago by then 17-year-old Fred DeLuca and family-friend Dr. Peter Buck, is still a family-owned business with thousands of dedicated franchisees/entrepreneurs in neighborhoods around the world, providing easy access to vegetables, detailed nutrition, dietary, and healthy lifestyle information. This has been a priority for the Subway® restaurants chain for many years. To learn more, visit www.subway.com. Subway® is a registered trademark of Subway IP Inc.

SOURCE SUBWAY Restaurants