Subway teams up with Dadong to launch Peking duck sandwich collection

Global sandwich giant Subway launched its new Dadong Peking Duck collection across more than 1,200 stores nationwide on Tuesday, bringing the iconic Chinese delicacy to everyday fast-food dining as part of the flagship launch of Subway China's New Flavors of China localization strategy, which aims to roll out Chinese-inspired sandwiches.

The collaboration features five main dishes, plus matching sides and beverages, including Peking duck sandwiches and wraps, paired with traditional accompaniments like scallions and cucumber to balance richness.

Dong Zhenxiang, founder and chef of Dadong, a renowned Peking duck chain, said the joint R&D team optimized duck meat preprocessing and developed a store-specific oven reheating protocol to tackle the longstanding industry challenge of crispy duck skin turning soggy from moisture, preserving the signature crisp texture and juicy meat.

"High-end should not be defined by high prices and barriers — first and foremost, it is defined by strict quality standards," Dong said. "This partnership is an experiment in making premium dining accessible to the public. We also hope to leverage Subway's global network to explore more possibilities for lightweight, international expansion of Chinese cuisine."

The launch marks the debut of Subway's New Flavors of China strategy, under which the brand will partner with premium Chinese culinary brands and master chefs every autumn to roll out limited-edition Chinese-inspired sandwiches and complementary products.

Subway China's store footprint has expanded from around 500 to more than 1,200 locations over the past three years, with localized product innovation serving as one of its core growth drivers.

"Localization is a must, not an option, for Subway in China," Wang Wei, chief marketing officer of Subway China, said. "Instead of competing on price cuts and cost reductions, we are pursuing a value-for-quality path, using co-branded innovation to break consumers' stereotypes about Western fast food."

Previously, in early Sept, the Dadong Peking duck sandwich made its debut in New York.