Subway Restaurants’ famous $5 Footlong has been around for so long that the jingle is the kind of earworm one could never easily forget. But soon enough, we won’t be hearing the famous jingle anymore. The iconic sandwich may no longer be served your local restaurant.
The $5 Footlong was a hit in 2007-2008 due to the recession and the healthy image the veggie-heavy subs had at a time when Americans began to care more about what they ate. But later in the years, the sub’s fame began to die out.
Trevor Haynes, current CEO of the Milford, Connecticut, company, told USA TODAY in an exclusive interview that starting this month, each franchisee will be allowed to decide whether to sell the $5 Footlong.
When the chain brought back the sub last winter after a years-long absence, many franchisees were upset. They complained loudly of the slim margins they earned off of the discounted ‘wich, and Haynes, the company, listened to the complaints.
While some franchisees may choose to retain the $5 Footlong, Subway is encouraging different markets to try other value options. The chain is testing some more exotic tastes, working on what’s been dubbed Firebird chicken, a spicier rotisserie-type poultry, and guajillo steak. Long rolls area key part of Subway sandwiches, so the company is also experimenting with paninis.
By: Maytinee Kramer
