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451 — Substance Abuse
43 Plays1 month ago
Ty & Eric review the top 10 reasons why Subway is struggling, as well as discuss the 6 sandwich limit, hiring a mole on the otherside of the sneeze guard, using microtransactions to fatten up your sub, the missing creative spirit in professional sports, Vancouver’s baseball scene, and replacing Subway’s c-suite with Think Fresh.
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Transcript
Origins of the Jingle: Dumpster or Genius?
00:00:51
Think Fresh
Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow. wow wow wow who what what ah What instrument is that?
00:00:53
Ty Fresh
know bla blah bla bla bla bla bla
00:01:01
Ty Fresh
ah That's the aluminum panel. Are you familiar?
00:01:04
Think Fresh
The aluminum panel, is that like a horn?
00:01:08
Ty Fresh
You know, you take a big piece of sheet metal and just go. onempbo boom po boom
00:01:12
Think Fresh
Oh, I meant our intro jingle.
00:01:16
Ty Fresh
Oh, no, I think it's exclusively made with metal scraps found in in a dumpster. Hmm.
00:01:22
Think Fresh
Okay. Okay. i thought I thought that was like a ritual where you like throw pots and pans down the stairs or something. That's kind of like what our thing sounds like, doesn't it?
00:01:31
Ty Fresh
Hmm.
00:01:34
Ty Fresh
A little bit, yeah. It's cool that we made that jingle back when people would hire real humans to make
Pre-AI Boom Beginnings
00:01:41
Ty Fresh
things. Like, if we started this podcast now, that would have 100% jingle would have been made by a robot.
00:01:47
Think Fresh
Dude, we started this podcast before the AI boom. Like, AI wasn't a thing at all when we started this.
00:01:53
Ty Fresh
we're Yeah, we're pre-AI, pre-revenue, pre-idea.
00:01:59
Think Fresh
Yeah, dude. It's kind of like when Joe Rogan still had hair. Like, you know, the early days of his podcast. Like, people would come on. He did an episode of Anthony Bourdain in, like, 2003 or something. It's fucking crazy.
00:02:11
Ty Fresh
Yeah, dude. Acura days.
00:02:13
Think Fresh
ah Big Acura days. Shout out to Drake. Drake was still Aubrey when we started this podcast.
00:02:19
Ty Fresh
back Back when we started this podcast, Drake wasn't even a dad.
00:02:24
Think Fresh
whoa shit that's crazy back back in the day damn just a few more years and this podcast could play in the league
00:02:26
Ty Fresh
This podcast is older than his son. yeah
00:02:35
Ty Fresh
Minor league.
Vancouver Baseball Experience
00:02:38
Think Fresh
yeah the uh what is it what's a little little league that's what i was thinking of yeah
00:02:43
Ty Fresh
m I went to a baseball game last night, actually, Eric. and Funny you say that.
00:02:49
Think Fresh
That's awesome. i I just remember that actually, now that you've reminded me. um Wow.
00:02:53
Ty Fresh
The Vancouver Canadians, which we all like to dunk on, but they are technically the second best baseball team in Canada.
00:03:04
Think Fresh
After the Blue Jays?
00:03:06
Ty Fresh
Allegedly. Allegedly.
00:03:09
Think Fresh
um I think that's the most like least creative baseball name of all time the Vancouver Canadians like Montreal already use that further shitty hockey team why do we have to um you know copy them but how many beers did you drink how many hot dogs did you eat how many innings did you sit through talk talk me through the entire thing.
00:03:29
Ty Fresh
Oh, we'll get into all of that for sure. But I do want to point out that I agree with the name challenge, but i don't think people get into sports because they're like really creative. You know, it doesn't attract the artsy types that want to come up with a clever name.
00:03:45
Think Fresh
You don't think the Redskins was a clever name?
00:03:48
Ty Fresh
That one was pretty good. Actually, i feel like maybe it's the sports consumers, like people that want to watch sports, don't want their team to have some off putting like a name that maybe like isolates people.
00:04:03
Ty Fresh
You want a name that has the widest possible appeal.
Team Names and National Identity
00:04:06
Ty Fresh
And if you're like target as a baseball team is all Canadians as your fans, what's a better name than the Canadians?
00:04:14
Think Fresh
Yeah, I mean, once you do that, though, you're opening yourself up to some kind racial discrimination.
00:04:22
Ty Fresh
m
00:04:22
Think Fresh
As soon as you align yourself with the country, you know, it's like, if you hate Canadians, then you hate the Canadians, if you get what I'm saying.
00:04:30
Ty Fresh
That's true you You can't have international fans But if you stood for something else
00:04:33
Think Fresh
That's right. It's like, I'm cheering for the Beijing Bobcats. It's like, no, you're not.
00:04:38
Ty Fresh
Right.
00:04:40
Ty Fresh
So like if the Vancouver Canadians named their their fine team after a like a sushi roll of some sort, the Vancouver Maki or something like that.
00:04:52
Think Fresh
Yeah, because they do have the sushi guys that run out onto the field.
00:04:55
Ty Fresh
They got the sushi race.
00:04:55
Think Fresh
Is that what happened? Fuck yeah.
00:04:56
Ty Fresh
Yeah, it's it's true to their their history and their lore to have the sushi race.
00:05:01
Think Fresh
Mm-hmm.
00:05:01
Ty Fresh
But the then that could give them Vancouver appeal and some international appeal if you're a fan of maybe a little bit of Kikoman. They could call them in the Vancouver Kikomans.
00:05:11
Think Fresh
Oh. Mm-hmm. The Kiko Mandem.
00:05:15
Ty Fresh
The Kikomaniacs.
00:05:18
Think Fresh
Oh.
Sushi Race: Fan-Favorite Tradition
00:05:20
Think Fresh
The sushi race at the Vancouver Canadiens games is like when all the girls put their phones down simultaneously. You know what saying?
00:05:28
Ty Fresh
No, everyone's paying attention.
00:05:29
Think Fresh
Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's like the girls are texting throughout the entire game. And then when does when do they come out? Like bottom month of the eighth? so
00:05:37
Ty Fresh
I think it's the middle of the round, like bottom of the fifth, maybe.
00:05:37
Think Fresh
Gotcha.
00:05:39
Ty Fresh
And for the uninitiated, what happens is five people dressed in various sushi costumes, chopsticks, soy sauce, wasabi, maki. They all line up at the second base plate and then they race through third through fourth and all the way, or I guess first, second, third, all the way through home.
00:05:49
Think Fresh
Mm-hmm.
00:06:00
Ty Fresh
Winner of the race is crowned. i think there's like some draft Kings, like kind of, backroom betting happening on who's going to win the race. I bet on soy sauce last night.
00:06:12
Ty Fresh
Soy sauce limped the whole race, did not win last place. I'm terrible at this kind of stuff.
00:06:17
Think Fresh
dude i think it's fixed because california is obviously california roll is a fan favorite and i'm pretty sure they win every single race am i wrong
00:06:26
Ty Fresh
They did win this race as well.
00:06:27
Think Fresh
shit Told you. i think it's i think they just put the best
Food and Drink Challenges at Games
00:06:30
Think Fresh
sprinter in the California roll costume. And everyone it's everyone's favorite roll.
00:06:36
Ty Fresh
who
00:06:36
Think Fresh
So like we want that to win. like Wasabi, obviously very divisive. you know Not everyone can handle the green. um But California roll, it's mayo. It's the mayo of sushi.
00:06:49
Ty Fresh
That's true. it is it is a comfort food, really.
00:06:54
Think Fresh
It's the chicken strips of fries of Japan.
00:06:56
Ty Fresh
h And it has the international appeal as well.
00:07:00
Think Fresh
But little do the breadheads know, California roll was invented here in Vancouver. So it'll it only makes sense for the Vancouver Canadians to like kind of signal boost the California roll, you know?
00:07:14
Ty Fresh
They should call them the Vancouver Californians in honor of that rule.
00:07:18
Think Fresh
I wouldn't mind that.
00:07:19
Ty Fresh
Yeah.
00:07:19
Think Fresh
Yeah. Yeah.
00:07:21
Ty Fresh
Well, yeah, game is boring, obviously, other than the race. But I did get it into some fine stadium food. I got only one beer because I waited too long to procure my second one, Eric. I waited until the top of the eighth.
00:07:35
Ty Fresh
And they actually cut sales at that point.
00:07:37
Think Fresh
What?
00:07:39
Ty Fresh
I know.
00:07:39
Think Fresh
Oh, dude, what the fuck is wrong with you? That makes me angry for you, dude.
00:07:44
Ty Fresh
I know.
00:07:44
Think Fresh
You got one beer for like a four hour sporting event.
00:07:48
Ty Fresh
Yeah, it sucks. I was I was feeling bad about myself, too. As I was walking up to the counter, they flicked all the lights off and just stared at me.
00:07:57
Think Fresh
rookie mistake, Ty. You have to go, because I'm pretty sure limit it to two per person. So you got to bring Bay and you got to get four beers as soon as you get to the stadium. And then that that way you're good for like about 15 minutes or so.
00:08:06
Ty Fresh
Mm hmm.
00:08:10
Think Fresh
And then you just repeat the process.
00:08:12
Ty Fresh
You're right. You just have this beer amid stacked in front of you and you just pull pop one off the top.
00:08:17
Think Fresh
That is a great thing about baseball games is the littering. Yeah.
00:08:21
Ty Fresh
it's It's so cool that like any sort of seated event, it doesn't really matter what you do with your garbage. There's just this like everyone's aligned upon that you can throw it, you can leave it in the sea, you can shove you can shove it in a cup holder. It doesn't matter anywhere but the garbage can. It's all one big garbage can.
00:08:37
Think Fresh
Absolutely. It's a garbage sport. So we're all kind of watching it from the garbage can.
00:08:42
Ty Fresh
Whenever I'm in, everyone knows the feeling of being and like a general admission concert and you're just like trying to like kind of carve your space, you're bobbing back and forth to the music.
00:08:53
Ty Fresh
And then your foot just like makes contact with an empty can or a glass cup that someone has abandoned on the sticky floor. So you just like, without even looking at just give it a good kick and it goes over to somebody else and it's their problem now.
00:09:02
Think Fresh
Mm-hmm.
00:09:07
Think Fresh
Yeah. You just gotta to give it it a little nudge with your foot and then it just drops to the next row of seating and then it's kind of deleted from your, from your environment. Pretty nice.
00:09:18
Ty Fresh
yeah it's just a little spank a little center on its way down down you go away with you
00:09:21
Think Fresh
Yeah. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And don't even get me started on the peanuts, dude. Like once those start going and you're kind of throwing the shells everywhere. and love that.
00:09:32
Think Fresh
That's, that's like the whole point of baseball to me. It's like beer and peanuts. Yeah.
00:09:36
Ty Fresh
just throwing garbage at other people trying to watch it
00:09:39
Think Fresh
Yeah, exactly.
Peanut Shell Antics
00:09:41
Think Fresh
um Yeah. Like, you know, they come in like the big shells, like the, like the two, you get two nuts per shell.
00:09:48
Ty Fresh
Oh, you're a double nut fan.
00:09:51
Think Fresh
so That's, that's how nature intended.
00:09:51
Ty Fresh
The double yoke.
00:09:54
Ty Fresh
two Two nuts per sack, right?
00:09:54
Think Fresh
Good stuff.
00:09:56
Ty Fresh
That's
00:09:56
Think Fresh
Exactly.
00:09:59
Ty Fresh
how we like it.
00:10:01
Think Fresh
Exactly. No Lance Armstrong over here.
00:10:03
Ty Fresh
No. Yeah, that's pretty. That's pretty cool. um
Post-Game Travel Logistics
00:10:08
Ty Fresh
Yeah. So i finished the game. I call this parlay the last sailing or last inning to last sailing parlay.
00:10:15
Ty Fresh
um So i beat I booked it to BC ferries caught on a boat at 1130 p.m. and then headed out headed to the coastline for a relaxing weekend away.
00:10:27
Think Fresh
Before you embarked on this journey, Ty, I challenged you to do the quadruple nine challenge.
Humorous Sports Challenges
00:10:33
Ty Fresh
Mm hmm.
00:10:34
Think Fresh
And sounds like you hit two of those only, two of the four nines.
00:10:38
Ty Fresh
Wait, what are the four nines, Eric?
00:10:42
Think Fresh
nine beers, nine veggie dogs in your case, nine innings, leave the venue at 9 p.m. to make the last berry.
00:10:50
Ty Fresh
Wow, you're right. Two out of four because I had one beer, one veggie dog left the venue at 9 p.m. and stayed for all the innings.
00:10:59
Think Fresh
I've never been to a Vancouver Canadiens baseball game um on my own dime before. like It's always like a corporate event. What was it like paying for a ticket? How much are they even?
00:11:11
Think Fresh
um I might go this weekend, honestly.
00:11:14
Ty Fresh
Honestly, these types of games are so affordable. It's like, I don't know, $30 for a mediocre seat, which is like, I mean, it's not, it's not $0, but it takes it costs $30 to like walk down the street.
00:11:20
Think Fresh
Perfect.
00:11:28
Ty Fresh
So when you think about you're getting like four hours of entertainment and access to unlimited beers. It's pretty cool.
00:11:37
Think Fresh
That is really cool. Um, were there any kind of notable corporate
Corporate Presence at Sports Events
00:11:43
Think Fresh
sponsors? Cause usually like near first base is like all the corporate tents and they have like some kind of like hot dog stand, some kind of like taco bar of some kind.
00:11:54
Think Fresh
What was happening? Was Deloitte, you know, touching grass at this event or was it Salesforce? Who was it? Slack?
00:12:01
Ty Fresh
had the Dude, I think some big SaaS company was having a family retreat there for sure.
00:12:07
Think Fresh
Oh shit.
00:12:08
Ty Fresh
I did try to cross the the dugout, I guess, or the, I don't know, the stands at some point, and I was denied entry into one of the areas because I didn't have the SaaS company wristband.
00:12:18
Think Fresh
ah wow
00:12:23
Think Fresh
You didn't have the VIP the artist pass.
00:12:27
Ty Fresh
Mm-hmm. So I feel like, ah yeah, I don't know if Atlassian was having a like corporate retreat there, but they were barbecuing something.
00:12:28
Think Fresh
That's too bad.
00:12:35
Ty Fresh
It smelled great. Would have loved to join their team, even if it was for a quick bite.
00:12:37
Think Fresh
Mm-hmm.
00:12:42
Think Fresh
Mm-hmm. If I was working the door there, I would have told you that, sorry, you don't have admin privileges.
00:12:47
Ty Fresh
Hell yeah, that's good.
00:12:49
Think Fresh
Which I do request access.
00:12:53
Think Fresh
That's fun, Ty.
00:12:54
Ty Fresh
That's OK. I don't want to hang out with them. I want to I want to grab a three foot long hot dog and then sit baking in the sun watching these guys spank each other on the on
00:13:01
Think Fresh
Hell yeah, dude.
00:13:07
Think Fresh
I love it.
Throwing the Opening Pitch: A Possibility?
00:13:08
Think Fresh
um Okay, so went to the game. um It just actually made me think about how friend of the show, Jason Stewart, recently threw an opening pitch at like a Red Sox game or something.
00:13:22
Think Fresh
one of the One of the big teams at Wrigley.
00:13:22
Ty Fresh
Super cool.
00:13:24
Think Fresh
And I was wondering, like, I think it's probably possible for us to throw an opening pitch at the Vancouver Canadiens game because it's like kind of small town vibes at the Canadiens game.
00:13:37
Think Fresh
We're a small town podcast. I think one of us could do it. Maybe like one of us could catch.
00:13:44
Ty Fresh
Well, how's your arm these days? Like, I'm not I'm not really much of a thrower. I'm more of a catcher.
00:13:51
Think Fresh
Trust me, the breadheads could tell. um I could throw a baseball, dude. There's no question.
00:13:56
Ty Fresh
What's your MPH? Because they're hitting their clock in like 90 when they're throwing these things.
00:13:58
Think Fresh
MPH?
00:14:02
Think Fresh
I don't know. I'll be happy to get it over the plate, to be honest.
00:14:05
Ty Fresh
That's true.
00:14:06
Think Fresh
But ah yeah, i think I think I can get it on time, on target. if yeah If we had someone swinging, it would be a home run, no question, because it's it's going to be a floatie.
00:14:18
Ty Fresh
I don't think they're going to be able to hit home run because it's such an it will be such an unconventional lob that they haven't practiced it.
00:14:26
Think Fresh
Yeah, it'll bring them back to their little league days for sure. But...
00:14:29
Ty Fresh
You know, when we're on the tennis court and one of us one of us will like knock the other person such an easy shot, they'll set you up for the perfect spike. Just slam that thing as hard as you can.
00:14:40
Think Fresh
Right, right.
00:14:41
Ty Fresh
And then that's always when you blow it. Just smash it right into the net. When it's too easy, it's too tempting to do something really crazy.
00:14:49
Think Fresh
That exact thing happened when we played last time. i You lobbed it up to me. And I just fucking jumped up, slammed it as hard as I could, but then my racket hit the net. So technically that would have been your point.
00:15:01
Ty Fresh
Mm hmm. I think there's kind of an equivalent moment at Subway where they like, keep asking you like any more vegetables. You know, usually you're fighting tooth and nail to try to get a few more tomato slices on there. But when they open that door, you don't want to blow it.
00:15:17
Think Fresh
Yeah. Big mistake asking me.
Subway Customizations: A Social Dynamic
00:15:21
Think Fresh
Yeah, dude. Um, I can't believe we still still haven't like secured a subway plug. Somebody who would be like, you know, checks over both his shoulders and then throws a cookie, extra cookie in our bag.
00:15:33
Think Fresh
Like, I feel like we should, we deserve something like that in our lives. We've been too loyal to the brand for too long to not have something like this in our lives.
00:15:41
Ty Fresh
Right, right. Yeah, we need a guacamole on the inside.
00:15:47
Think Fresh
A fellow meat lover.
00:15:49
Ty Fresh
Yes. ah
00:15:51
Think Fresh
Um,
00:15:52
Ty Fresh
Meet me behind the subway.
00:15:56
Think Fresh
ah
00:15:56
Ty Fresh
It would be nice to get a bit of special, special privilege for sure. I would like to bend some more rules. I'm learning new rules at Subway every day. i would just learn to rule today, Eric, that if you want to order more than six foot longs at a time, you got to call in ahead.
00:16:08
Think Fresh
Oh.
00:16:12
Ty Fresh
They won't do six or more on the spot.
00:16:15
Think Fresh
Really?
00:16:16
Ty Fresh
Yeah, that's their cap six feet.
00:16:16
Think Fresh
this Is this a recent development after like ah that trending TikTok thing where people order like a thousand pizzas and then say it's for the homeless and then like just take them home.
00:16:31
Think Fresh
It's for the
00:16:34
Ty Fresh
It's very possible. i would i would actually think that social media would cause this rule to be instated because they need to draw all businesses right now. They have to draw some boundaries.
00:16:45
Ty Fresh
you know They need to protect themselves from rogue TikTok pranksters that are looking for ways to manipulate their their models.
00:16:46
Think Fresh
Mm-hmm.
00:16:55
Think Fresh
Yeah, totally. I mean, you've seen that like thing I'm talking about, like basically the restaurant claims or the restaurant will like offer it for free. Like, oh you're you're doing something so great for the community. All but we'll cover this one.
00:17:09
Think Fresh
And then, I mean, I think single handedly, TikTokers are taking Subway down. If you ask me all the pranks that we're seeing, you know, They're really easily easy to abuse, in the subway staff, if I'm being It's about time that Subway put some hard rules on the experience.
00:17:24
Ty Fresh
I want to see like the month over month burn down rate of toaster ovens burning down from people asking them to be extra extra extra toasted
00:17:39
Think Fresh
you know No extra veggies, no double toast. Anything you do, it' you should just charge more. It's like it costs like 10 cents a toast or something.
00:17:50
Ty Fresh
that's true i think the toasting time should be kind of like a taxi cab the meters running baby
00:17:58
Think Fresh
yeah I agree. i agree. Surcharge for when it's a peak hour, you know, lunch or rush.
00:18:04
Ty Fresh
and maybe that's the that honestly i would be okay with also um like a micro transaction on additional everything you know like i'd feel bad saying like come on man just like a little more cucumbers but if i knew i was getting maybe like six cucumber slices per half of my sandwich, and I could add another six more for 25 cents.
00:18:32
Ty Fresh
I could just like, it's very clear, you know, that it's it's so blurry right now. It's a social game. You're like those with social instincts, get a better sandwich. If you're willing to flirt a little bit, if you're willing to push a little bit, however you approach it, you have to kind of like play a game to get what you want out of it.
00:18:50
Ty Fresh
Advocate for yourself.
00:18:53
Think Fresh
problem with us ty is me and you we have a scarcity mindset so whenever we go on a subway we're like load that shit up dude i want every single veggie i want four sauces because i don't know what my next meal is going to be you know i mean nothing's guaranteed
00:19:09
Ty Fresh
That's true. That's true. so So you're saying that like we're going to break the bank if we instigated this concept.
00:19:18
Think Fresh
Yes.
00:19:19
Ty Fresh
Well, it's good that we explored it at the very because I think I agree with you. Why would I want to pay more for what I get free today? Subway, if you're listening, cross this one out.
00:19:29
Think Fresh
Yeah. Speaking of crossing him out, I recently pulled out this article on my phone.
Subway's Financial Struggles
00:19:36
Think Fresh
10 signs. Subway is struggling.
00:19:39
Ty Fresh
Oh no.
00:19:39
Think Fresh
And.
00:19:39
Ty Fresh
Oh, I do.
00:19:39
Think Fresh
um
00:19:40
Ty Fresh
I can give you a million reasons, but let's hear your 10. What?
00:19:43
Think Fresh
Okay, I'm just going to do rapid fire 10 because we're running out time. One, steady trend of subway closing restaurants. um Let's see Currently has under 20,000 stores.
00:19:57
Ty Fresh
what
00:19:57
Think Fresh
When we started our pod, that was it was like 44,000.
00:20:01
Ty Fresh
That's crazy that in five and a half years, Drake had a baby and Subway cut killed killed off half their stores.
00:20:09
Think Fresh
Yeah, dude. More subways closed than people dying from COVID. Is that crazy?
00:20:14
Ty Fresh
You're right.
00:20:14
Think Fresh
Yeah.
00:20:14
Ty Fresh
Whoa. Subway was the real victim. Yeah.
00:20:17
Think Fresh
Yeah, the pandemic ah not only took out grandma, but it took out half the subway locations.
00:20:24
Ty Fresh
I wonder how that affected like the inch inch per square footage.
00:20:25
Think Fresh
You good there?
00:20:30
Ty Fresh
Like are the remaining subways operating like over capacity? It doesn't feel like it when I go in.
00:20:34
Think Fresh
I doubt it.
00:20:37
Think Fresh
No, it doesn't. Whenever we go, even during the middle of lunch, there's like one person there and they're making the sandwiches.
00:20:44
Ty Fresh
Damn, maybe they should close more.
00:20:47
Think Fresh
I know. I think they should close more. Not ours, though. We like to go there on occasion.
00:20:51
Ty Fresh
Yeah. yeah
00:20:52
Think Fresh
um Okay, number two is Sawaya sold out to private equity. We know this already. Big fucking CEO started two weeks ago. Big jerk-off CEO who doesn't know shit about sandwiches.
00:21:04
Ty Fresh
what's the guy with What's this guy's background coming from? Real estate? Because Subway's clearly got a real estate issue.
00:21:11
Think Fresh
Yeah, dude. No kidding. Um...
00:21:16
Think Fresh
I can't find his name.
00:21:16
Ty Fresh
Hit me with another.
00:21:18
Think Fresh
Subway has experienced turnover in the C-suite. This is what I just talked about. Refresh, refresh campaign fucking flopped.
00:21:22
Ty Fresh
Yes.
00:21:29
Think Fresh
Subway has abandoned several promotions ahead of schedule.
00:21:29
Ty Fresh
Mm-hmm.
00:21:33
Think Fresh
so Even though they offered a two for $10 footlong deal in 2020, they basically fucking canceled it because no one was doing it. i don't know why why. would you cancel promotion? Maybe you just market it better?
00:21:44
Think Fresh
don't know. That's just me. um Because people love a deal.
00:21:47
Ty Fresh
this is yeah dude but This is weird that like it's such a rotating medley of executives trying to run this company because you and I are theoretically the most we have the most seniority in the C-suite if we join. like If we join the board right now, we got we've been thinking about these sandwiches longer than any of them.
00:22:10
Ty Fresh
Maybe there's like on the ground floor, there's a few like high school dropout sandwich artists that this is that this is their job for life, their life for sandwich artists. Maybe they got a little bit more industry experience than us, but I think we're we're good for the job.
00:22:26
Think Fresh
Yeah, I think we are good for the job, dude. Our resume is meatier than most of the fucking guys who are applying for this stupid CEO job.
00:22:37
Ty Fresh
Yeah.
00:22:38
Think Fresh
Anyways, I digress, Ty. Apparently there's some tension between the franchisees and corporate. Not surprised at all their subway is taking a whopping 8% of royalties from the franchisee.
00:22:51
Ty Fresh
I think that's fair in defense the big way. I think 8% is a good price.
00:22:57
Think Fresh
I don't know, dude. I think they should be taking more, actually.
00:23:01
Ty Fresh
Maybe, yeah.
00:23:02
Think Fresh
you think about it, what are the franchisees doing? Like, they're using the brand. They're using the equipment. All they're doing is, like, hiring some teenager to slap together some bread and meat.
00:23:15
Ty Fresh
Yeah, and they don't even supply like the uniforms or the training documentation or even like they probably have Subway probably supplies software for planning out shift work and stuff.
00:23:19
Think Fresh
Mm-hmm.
00:23:25
Ty Fresh
So all they and Subway probably has software for managing the pay cycle. So all the franchisee does is kind of act as the project manager sitting in the middle of all of this coordinating things.
00:23:30
Think Fresh
who
00:23:39
Think Fresh
Totally agree. they They should take more, honestly. Okay. Next one is Subway's menu and portions have come under scrutiny. Once again, no surprise there. um There's apparently...
00:23:51
Ty Fresh
They're pretty limited though, dude, because like they can't reduce the size of the sandwich. That was the that was the golden handcuffs of their.
00:24:00
Think Fresh
They can't reduce the size, but they can reduce the ingredients inside.
00:24:07
Ty Fresh
That's true. They can reduce the substance. Theoretically, they can reduce the width and height as well. Like the overall volume could shrink flight.
00:24:17
Think Fresh
Wouldn't you, would you call this type substance abuse?
00:24:21
Ty Fresh
I would. I would also call that the name of this episode.
00:24:25
Think Fresh
Great, because I just wrote that down. um Cool, cool, cool. Okay, let's go back into this, Ty. In October 2024, some customers filed a lawsuit against the sandwich chain, accusing it of misleading customers over how much meat it packs or doesn't pack into a steak and cheese sub.
00:24:43
Think Fresh
They had photo evidence, Ty.
00:24:46
Ty Fresh
Where is it written that there is a guaranteed a specific amount of meat, though. Like, isn't that the point is that it's going to be variable? i don't think there's a case there.
00:24:58
Think Fresh
I don't know, man. I think it's, um, it's little bit suspect because the photo styling shout out to think fresh alumni, Anna, check out that episode.
00:25:09
Ty Fresh
Mm-hmm.
00:25:11
Think Fresh
She's single-handedly deceiving customers by placing the meats in a nice way to look like it's full. Um, and obviously they're making the best possible sub to photograph, but then when you go and order that sub it's, it's looking sad.
00:25:26
Think Fresh
It's a sad witch.
00:25:28
Ty Fresh
yeah that's true it's kind of like the uh gray glizzies i got at the baseball stadium last night they looked perfectly mocha brown in the pictures but then when it shows up that thing was like tinted like a zombie skin
00:25:44
Think Fresh
It was dead inside for sure.
00:25:46
Ty Fresh
i don't I don't think there's a case here, though, Eric. If you want the meats, you go to Arby's or you go to a company that's ride dine on their like meat quantity. At Subway, you're going for length, not girth.
00:25:56
Think Fresh
you
00:26:01
Think Fresh
Girth is... just as important as length and so is how you use it. Um, Ty, apparently the employees have been talking bad about Subway breakfast.
00:26:15
Think Fresh
So apparently employees themselves have been saying you should think twice before ordering breakfast at Subway. but Don't know what that means, but I would never order it.
00:26:21
Ty Fresh
so Wait, what? But what what is wrong with it Now I gotta know.
00:26:28
Think Fresh
I don't know. I don't know. Um,
00:26:34
Think Fresh
Apparently the quality and freshness of the eggs has been questioned. Egg patties are frozen, served cold. um They have thickening agents and flavor enhancers, including xanthan gum, cellulose gum, and citric acid.
00:26:51
Ty Fresh
You know, when I do think about the egg patty that I've witnessed in the bucket, you know, there's like a patty of egg. It kind of looks like a, like a coaster, like a thick coaster.
00:27:03
Think Fresh
Yeah, yeah.
00:27:04
Ty Fresh
Yeah. Or a hockey puck. ah It does feel like it's kind of got the same malleability and kind of structural integrity of yoga mat. It's like, so we can't get away from making things that are kind of like a mat.
00:27:20
Ty Fresh
Um,
00:27:22
Think Fresh
Turns out putting plastic in things helps it stay shelf stable.
00:27:27
Ty Fresh
Mm-hmm.
00:27:28
Think Fresh
Behind the sleaze guard.
00:27:28
Ty Fresh
Keep its shape. The sleaze guard.
00:27:33
Think Fresh
um Also, they invested in meat slicers. That clearly flopped. um They went back on the decision. They're not going with the slicers anymore, I don't believe.
00:27:43
Think Fresh
They also got...
00:27:45
Ty Fresh
Is that like a big business loss, dude? Like, okay, you buy 20,000 meat slicers. That seems like a lot, but what does a meat slicer cost? You worked at a deli, like to buy one on Timu right now, you probably get a meat slicer for like $17.
00:27:57
Ty Fresh
Yeah.
00:27:59
Think Fresh
You think so, dude? Those are like industrial-sized kitchen... equipment You know, like that's an industry that can overcharge. It's not consumer facing. Oh
00:28:09
Ty Fresh
Well, you get like a discount if you buy 20,000 of them. I'm sure you can negotiate, you can haggle the price down.
00:28:15
Think Fresh
yeah, that's true. I just don't think subway is smart enough to like sell them. They probably just scrap them.
00:28:23
Ty Fresh
m
00:28:23
Think Fresh
That's my guess.
00:28:25
Ty Fresh
Right.
00:28:26
Think Fresh
Okay. Rapid fire time. Subway was replaced by rival For their NFL sponsorship. That's why they they ain't talking Super Bowls no more.
00:28:35
Ty Fresh
No way.
00:28:38
Think Fresh
ah They've also fallen in the rankings of sandwich chains. And that was the last one. So tough times for Subway.
00:28:43
Ty Fresh
who's ranking the sale Who's ranking the sandwich change? Like, what credible sources, the ranky like the ah notable ranking organization that said Subway has now lost a few places?
00:28:57
Think Fresh
I think it's market share. um
00:29:00
Ty Fresh
Mm-hmm.
00:29:00
Think Fresh
So in 2024, for the third consecutive year, Subway continued to cling to its position, ah holding steady at number eight. Over a decade earlier, it was just number two, just below McDonald's.
00:29:11
Think Fresh
So that's a big drop, dude.
00:29:12
Ty Fresh
Oh, that's a big draw.
00:29:14
Think Fresh
um And like, there i can't even name seven other sandwich places. So like, that tells me that they're probably last.
00:29:22
Ty Fresh
That's a that is a scary thought. I mean, if you think about it, it's pretty easy to make a sandwich. Like even Starbucks sell sandwiches. Starbucks is probably outranking them in the sandwich industry.
00:29:31
Think Fresh
Yeah.
00:29:36
Think Fresh
Yeah. Me and you can make sandwiches. So why would I go to Subway? You know?
00:29:41
Ty Fresh
All you need is three ingredients and a knife and you got yourself a sandwich.
00:29:41
Think Fresh
Anyways.
00:29:49
Think Fresh
And if the board is listening to this episode, consider this our formal application to... to be hired on the C-suite. That would be great, wouldn't it?
00:29:57
Ty Fresh
who I think we could really shake things up there.
00:30:01
Think Fresh
Absolutely.
00:30:02
Ty Fresh
Get it back on track. Finally, I think within Subway, there's always been this grain of like like, there's something special that could exist if the C-suite just understood that and like set a strong vision for the company.
00:30:17
Ty Fresh
And they've proven time and time again that that is not going to happen. It has to come from Tyonera.
00:30:22
Think Fresh
That's right. um this company is running on fumes and that and gas is nostalgia and they're about to run out of nostalgia because that's the only thing keeping them going. So it's tough times for, for big way.
00:30:36
Ty Fresh
Yeah, smells great in there, but it's all gas.
00:30:40
Think Fresh
It's all gas, dude. All right. Well, what do you think about closing the episode here? or Anything else you want to say
00:30:48
Ty Fresh
So much, but we'll save it for another day.
00:30:51
Think Fresh
It sounds great.
00:30:51
Ty Fresh
Breadheads, thank you for listening. Eric, thank you for sharing all of those reasons why our big beloved sandwich chain is terrible. Just to remind us why we're all here.
00:31:01
Think Fresh
Exactly. Talk to you later.
00:31:03
Ty Fresh
Ciao.