The fast-food wars continue to drive deals for hungry, discount-seeking customers. Now, Subway has announced a new offering that will make scoring a footlong a little more budget-friendly.
Starting Monday, August 26, the chain will knock the price on any footlong sub down to $6.99. No, it’s not the coveted $5 footlong deal, but it’s not too far off.
The price of a footlong usually varies, but at certain restaurants in the U.S., one can cost as much as $14. But you can’t just walk into a Subway restaurant and get the $6.99 deal. You can only grab it via the mobile app or by logging onto Subway’s site and entering the code: 699FL.
It’s a smart play for the brand. Subway is banking on the notion that if customers download the app and sign up for the chain’s MVP Rewards Program, the deals will keep them coming back for more footlongs, chips, drinks, etc. And right now, just about everyone could use a deal.
In its announcement the chain acknowledged that customers are more dedicated than ever to finding affordable dining options. “Today’s diner is stretched more than ever, and too often that means a tradeoff on quality, variety, or flavor to find an affordable meal,” Doug Fry, president of Subway North America, said in the press release. “Our menu is full of footlongs for every budget, and this new deal means our guests can get the sandwiches they crave at a great value.”
Inflation has certainly led a lot of consumers to avoid dining out altogether, and Subway is far from the first fast-food chain to slash prices on certain items in an attempt to bring customers back to the counter. Chains including McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Taco Bell have brought back value meals. And other restaurants, such as Denny’s, Applebee’s, and Chili’s, have been advertising budget offerings.
Still, the latest campaign is a far cry from the brand’s original $5 footlong promotion in 2008, which was a massive success when it came to driving customers through the doors at the start of the recession. Eventually, it became unsustainable for franchises to continue at that price. Then Subway brought the deal back in 2017, but a year later, discontinued it yet again.
The latest offering is not the first shift for Subway in recent years. The chain moved away from pre-sliced meats for fresher sandwich fixings. It has also promoted its $3 footlong dippers—and has been leaning into app ordering and promoting its rewards program, while adding more options for customization to the menu.
But the chain’s presence in the U.S. is shrinking. Last year, more than 400 Subway restaurants closed up shop. The chain was also recently sold to Roark Capital Group, the owner of Dunkin’ and Jimmy Johns, for a cool $9 billion.
While Subway is seeking more routine customers, this deal won’t be around for long. The last day to grab a discount footlong sub is September 8.