Subway Is In Big Trouble -- Unrelated To Jared

Huffpost ^ | 7/10/15 | Jenny Che

[SoFloFreeper]

Subway has been struggling for some time, its health-oriented campaigns falling flat with consumers....

Subway is a privately held chain and does not post its profits. But according to the market research firm Technomic, sales dropped 3 percent in the U.S. last year, or around $400 million. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.....

[Mr Ramsbotham]

I asked the Indian store owner about it ....

If the name is Patel, it will not go well.

[Vinnie]

Barely IMO.
Firehouse Subs is the way to go.
New York Steamer...MMmmmmm.

[moovova]

I always asked for the same sandwich...the Cold Cut Combo...with everything on it. I usually made the comment “If you have too ask about it...go ahead and put it on there.”. I know there was probably liberal use of mystery meat, but with all the veggies, I got my ruffage.

Then Michelle forced Subway into the “my way, or the highway” movement, and I ain’t been back.

Heck...we (as a family) have pretty much cut out fast food all together. We do still eat out, but mostly at higher-quality (costlier) small restaurants. There’s a small Greek place just up the street. Great food plus they treat you like a human there. We always feel like we’re walking into someone’s dining room as an invited guest. We like that.

[Enlightened1]

Ditto!

I go to Jersey Mike’s now. It’s better sub anyhow.

[Enlightened1]

Firehouse is too good. It’s addictive.

[polymuser]

Jimmy Johns, Firehouse, Blimpie, Quiznos, many alternatives to this PC company.

[Rodamala]

I had Jersey Mike's one time... in Tyler, Texas I believe it was.

Being from NJ, where you can get a decent sammich that is not all bread and veggies, but a real manly sandwich... where an Italian sub is NOT by default toasted (really? who here wants some WARM LETTUCE AND MAYO?)... I have kinda higher expectations.

The best sandwiches from home are probably Ye Olde Sub Base in Clinton, NJ... of the Milford Market, in Milford, NJ... though there are many others. Subway ain't close.

[usconservative]

I knew it. That explains why at least six of the Subway Sandwich Shops that were within about 3 blocks from where I work in downtown Chicago have closed up and are GONE. The closest Subway to me now is at least six blocks away.

[SZonian]

Same here...

Screw ‘em.

[VTenigma]

If they sliced the meat any thinner you could use it for a window, and what’s with building them upside down?

[fatnotlazy]

I too noticed the lack of English speaking employees here. There was one woman with a heavy eastern European or Russian accent. She had to ask me 5 times before I understood she was asking me if I wanted cheese on my sandwich. I thought it was my bad hearing, but a woman behind me said, “I can't understand her either.”

[henkster]

Indian owner cutting corners and ripping you off. Bad business model. But no surprise.

We stopped at a Subway in BFE Arkansas about two years ago. I ordered a meatball marinara sub, once one of my favorites. The “marinara” was basically ketchup. It was gross.

[headstamp 2]

Every piece of meat they sell is turkey based and flavored to whatever is needed.

It’s classic industrial food.

Get the same thing at a deli and taste the difference right down to the freshness of the bread.

[trisham]

Subway is horrible.

[Sawdring]

I like to regularly eat at Subway. I want the to bring back the prime rib portobello and the Cuban sandwiches. Steak and cheese works well for me though.

[trisham]

people have figures out that they can get a better sandwich at a better price from any neighborhood deli.

*****************************

Agreed. A much better sandwich!

[the_daug]

A lot of the problem is management. I ate at a, Denny’s for years off I70 and the food was always top notch then Management changed and now I don’t bother after they took over.

[Alberta's Child]

There are a few reasons why Subway is in trouble, and other franchise/chain food places would do well to make note of these:

1. Their selection is pretty limited for a business that prepares sandwiches on demand instead of operating as a true fast-food place. This puts them at an immediate disadvantage compared to your typical neighborhood deli.

2. Their promotional campaigns tied to "healthy eating" have probably fallen flat. The healthy aspects of their food is way over-hyped, and most people who really eat healthy aren't likely to go there.

3. A chain restaurant dominated by foreign owners and foreign customers isn't likely to do well among Americans. My local Subway closed last year, and the one in the next town went through a change in ownership, with the new (foreign) owners laying off all the high school kids who worked there and running the place on their own.

4. These places must not be very profitable, because it seems like you can buy many Subway locations for not much more money than an expensive car. See Point #3. If your business model requires your business to be staffed for 12 hours every day by a married couple with no employees, you probably aren't doing enough business to justify your location in prime retail space.

5. Pre-sliced cold cuts and 100% turkey-based meats aren't real sandwich food. If I order ham or salami I want real ham or salami, not a "turkey-based" alternative (what the heck is that, anyway).

6. The market has probably been oversaturated with Subway stores for a long time.

[martin_fierro]

I couldn't help wondering how much of the Subway $andwich dollar went to pay these dubious "talents."

How much more sandwich would I have gotten were it not for them?

[Alberta's Child]

... at least six of the Subway Sandwich Shops that were within about 3 blocks from where I work ...

There's your answer right there. Six of ANYTHING within three blocks of where you work probably isn't going to work. I might be tempted to think Subway is nothing but a huge money-laundering operation.