"Subway signs licensing deal with Atkins"
 

Subway signs licensing deal with Atkins

By Bruce Horovitz, USA Today

December 27, 2003

link to article

Subway -- the sandwich chain that brought the world the Jared Fogle diet -- has become the latest fast-food chain to embrace the Atkins diet.

Subway announced plans Friday to sell two Atkins-Friendly Wraps at all 16,500 Subway stores nationwide starting Monday. The wraps are made from special wheat and soy grains that are high in fiber and protein, but carry one-third the carbohydrates as Subway's conventional 6-inch subs.

Consumers will pay about 50 cents more for them than regular Subway sandwiches.

Behind it all is a nation of heavy consumers who want to eat hearty but still lose weight as did Fogle -- the now-famous Indianapolis resident who lost 245 pounds on a strict diet of Subway sandwiches and diet soda.

The popularity of the Atkins diet appears to be near its zenith, and is potentially threatened by new concerns about mad cow disease in the United States. Nearly one in four Americans has at least tried the Atkins diet, which encourages consumption of meats, vegetables and some fruits but discourages carbohydrate-laden bread, pasta and cereals.

"Next, we'll have Slim-Fast shakes at Dairy Queen," joked Janet Lowder, president of Restaurant Management Services, a consulting firm. "Any restaurant that doesn't offer alternatives isn't paying attention," said Lowder.

Last week, Hardee's and Carl's Jr. announced new bunless burgers wrapped in lettuce to meet Atkins dieters' needs. Last month, Blimpie Subs & Salads launched a menu of low-carb products in its 20 Indianapolis-area stores, one of just four markets nationwide to test the concept -- joining Long Island, N.Y., Connecticut and New Jersey. Blimpie plans to offer its low-carb menu in all 1,700 stores by March 2004, according to the Blimpie Web site.

Other Indianapolis-area sub shops such as Jimmy John's also offer limited low-carb items.

For Subway, the deal is a strategic move to protect its franchise of better-for-you fast food.

Not only has the popularity of the low-fat, low-calorie Jared Fogle diet begun to fade, but same-store sales at Subway have dipped about 2 percent over the past year even as rivals such as McDonald's and Wendy's are enjoying double-digit sales gains.

For Atkins, the move is a major public relations coup as the company continues to reach out to strike licensing deals with some of the most familiar names in foods. A partnership with T.G.I. Friday's was announced earlier this month. And several others deals are said to be under negotiation.

Subway also has plans to introduce in April an entree salad line with three Atkins-friendly salad dressings.

"We're making the changes to stay on top of consumer trends," says Fred DeLuca, president and founder of Subway. He said he thinks the Atkins tie-in could boost sales by up to 10 percent over the next year.

Early ads for the new Atkins tie-in will not feature Fogle, but yet-to-be-created ads will feature the famous dieter, DeLuca says.

It's great to have so many low carb choices if you like to eat out. I live in a small town and we now have a Low Carb store and several restaurants have low carb menus...one even has low carb (expensive) mixed drinks.

WOW!!! Someone in the media GETS IT!!

(cries tears of joy)

From the Subway Website
 

http://www.subway.com/subwayroot/index.aspx

I'll get the Chicken Bacon wrap for lunch today, and report the results here.

Just got back from Subway . Sitting at my desk eating the turkey wrap. Not a bad sandwich. Definitely a nice option to have.
They asked if I wanted chipotle sauce on my wrap and I declined. Don't know if that sauce was included in the 11 carbs advertised or not. If so, my sandwich came in a little less. I don't know the carb count for chipotle sauce.

Johnie

I had the Chicken Bacon Wrap with Mayo, Green Peppers, Onions, and cheese. Not bad, although it could have been a little bigger. I still like getting the grilled chicken salad with mayo, cheese,green peppers, and onions. That seems like I'm getting a little more for my money.

It is definately a nice option for a sandwich-type of food.

Yum - just finished the chicken/bacon wrap. It looked like 3-4 ounces of sliced chicken breast, cheese, and 2 slices of bacon. I had mine with ranch dressing, lettuce, black olives, and jalapeno peppers.

The wrap itself is thin but sturdy - they packed a lot on it before they warmed it. It is quite different from the "La Tortilla" tortillas - it had no trace at all of that nasty soy aftertaste that ruins so many low-carb substitute products.

The white cheese is pre-shredded rather than the standard triangles they use on their sandwiches. The jalapenoes were quite mild - I would've enjoyed a bit more heat.

I'd gotten so sick of their salads that I never wanted to see another one of them. I'll be back for more of these wraps.

I do agree that it was a bit too small - luckily, I've got some peanuts and some Atkin's Crunchers handy.

I had a turkey bacon wrap today. I loved it! Hubby likes to eat at subway, now I will be able to eat there too.

If they'd sell Atkins crunchers, it would be very convenient. I agree with Gotbeer that Subway's salads are subpar at best.

Where do I buy those tasty WRAPS!
 

I tried both wraps today for lunch and LOVED them! The Chicken one is a little better than the Turkey version in my opinion, but that's totally a personal preference. My wife loved the turkey so go figure.

My questions is this: WHAT TORTILLAS ARE THEY USING??? I loved them! They don't have the gross chemically flavor that La Tortilla Factory ones do. They were also a little doughy and didn't rip at all. I really want to buy some of the wraps and put my own fixings in them at home! I know La Tortilla Factory tortillas have 3 carbs vs. Subway's 5 carbs, but it's SO worth it when you consider the difference in flavor and texture!

Neither the subway.com nor the atkins.com websites say who makes the Subway tortilla wraps nor if we can buy them separately somewhere.

Logline,

We have been buying Mama Lupe tortillas, which are much, much better than the Lar Tortilla brand in my opinion -- and less expensive, too. They have 3NC each, and can be purchased at Wal-Mart. I made Quesadillas with them the other day, and they toasted up nearly to the same consistency as a true flour tortilla.

And this statement is based on ???? The last article I read talked about how popular the "diet" is and how mad cow seemed to be having NO impact. I want to :bash: "reporters" and "journalists" who make these kinds of statements and don't back them up!

I just tried the new Subway Atkins Wraps. I tried both...

...in the name of research! They were both good, though not very large. The wrap was tasty. The value for the $$ is fine. In my market (Chicago) they are $3.99 each.

I can't say that I expect to "crave" either of these, but it's nice to know I can run across the street from my office and get one if I neglect carrying my lunch to work.

Also, they outta carry Atkins Crunchers as a side. And don't forget that these are not for those on Induction.

Donald

Hmmm...I tried the chicken bacon wrap and I thought it was great. BUT, one difference is the cheese. They used the regular processed sliced cheese on mine. No grated cheese in sight. Could just be the outlet I went to. I thought the wrap was fine and I liked how it didn't drip or tear, right to the last bite. I wouldn't go out of my way to have one but being a busy mom of 3 (with 3 jobs and volunteer work, too!) I like knowing that when I'm out running a million errands or going from one job to another, I can have something on-the-go. I had a Subway salad once and it wasn't very satisfying at all. Iceburg lettuce and not that big.

I agree about the Crunchers, too. Never thought of it, but it would be great to have a side with the wrap.

I noticed on the signs it said they weren't suitable for Induction. Hope Inductees notice that!!

Nicole

I forgot to mention that after I had gone through the line to get my wraps, I noticed another sign that said you can order any of their subs in a wrap. So we're not locked into just those two varieties.

That's a good idea and one that will probably inspire me to go back again.

Donald

I had them make me a breakfast wrap - a couple of eggs, bacon, sausage, cheese, pepperoni, and so on. Not on the menu but they told me they will wrap ANYTHING. They nuked it in the microwave, and it came out fantastic.

Thanks! "H" said we are going out for brunch tomorrow.

related article:

Taking the low-carb route

By DENNIS J. WRIGHT , dwright~phoenixvillenews.com 01/09/2004

link to article

PHOENIXVILLE - In an effort to provide additional healthy, weight-conscious choices for its customers, Subway® Restaurants now offers carbohydrate-controlled options on its menu with a new line of Atkins®-friendly sandwich wraps.

According to Will Rumpa, Subway manager at the 193 Bridge Street site, the two Atkins diet-endorsed wraps, the Turkey Bacon Melt and the Chicken Bacon Ranch, have been extremely popular so far.

"They just came out and the wraps have been our best sellers - especially with the new year," said Rumpa. "It seems like everyone around here is going low-carb, which is a good thing."

Instead of regular bread, the new carb-controlled sandwiches use a special wrap made with wheat gluten, cornstarch, oat and sesame flour and soy protein rather than traditional wheat flour.

The wraps used to make the sandwiches are approximately 5 grams of net carbs, compared to the variety of breads that are available for most Subway sandwiches, which range from 38 to 48 grams of net carbs.

The Chicken Bacon Ranch wrap contains 7.84 grams of net carbs, 40 grams of protein and is 480 calories. The Turkey Bacon Melt wrap has 10.33 grams of net carbs, 32 grams of protein, and is 430 calories.

Rumpa said his Subway has been averaging 12 to 15 wraps a day.

"We've been making a lot of the Chicken Bacon Ranch wrap," he said. "It's been outselling the Turkey Bacon Melt - although I've been told that both wraps are very good. The price for either wrap is $3.99 and we'll have them available at least until mid-February."

Watching his carbohydrates in 2004 is Ned Simmons of Phoenixville, who said he's tried both new wraps.

"They are certainly a fine alternative to the regular sandwiches," said Simmons. "It's neat to see how Subway comes up with new and interesting items for their menu. Personally, I prefer the Chicken Bacon Ranch wrap. They're really packed with chicken and they taste great."

In addition to the Atkins-endorsed wraps, any 6-inch submarine sandwich on Subway's menu can be prepared with a wrap instead of bread. The franchise also has plans to release new carb-controlled salads in the spring of 2004.

"We can also make regular sandwiches low-carb by scooping out some of the additional (white, non-crust) bread part out of the sandwich," said Rumpa. "A few of our customers have asked us to do that and it isn't a problem. We are here to support the dieting needs of our customers the best way possible."

Low carbohydrate dieting was made popular by Dr. Robert Atkins, who developed the renowned Atkins Nutritional Approach. Subway restaurants have formed a partnership with Atkins Nutritionals Inc. to better promote the new line of carb-controlled menu items. Although the wraps are Atkins-approved, they are not appropriate for the Induction phase of the Atkins program, but do offer an important option for most people on low-carb diets.

More Americans now follow low-carb diet plans than any other type of diet. More than 34 percent of dieting consumers currently follow or have switched to a low-carbohydrate/high-protein diet, compared to 22 percent of dieting consumers who follow a low-fat diet, according to recent studies by the Synovate research group.

Subway's success in recent years can be attributed in part to the fact that it is one of the few quick-serve restaurant chains to offer a wide variety of low-fat alternatives to typical fast-food fare. The low-carb wraps are an extension of Subway's famous "7 under 6" low-fat, heart-healthy sandwich menu, by providing dieters who can't enjoy Subway's traditional home-baked breads with a healthy yet carb-controlled sandwich option.

For more information on the low-carb wraps, contact Subway at 610-917-8042.

Blimpies sandwiches
 

I had a Blimpies sandwich today - I guess they're moving forward with them. Mine supposedly had 8 carbs which would completely blow my carb count (back on induction) - so I brought it back to my office and took one slice of bread off and just made a half sandwich - double thick.

I'm hoping that cut the carbs down to about 5???? Hope so - cause I didn't think I could choke down my leftover fish. :rolleyes:

cc

Subway's Chicken Bacon Wrap is Yummy.
 

Had the Chicken Bacon wrap today, and it was really yummy and filling enough for me. At around $4 it wasn't bad at all.

Those are great tortillas. Wish I could find some equivalent ones in the stores out here.

The only low-carb tortillas I have found are La Tortilla Factory, and although those are good, they don't quite have the texture and flavor like the real thing, but Subway's sure do.

The wraps are good whether you're on Atkins or not.

One of the best things I love about the Subway wrap is they'll make any sandwich you want with that little tortilla! I love the texture *and* the taste of this tortilla. Yum!!

I was speaking with a Subway manager today and heard confirmation about the salad line they'll be introducing (not sure how much different it will be from what they have now, which is just about everything, other than dressings, maybe), but he also shared a little about what will be in store for the rest of the year. There will be a complete Atkins-friendly line at Subway, eventually, which includes chips (and beverages, I hope).

This really is a great step!! :)

Had a few chicken bacon wraps and thought they were great.

Funny, though I went on a Tuesday, and they include afree COOKIE on Tuesday! They might want to revise that plan a bit. Maybe a low carb snack rather than a chocolate cookie.

Low Carb Tortilla's at Kroger too
 

[FONT=Times New Roman]Kroger also now carries a low carb tortilla. "La Tortilla"

These are 5 net carbs, but they're the bigger size. I've made pizza's with them, cheese dogs, stir fried chicken (with walnuts) wrap. Yuummm

The rest of the family likes them too so we don't have to buy 2 brands.

:yay:

La Tortillas are good, but Mama Lupes tastes and feels more like a true tortilla to me. You can even toast them up and make really nice quesadillas.

They stocked them at local Wal Mart's for a while, but stopped.

i had the chix bacom wrap w/ no cheese and a little lettuce and tomato w/ the ranch and i loved it!!!! considering what i used to eat for lunch i have to say this is a great and healthier change! i would recommend :)

"Subway's low-carb wraps leave a bit to be desired"
 

Subway's low-carb wraps leave a bit to be desired

By LORINDA JARVIS, Staff Writer

link to article

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bite into a Subway chicken bacon ranch melt, and two things become apparent:

1. You're going to need more than one of these if you're really hungry.

2. At about $5 per tiny wrap, it's going to cost a fair amount to fill you up.

The good news for Atkins dieters is that Subway and other franchises are jumping onto the low-carb bandwagon and offering more variety for bread-starved carnivores like me.

That's a good thing, trust me.

Now, if you've been hiding under a rock lately, the Atkins diet throttles back the amount of carbohydrates consumed daily to a minimum of 20 grams during the two-week induction phase.

That means we don't eat bread. That means we don't consume products with too much sugar. And that translates to lots and lots of protein: Steak, chicken, tuna fish, eggs, cheese, nuts. You get the idea.

The chicken wrap comes with tender chunks of chicken, and the wrap can be dressed up with lettuce, tomatoes or other typical sandwich fare.

Subway's commercials make the wraps seem huge. The truth is, we're not getting much for our money. These two products seem more like appetizers than lunch.

The other problem is with the flat bread itself, which is tough and tasteless. A co-worker compared the taste to chewy, wet cardboard.

Clearly, there's room to improve when it comes to low-carb products such as these.

Still, it's a start. The good news is it can only get better, right?

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Originally published Wednesday, January 21, 2004

Subway's wraps are GREAT.
 

Frankly I've had both the chicken and turkey wraps and they are great. Finally something decent and quick.

1) the wrap is about the size of a 6" sub and satisfied both myself and my six-foot three husband as an adequate meal. If you are extra hungry, sure, you might want something to eat on the side (an extra wedge of cheese or hard-boiled egg on the side would be nice), but they are still adequate. Heck, if you can handle the extra carbs and calories get two of them. Plus you can get any sub fillings put in a wrap, so add something or make up your owne if you so desire.

2) two wraps plus tax were $9.50 which is reasonable for a nice amount of meat, fresh veggies, and wrapping.

3) I don't think the writer knows what he is talking about. The wraps are chewy and delicious--tase just like tortillas to both myself and my husband. I wish I could find them in a store.

4) nice nutrient information - http://subway.com/subwayroot/MenuNu...itionValues.pdf

I have to agree.

The size actually taught me the difference between "satisfied" and "stuffed" - a distinction I had never really appreciated.

And compared to meat, cheese and veggies, all starches are pretty tasteless - this is a surprise?

I enjoyed the wraps at Subway
 

This 58 year old granny really enjoyed the wrap. One wrap satisfied me and I thought it was really good. :agree:
Janice