Stuart, Fla.-Based Carbon-Dioxide Provider Lands Deal with Subway.

Byline: Susan Port

Jan. 21--STUART, Fla. -- A Stuart-based carbon-dioxide provider for restaurant soft drinks has signed a deal to be the preferred supplier for Subway, the world's largest restaurant chain.

NuCo2 Inc. recently signed the agreement with Independent Purchasing Cooperative, the Miami-based purchasing arm for Subway's approximately 17,500 franchisee outlets in the United States.

If all goes according to plan, NuCo2 will supply about 80 percent of Subway's franchise-owned U.S. eateries, said Dennis Clabby, vice president of purchasing for Independent Purchasing Cooperative.

Currently, the Stuart company services 640 Subway …