Subway closed hundreds of locations last year for the first time in its history

Subway Restaurants, the largestrestaurant chain in the US, shut down hundreds of locations in 2016.The chain's store count dropped by 359 locations in the US last year ' the first time in history that Subway experienced a net loss in locations, Bloomberg reported.With26,744 locations, Subway is still the most ubiquitous restaurant chain in the US, withMcDonald's in the No. 2 spot.Bloomberg reportedthat sales fell 1.7 percent last year to about $11.3 billion. The chain has struggled tokeep up with fast-casual competitors like Panera and Sweetgreen better suited to meet Americans' swiftlyevolving health trends.Thecompany also faced negative publicity from ascandal involving its former spokespersonJared Fogle.Fogleis currently serving a nearly 16-year prison sentenceafter being chargedforhaving sex with minors and possessing child pornography.Subway cut ties with him last summer.Subway has tried to revamp its image in the last year, launching a new logo last August and working to cut antibiotics from the menu.SEE ALSO:I went on the Subway Diet for a week ' and it's clear why the chain is no longer America's destination for healthy fast foodJoin the conversation about this storyNOW WATCH: We visited Ralph Lauren's soon-to-close flagship Polo store and saw why the brand is struggling
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