Subway is straying from the business model that made it the biggest fast-food chain in the world

Subway is abandoning its "create your own" business model in favor of the Subway Series.

Most restaurants have a list of 12 sandwiches that customers can order, but Subway is the first restaurant to include a list of 12 sandwiches. The groups are Italianos, chicken, clubs, and cheesesteaks.

Customers were able to point out which ingredients they wanted on the sandwiches made by the workers. Customers are expected to personalize their sandwich at Subway. Subway said in a press release that the way it has been for 60 years is its foundation.

Subway wants customers to trust their expertise and trust in the sandwich artists to create a sandwich that they will enjoy.

Customers can still make their own sandwiches after Tuesday's availability of the new sandwiches.

There are a few possibilities for the new menu. A standardized menu with less focus on personalization can make operations quicker for workers. The new menu "sped up operations" and resulted in less questions from customers, according to the president of Subway North America.

Kalinowski said that faster service could lead to higher sales volumes and more profit. Subway has relatively low unit sales compared with competitors, so the simplified menu could speed up lines and potentially lead to more sales. Subway's 2021 menu refresh bumped sales after a downward trend, so another more ambitious change could be promising.

Customers who want to personalize their orders could be pushed to do so by creating a menu with pre- selected options. Kalinowski said that the format is great for personalization. Digital sales are attractive to businesses because of better margins, speedier preparation, and lower costs in maintaining dining rooms, as customers prefer to eat out.

A trend that took over fast food was started by Subway's embrace of total customization. A similar assembly-line model where customers could point to ingredients and watch them become part of a bowl or burrito led to the growth of the restaurant. Kalinowski said that it's embracing the opposite trend in the industry.

Kalinowski said it could lead to better customer experiences and improved sales. The results of the upcoming quarters will be used to see if Subway can reverse its trend of closing stores.

Do you work for Subway and think about the new menu? You can email this reporter at Business Insider.