Sandwich chain Subway is planning to add new shapes and styles to its bread range "bringing some innovation to the customer".

The chain, which now has 780 outlets in the UK, has a team of people working on its bread strategy, said Bryan Griffiths, MD of the European Independent Purchasing Company (EIPC), the company which manages buying for Subway franchises.

Subway, famous for its six- and twelve-inch submarine rolls, already offers some wraps and round rolls. Griffiths told British Baker it is looking at additions to the range. He commented: "There have been lots of developments in other areas of the Subway business, now we need to focus on bread. Grain, flavours, everything is on the table for us."

Subway is also looking at offering wider breakfast and evening ranges, he said.

As Subway continues to grow in the UK, Griffiths said it was confident that it would beat its oft-quoted target of opening 2010 outlets by 2010.

He said: "We should hit out target by 2009 - 2010 stores by 2009 does not sound quite as snappy!" Subway expects to sell a total of 160 million rolls in the UK this year, he added.

Subway is supplied by bread company Evron in the UK and Ireland and Griffiths said the two companies will grow together. He said: "Evron opened a dedicated factory in Wales in July and has room to grow with us." Brakes Logistics provides its distribution.