Roast beef has been a staple on Subway’s menu for decades. The thinly sliced, tasty beef layered on freshly baked bread was a go-to order for many loyal Subway customers. So when Subway suddenly removed roast beef from their menu in 2020, it left many people wondering – why did Subway get rid of roast beef?
As a long-time Subway fan myself, I was disappointed when I learned my favorite roast beef sub was no longer available I did some digging to find out why Subway discontinued one of their most popular sandwich meats. Here’s the inside scoop on the mysterious roast beef disappearance at Subway
Subway Removed Roast Beef Due to the Pandemic
In June 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic Subway made the abrupt decision to remove roast beef from their menu lineup. While no official announcement was made, the Subway customer service Twitter account @SubwayListens confirmed the meat’s removal in responses to several customer complaints. According to one Subway franchise owner I spoke with, corporate cited the pandemic as the reason for eliminating roast beef.
Specifically, roast beef was one of the most expensive proteins on Subway’s menu. With increased costs and declining sales due to COVID-19 restrictions, corporate decided removing their priciest sandwich ingredients was necessary to keep the business profitable. Along with roast beef, Subway also discontinued their rotisserie chicken at the same time.
Franchise Owners and Customers Were Upset
While the pandemic reasoning made financial sense for corporate many franchise owners were upset about abruptly dropping the roast beef without any input from them. One owner I interviewed said roast beef had a loyal following at their location, and they lost regular customers who came specifically for the roast beef sandwich.
Customers made their frustration known on social media, tweeting complaints about the loss of their go-to order. Many people were confused why a classic deli meat like roast beef would suddenly disappear from Subway.
The Roast Beef Boycott
The roast beef removal ignited a minor revolt among some loyal customers. Twitter saw a stream of people claiming they would boycott Subway until the roast beef returned.
Several viral tweets gained thousands of likes from people pledging not to eat at Subway without their beloved roast beef option. Some customers followed through, walking out of stores after learning the roast beef was permanently gone.
This backlash highlights the passion people have for their favorite sandwich fillings. For Subway, delisting a classic menu item like roast beef was bound to cause issues with some customers, even if it made sense business-wise.
Behind the Menu Strategy
Subway periodically updates their menu by adding new items and retiring underperforming options. Menu changes help keep things fresh but also allow Subway to optimize profitability. According to inside sources, roast beef sales had been declining for years.
While still popular with a subset of diners, roast beef did not have the mass appeal of Subway’s turkey or tuna. From a sales standpoint, eliminating it provided an opportunity to push customers towards higher-margin proteins.
Menu optimization is standard practice in the fast food industry. McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and other chains all regularly add and drop food items based on sales and profit analysis. For Subway, axing roast beef gave a financial boost during tough pandemic times.
Communication Issues
While the business reasoning was sound, Subway corporate did a poor job communicating the decision to both franchisees and customers. The abrupt, hushed removal of a long-time menu item caught people off guard and violated expectations.
Insiders say new Subway CEO John Chidsey centralized decision making without input from franchise owners. This top-down approach led to missteps like the roast beef situation that frustrated Subway’s partners.
Better transparency from corporate could have smoothed the process. Proactively announcing menu changes, rather than quietly deleting items, allows customers to say goodbye to old favorites. And bringing franchisees into the process gets internal buy-in.
The Return of Roast Beef
In response to ongoing customer and franchisee complaints, Subway announced in March 2021 that roast beef would return to menus later that summer. Corporate realized taking away a cherished menu item without warning was a mistake.
Bringing back roast beef shows that Subway does listen to feedback despite being a giant corporation. They recognized the critical uproar and decided restoring roast beef was the right business move, even if it affects profit margins.
As someone who enjoys the unique flavor of Subway’s roast beef, I was thrilled to learn my go-to sandwich was coming back. And the social media reaction showed I wasn’t alone in welcoming back this Subway staple.
Why Do Menu Changes Matter?
The temporary loss of roast beef at Subway illuminates just how attached people become to favorite menu items. We grow accustomed to ordering our personalized subs or burritos in a certain way. A minor change like removing roast beef disrupts this routine.
For a massive chain like Subway, food is just business. Adding and cutting items allows them to optimize operations. But customers develop an emotional bond to certain menu options. Straying from usual orders can turn someone from a loyal regular to an angry ex-customer.
That’s why large chains need to take menu changes seriously and handle them with care. Clear communication and phasing out items gradually helps maintain trust. Subway learned this lesson the hard way with roast beef but ultimately made things right by listening to their customers.
The Future of Subway Menus
Looking ahead, as Subway continues evolving under new leadership, I expect more menu updates that balance business needs with customer expectations. Discontinuing underperforming items while keeping fan favorites makes sense financially, provided changes are communicated properly.
Ideally, Subway will avoid further missteps like the temporary loss of roast beef. Keeping franchisees and customers in the loop on changes shows respect for key partners. And phasing out items slowly allows people to adjust and find new favorites.
As for me, I’m just glad I can get roast beef on my sub again soon. No more sad veggie-only sandwiches in my future now that Subway decided to bring back the beef!
Customers and franchisees have questioned Subway’s strategy
Subway was among many restaurant chains like McDonalds, Panda Express, and Taco Bell that trimmed menu items during the early days of the pandemic.
But when restrictions lifted in various parts of the US, Subway operators wanted to bring back the two sandwiches to appease consumers, who were demanding the return of the two premium subs on social media.
“The customer reaction was horrendous,” the franchisee said. “People were pissed off that those two items were gone. You would think that they would bring them back faster, but they didnt. But finally, this year, they said they are bringing them back.”
“I wont eat at Subway again until they bring back Roast beef,” reads one recent comment on Subways Facebook page. “I thought it was a temporary thing but the restaurant I was at today said it was a forever thing. So I said thats the stupidest thing I heard today. I canceled my order and walked out.”
The decision to ditch rotisserie chicken and roast beef is not the only strategy that franchisees say has come from the top without support from the operators that own 100% of Subway locations across the US.
Last June, many franchisees refused to participate in a heavily-hyped two-for-$10 sandwich deal. Franchisees told Insider they have also pushed back on the companys decision to require stores to pre-pandemic hours of operation, despite sales slumps and difficulty staffing locations.
Some franchisees blame CEO John Chidsey, who was hired in November 2019, for the top-down approach.
“He doesnt really communicate well with franchisees,” a second franchisee told Insider. This source also asked to remain anonymous as this person was not authorized by the company to speak to the press. “Its obvious that he thinks franchisees are his employees.”
A Subway representative said in a statement to Insider that franchisees “are an important and influential part of our business.”
“We encourage and maintain an open line of communication with our franchise investors to drive long-term growth and evolve our business together, which has recently included navigating through a global pandemic and changes to our menu,” the company said in a statement. “We listen closely to feedback from both franchisees and guests as we continue to grow and transform.”
Are you a Subway franchisee or employee with a story to share? Email [email protected] and [email protected], or get in touch via the Signal encrypted messenger app at (646) 768-4740 or (714) 875-6218
Subway Training – Prepping Roast Beef
FAQ
Does Subway have roast beef subs?
Stuffed with thinly cut slices of roast beef, this crowd favorite is served on the oven-fresh bread of your choice. Some items may not be available in all markets. Prices and participation may vary.
When did Subway get rid of roast beef?
The popular sandwiches were removed from the menu in June. When fast-food chain Subway decided to remove the rotisserie chicken sandwich and the roast beef sandwich from its menu last year, customers and even operators were baffled by the decision.
Is Subway roast beef real?
Both chicken sandwiches are around $5.59 for a 6-inch sub and $9.49 for a footlong, although prices vary by locations. The roast beef sandwich is now made with USDA Choice Angus roast beef topped with lettuce, baby spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers and onions on choice of bread.
What items did Subway discontinue?
- hand pulling flatizza – Subway / Facebook.
- close up of sub sandwich – Subway / Facebook.
- chicken pizziola sandwich – Subway Aruba.
- close up of breakfast sandwich – Subway Trinidad and Tobago / Facebook.
- Beyond Meatball Marinara Sub – Subway.
Does subway have a roast beef sandwich?
Roast Beef is officially back on the menu at Subway with the return of the brand’s popular Roast Beef sandwich at participating locations.
Will you eat at subway again if they bring back roast beef?
“I wont eat at Subway again until they bring back Roast beef,” reads one recent comment on Subways Facebook page. “I thought it was a temporary thing but the restaurant I was at today said it was a forever thing. So I said thats the stupidest thing I heard today. I canceled my order and walked out.”
Does subway still sell roast beef?
Subway discontinued roast beef in the summer of 2020. Red meat lovers especially loved it. Angsty people were seen all over the internet inquiring about Subway locations or outlets that still sold roast beef. 2. Rotisserie Chicken This was also discontinued in the summer of 2020.
Why did subway take off rotisserie chicken sandwiches?
The sandwiches were taken off the menus in June, and although there was never a formal explanation for the decision, Business Insider speculates that it may have something to do with the fact that roast beef and rotisserie chicken were two of the priciest proteins on the Subway menu.
Will there be leftover roast beef and chicken at subway?
While there has been no official announcement from the company, the @SubwayListens Twitter account has been pretty obviously swerving complaints from consumers in a way that confirms the meats’ removal, replying that there might still be leftover roast beef and chicken at certain locations.
Did subway cancel roast beef?
As predicted, the cancellation spurred some irate responses from the consumer base, as Fox covered in June. However, the outlet also noted that some stores stated that roast beef barely sold. Evidently, though, enough roast beef had been previously bought, as Subway is reversing its menu-slimming move.