The Long & Short of It

Is Your Sub Sandwich, Sub Par?

Have you ever purchased one of those GIANT PARTY SUBS?  Well it seems as though the Investigators at KNXV-TV the Phoenix ABC Affiliate decided to purchase some 3-Foot Subs at three local Sub Shops (all franchises) and three local supermarkets and they were -- short-subbed!

Over a 2-day period of time they purchased nine three foot long subs: 3 at Subway; 2 at Blimpie; and 1 at Albertsons, Bashas, Safeway and Cousins.  They then took the subs to the the Arizona Department of Weights and Measures not for a party, but to have Kelly Larson (Arizona's Official Metrologist) use her trusted and carefully calibrated tape measure (serial No. 14696) to measure each one.  According to Dennis Ehrhard, Dept. of Weights and Measures assistant director, stated that a 36" sub would need to be at least 34.92" long to be within the acceptable range.  Larson measured the sandwiches from each location and found the following:

• Subway
  • 2' - 8 -1/4"
  • 2' - 8-1/2" 
  • 2' - 8"        
• Blimpie (2 different locations)
  • 2' - 10"
  • 2' - 9-1/2"
• Albertsons
  • 2' - 10-3/4"
• Bashas
  • 2' - 11-1/2"
• Safeway
  • 3' - 1"
• Cousins
  • 3' - 2"

So the sandwiches from both Cousins and Safeway were longer than ordered, Bashas was short but within the guidelines.  Those from Albertsons, Blimpie and Subway were all short - with Subway being the worst offender.

The last Sandwich measured from Subway was 4" short or a one serving.  You certainly would not be able to count on your 36" sub to feed all nine people at your party.  "If that sandwich was to cost you $20, that's 2 bucks of sandwich you didn't get," Erhard calculates.  Erhard's office warned Subway for shorting a customer.  The ABC15 Investigators asked each of the companies where subs were purchased for a statement.  (statements can be read here)

Statement from Subway:

"Thank you for your inquiry. At Subway restaurants, quality and customer satisfaction are our main priorities. Whether feeding the team, feeding the crew or feeding the family, Subway Giant Subs have become synonymous with big game festivities, special occasions, meetings and parties.

Although our Customer Care department has not received any similar complaints, we were disturbed to learn of the findings of KNVX's [sic] investigation and feel that this is a genuine concern. While the bread has to be stretched by hand to the proper length prior to being placed in the oven, the amount of ingredients in the Giant Sub remains consistent. With that in mind, we are currently in the process of reevaluating our advertising, promotional, training and packaging materials with regard to the specific or implied length of Giant Subs and are taking steps to advise our franchisees to only discuss with customers the approximate number of expected servings and not a specific length of measurement."

Les Winograd
Public Relations Coordinator
Subway Restaurants

Take note that in the letter it is insinuated that the error could be the result of 'hand stretching' the bread.   With the help of Larson the ABC15 Investigators took one more measurement - that of the Subway box itself.  It measured 2' - 10-3/4".  A Subway 3' foot box can't even hold a 3' foot sub.