Before, Subway’s sales were going down for years. Now, the company wants to get people to try its sandwiches again.
Next week, Subway restaurants all over the country will put out a new menu with items that are better all around. The chain says the move is the biggest menu change in its history.
The revamp includes new recipes for the chains Italian and multigrain breads, as well as new sandwich toppings.
The chain is also tweaking items already on the menu. Subways bacon, for example, will now be hickory-smoked, and its turkey and ham sliced more thinly. Its also bringing back past items like rotisserie-style chicken and roast beef. Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., thousands of restaurants will give away up to a million free sandwiches to get people to try the new ingredients. m. and 12 p. m. on July 13. The chain is also making changes to its app and working with DoorDash so that customers can order delivery right from the app.
As a long-time Subway fan, I’ve enjoyed many a sandwich layered with their crispy bacon over the years. There’s just something about the combination of salty, smoky bacon with cool veggies and melty cheese that hits the spot
So when I heard Subway was upgrading their bacon across all US locations, I was instantly curious. What changes were they making to their bacon recipe and cooking method? And more importantly, how would it impact that irresistible bacon flavor that makes Subway sandwiches so craveworthy?
I did some digging into the details of the new Subway bacon to uncover what makes it different and better Read on to learn about the improvements they’ve made to take their bacon to the next level.
Subway Switched to Hickory Smoking
The most noticeable change with Subway’s new bacon is the switch from applewood smoking to hickory smoking. While applewood lends a sweeter, more delicate smokiness, hickory smoking infuses a bolder, more robust flavor.
Hickory smoking uses hardwood from hickory trees to produce a richer, more intense smoky taste. It adds a peppery punch you can both smell and taste in every crunchy, savory bite.
Subway’s decision to move to hickory smoking ramps up the flavor impact of their bacon. You get a more pronounced smoky essence and lingering finish compared to the more mellow applewood smoked bacon previously used.
Sliced More Thinly for Extra Crispness
In addition to hickory smoking, Subway now slices their bacon more thinly before cooking. The thinner cut helps the bacon get extra crisp when cooked.
Thicker sliced bacon often ends up with chewy, fatty sections rather than fully crisping up. By shaving the bacon more thinly and evenly, it cooks through more completely for crunchy texture andConsistency throughout each slice.
The thinner cut also allows the hickory smoke flavor to penetrate every bit of the bacon. You get full-flavored crispiness in every bite rather than random chewy mouthfuls.
Fresher Taste from New Cooking Method
Previously, Subway’s bacon was pre-cooked and reheated in stores. But the new process involves actually cooking raw bacon slices fresh in each location daily.
Cooking the raw bacon in-house enhances both flavor and texture. It allows the hickory smoke essence to fully develop while locking in crispness. Pre-cooked reheated bacon often loses its flavor nuances and can end up limp.
You can clearly taste the difference in freshness with the new cooking technique. Subway’s bacon has a lively crunch and vivid smoky taste when cooked right in the restaurant, not pre-made.
Why Hickory Smoked Bacon Tops the Rest
After tasting Subway’s new and improved hickory smoked bacon, I’m convinced it’s the best bacon choice for sandwiches. Here’s why hickory smoked bacon beats out other options:
More robust flavor – Hickory smoking infuses a richer, smokier taste vs. other woods like apple or maple. You get a peppery punch in every piece.
Enhanced crispness – Thin, evenly sliced bacon cooked from raw crisps up better than thick pre-cooked slices.
Not overpowering – While bold, hickory smoke doesn’t overwhelm other sandwich fillings like an artificial liquid smoke taste can.
Savory aroma – You can smell the irresistible smoky scent in every sandwich made with hickory bacon.
Versatile for any sub – Hearty hickory smoked bacon complements both savory meats and sweet veggies.
Hickory smoked bacon gives sandwiches an extra layer of craveable flavor and crispy texture. Subway made a smart move stepping up from applewood to hickory wood for bold smoky flavor in every bite.
Try it on Subway’s New Wraps and Breakfast Sandwiches
You can enjoy Subway’s new and improved hickory smoked bacon on their full menu of classic subs. But for the full flavor impact, I recommend trying it on one of their new offerings:
Wraps – Bacon adds crunch and smoky essence that pairs perfectly with all four wrap varieties: burrito chicken, chicken Caesar, chipotle steak & cheese, and Italian.
Breakfast sandwiches – Wake up to more flavor with hickory bacon on Subway’s lineup of breakfast subs like the egg and cheese, steak and egg, or black forest ham and egg.
Signature sandwiches – Look for bacon topping stimulating creations like the Monster (trio of meats), Baja Turkey Avocado (smoked turkey and bacon), or the Outlaw (roast beef and bacon).
Next time you grab a Subway sandwich, don’t forget to add a couple slices of their new and improved hickory smoked bacon. The thinner slices, robust smoky taste, and lively crunch will take your sub experience to new levels of flavor.
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Some shoppers used to think that Subway was a cheap and mostly healthy option because they could make their own sandwiches with the veggies and protein they liked without spending a lot of money. But in recent years, competition in the fast casual space has helped edge Subway out.
“We want to make a loud enough bang . to draw those people back to give us another look,” Subway CEO John Chidsey told CNN Business.
With the new menu, Subway is courting those customers and hoping to please its franchise operators.
According to the foodservice research and consultant firm Technomic, sales at Subways U. S. locations have been falling in recent years. System-wide sales at Subways U. S. locations were $12. 3 billion in 2013, which was its best year of the past 15, and about $8. 3 billion in 2020, according to Technomics analysis.
When asked to comment on those numbers, Trevor Haynes, president of Subway for North America, said in an email, “Subway is a privately held company and does not publicly disclose sales figures.” He also said, “When compared to 2019, before the pandemic, sales are doing well in the first half of 2021.” “.
Robert Byrne, director of consumer and industry insights at Technomic, said that when Subway first became famous, it “owned” customization. But the rise of fast casual made customization the norm. Now, customers can build their own burritos, salads, sandwiches or bowls, making competition in the space fierce. As more restaurants offer custom options, “we want to continue to . dominate that space,” said Chidsey.
Subways research showed that customers wanted more innovation, Chidsey noted.
That’s why the business chose to “focus on raising the quality of the core ingredients,” Chidsey said. “With those core ingredients you can make almost an infinite number of sandwich combinations.”
Its not just about customization. “Perceptions of health and what is healthy [have] evolved,” said Byrne. “From an ingredient standpoint, I know consumers would love to hear a little bit more about the sourcing. “.
Recently, there have been questions about Subway’s tuna. One lawsuit claimed that the sandwich is not made with real tuna. Since then, the lawsuit has been changed to say that the tuna that Subway uses is not always skipjack or yellowfin tuna and is not made with 10% tuna. Subway said that the first lawsuit had no basis in fact and that “the new claims are untrue.” They also said that “the lawsuit is a reckless and improper attack on Subways brand.” “.
Some people still serve the product with pride at Subway, saying that the wild-caught tuna is still a fan favorite among sub lovers. “.
It’s also possible that the refresh will make franchise owners happy, since some of them have been begging for changes.
One metric of the updates success is a “re-energized franchisee community,” said Chidsey. “Its important for us internally. ” Franchisees have also been calling for more menu innovation, he said.
Some Subway franchise operators have complained publicly about the companys treatment of them. In April, an anonymous group of “concerned franchisees” wrote an open letter to Elisabeth DeLuca, a co-owner of the chain. The Subway dream “has turned into a nightmare,” they said, writing that Subway hurt their business by franchising new locations nearby or shutting down stores for minor infractions, among other things. In a separate letter, they complained of high franchise fees. Subways franchise fees are “competitive,” said Trevor Haynes, Subways president for North America, in an emailed statement.
When asked about the franchisees’ complaints, Chidsey said, “There are still a few people who are unhappy about the past.” He said, “But I think if you talk to the vast majority of our franchisees, they’d say we’ve had a hell of a six-month run.” This suggests that the higher sales are good news for franchise owners. “Things are improving rather dramatically. He also said that it is more important for the chain to increase sales than to open more Subway restaurants in the US.
Aligning franchise operators with the corporate team is essential for the company to turn around, noted Technomics Byrne. “I dont think they can do anything until those two groups get on the same page. “.
BMT Double Meat w/ Bacon
FAQ
What kind of bacon does Subway have?
Does Subway cook the bacon?
What is the bacon sandwich from Subway?
What kind of meat does Subway use?
Does subway have chicken & bacon?
Meanwhile, the Baja Chicken & Bacon Sub features hand-pulled rotisserie-style chicken, new hickory-smoked bacon and pepper jack cheese, all drizzled with Subway’s new Baja Chipotle sauce for a smoky and spicy kick. Both the Chicken & Bacon Ranch and the Baja Chipotle Chicken are also available as a wrap, bowl, salad, and melt.
Does subway have turkey bacon & avocado?
Turkey, Bacon & Avocado is #40 on the Subway Series menu, and for a nice, round number like 40, this wrap deserves a more cohesive combination of flavors. Perhaps a smoked or honey-glazed turkey would have helped, or crisper and more present strips of bacon would have done the trick.
What kind of meat does subway have?
The Subway Club comes with Oven Roasted Turkey, Black Forest Ham, and Roast Beef. The Turkey Italiano at Subway comes with Roasted Turkey, Genoa Salami, and Spicy Pepperoni. Subway meats are supplied by many different manufacturers including big names like Perdue and West Liberty Foods.
What sandwiches do Subway customers eat?
A lot of Subway customers seem to come back for the Italian B.M.T which is a sandwich that features combinations such as pepperoni, salami and ham, as well as the popular “Steak and Cheese” sandwich which as a signature move, melts cheese over steak and serves in hot bread. The Chicken Bacon Ranch is also another popular option.