Subway unveiled a new culinary innovation partnership with Beyond Meat to test exclusive plant-based protein options. Starting this September and for a limited time only, Subway restaurants will test the Beyond Meatball Marinara sub in 685 participating restaurants in Canada and the U.S.
The strategic collaboration with Beyond Meat reflects Subway’s continued culinary innovation journey to offer guests even more best-in-class food experiences that they can only find at Subway restaurants. In the past month, Subway has announced exclusive partnerships to offer the first-ever Halo Top hand-spun milkshakes and fresh baked King’s Hawaiian bread only at Subway. The unique partnership with Beyond Meat brings together dedicated culinary teams from both brands to explore new plant-based protein offerings, starting with the Beyond Meatball Marinara.
Now guests will have the opportunity to try the new Beyond Meatball Marinara, which takes its inspiration from the brand’s classic sandwich but with a plant-based twist. The sub is drenched in our irresistible marinara sauce, Provolone cheese, sprinkled with grated parmesan cheese and perfectly toasted, but features the first-ever Beyond Meatball created just for Subway. The sub offers the same flavor as Subway’s traditional meatball sub and is packed with protein—24 grams per six-inch sub.
Seventy percent of meat-eaters substitute a non-meat protein in a meal at least once a week, according to researchers, the NPD Group. Subway fans in North America can create more than 1 billion plant-forward sandwich, flatbread, and Signature Wrap combinations. With the addition of the Beyond Meatball, Subway guests will now have 2 billion options.
“Subway appeals to so many fans because we truly offer something for everyone. Our guests want to feel good about what they eat and they also want to indulge in new flavors. With our new plant-based Beyond Meatball Marinara sub, we are giving them the best of both worlds. And, we are particularly excited about debuting a co-developed product that can’t be found anywhere else: the Beyond Meatball made just for Subway,” says Len Van Popering, Subway’s Chief Brand and Innovation Officer.
“We’re excited to partner with Subway and are grateful that the menu team through to senior management has entrusted us as their innovation partner to deliver delicious plant-based proteins to their guests. We look forward to a long-term partnership with Subway as we together serve and delight existing and new fans of this iconic chain,” adds Ethan Brown, Beyond Meat founder and CEO.