• by Karlene Lukovitz  @KLmarketdaily, July 8, 2011

Subway continues to generate the most positive buzz/perceptions among leading QSRs, according to newly released first-half 2011 results from YouGov's BrandIndex.

Subway pulled a buzz score of 41.9 during this year's first half -- a slight decline from its 42.7 buzz score in first-half 2010, when it also ranked #1 among QSRs. (In addition, for full-year 2010, Subway was the buzz leader not only among QSRs, but among consumer brands in general.)

BrandIndex's buzz scores range from 100 to -100, and are compiled by subtracting negative feedback from positive. A zero score means equal positive and negative feedback. 5,000 consumers drawn from an online panel of 1.5 million are surveyed daily (margin of error: +/- 2%).

As in first-half 2010, Wendy's and Chick-Fil-A came in at #2 and #3 among QSRs in first-half 2011. However, their scores of 25.1 and 20.6, respectively, were somewhat lower than in the year-ago period (when they were 27.4 and 22.2, respectively).

Other QSRs making the top 10 for buzz in first-half 2011 include #4 Burger King (17); #5 KFC (16.1); #6 Arby's (15.9); #7 McDonald's (15.4); #8 A&W (14.2); #9 Quiznos (10) and #10 Chipotle (9.8).

The major change in the top 10 rankings was the absence of Taco Bell in this year's first half. In last year's first half, Taco Bell ranked #4 among QSRs, with a 21.1 buzz score.

None of the leading QSRs tracked showed major gains in their buzz scores in comparison with 2010's first half. The largest improvements were a 1-point gain by Chipotle (from 8.8 to 9.8, landing it a place in the 1H 2011 top 10) and 0.9-point gains by McDonald's (from 14.5 to 15.4) and Nathan's Famous (from 3.1 to 4).