Sandwich Chain Flips for Clean, Streamlined Look

It’s 3.0 at three Togo’s stores in California.

The nearly 50-year-old sandwich chain’s “store of the future” design, including both physical and operational renovations, has gone into operation at stores in Emeryville, Fremont and San Jose, and one unit’s double-digit increase in same-store sales is giving Togo’s optimism for its strategy.

Speed and simplicity mark the back-of-house operations and ordering process. The kitchen, open to customer interaction and ordering, offers a clear view of the newly reorganized prep system and speed-line sandwich-making process; guests order at self-service kiosks or talk to a cashier. In addition to the streamlined kitchen system, the stores use white lighting sources, white-painted walls, and brighter flooring to evoke cleanliness and a welcoming atmosphere.

Four new stores will reflect the rebranding initiative as well. The 200-unit chain is set to overhaul another eight more locations this year, and has another 18 stores slated for rebranding in 2020.