Where Does Subway Get Its Meat In 2024? (Your Full Guide)

Subway, with over 37,000 locations globally, is synonymous with delicious sub sandwiches piled high with all kinds of tasty meats. From turkey and ham to roast beef and meatballs, Subway offers carnivores a mouthwatering selection.

But if you find yourself biting into a succulent steak or chicken sub, you may wonder: Where exactly does Subway get all that meat from? As a consumer expert in the retail space, I decided to dig into the details.

In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll provide insider insights into Subway‘s vast network of meat suppliers. You‘ll learn how Subway sources sustainable ingredients, what improvements the company is making, and how they cater to shifting consumer preferences. Let‘s dive in!

A Snapshot of Subway‘s Core Meat Offerings

Subway has built its brand around toasted subs overflowing with fresh meats and veggies. While ingredients vary globally, most Subway locations carry the following core meat products:

• Chicken – roasted, grilled, crispy strips
• Turkey – oven-roasted breast, smoked breast, turkey ham
• Beef – roast beef, steak, meatballs
• Pork – ham, salami, pepperoni
• Seafood – tuna, crab, shrimp

Subway also offers some region-specific meats like pastrami, chorizo, and barbacoa. Their wide selection aims to satisfy all palates and preferences.

Subway‘s Top Meat Suppliers

To stock over 37,000 stores worldwide, Subway partners with major meat processors and food suppliers:

Chicken

For all its chicken offerings, Subway uses Perdue Farms as its sole chicken supplier in the U.S. Perdue chicken is:

• Raised with no antibiotics ever
• Free of growth hormones and steroids
• Air chilled to maintain moisture

Subway also sources chicken from Sofina Foods in Canada.

Turkey

West Liberty Foods, an Iowa company, is the primary source for Subway‘s sliced turkey breast, turkey ham, and smoked turkey. They supply turkey for over 13,500 U.S. Subway locations.

Beef

Subway partners with regional beef providers like Keystone Foods and BrandFX to source top round steak, roast beef, and meatball mix. Keystone supplies to over 8,400 U.S. stores.

Pork

For ham, salami, and pepperoni, Subway uses various pork suppliers like BrandFX, Fast Food Merchandisers, and others. The ham is made from fresh pork leg.

Tuna

All tuna is wild-caught skipjack, considered a sustainable tuna species. Tuna comes from processors like Dayboat Seafood.

By partnering strategically with major companies like Perdue and West Liberty, Subway can ensure a consistent supply of meat across its global locations.

How Subway Sources Meat Responsibly

In recent years, Subway has focused on improving the health, sustainability, and ethical sourcing of all its meat:

• Antibiotic-free: By 2025, all Subway chicken and turkey will be raised without antibiotics. Currently, Perdue chicken is 100% antibiotic-free.

• Animal welfare: Subway suppliers must adhere to animal welfare standards on farms and slaughterhouses.

• Sustainable practices: Suppliers like Perdue recycle chicken feathers into fertilizers and have on-site wastewater treatment.

• Reduced hormones: Chicken has no added hormones or steroids; cattle are never given growth hormones.

• Responsible fishing: All tuna is sustainably caught skipjack with minimal bycatch.

Subway also eliminated MSG, artificial trans fats, and high fructose corn syrup from all meats to focus on quality ingredients.

As a retail expert, I‘m glad to see Subway taking steps to source transparently and reduce their environmental impact. With mounting consumer demand for ethically sourced proteins, these changes are smart business moves.

Meat-Related Controversies

Subway has faced some controversies regarding its meat ingredients over the years:

• Turkey identity: A rumour circulated that Subway turkey is just processed turkey loaf. While some sandwiches contain reformed turkey, Subway states its oven-roasted turkey breast is real turkey.

• Steak identity: Critics argued the steak lacks qualities of real steak. Subway says their steak contains top round beef sliced to resemble deli meat.

• Tuna identity: Recent lawsuits alleged Subway tuna isn‘t 100% tuna but contains other ingredients like egg. Subway insists its tuna is wild-caught skipjack with no fillers.

While some claims remain unproven, the attention shows consumers want more transparency around meat processing. Subway seems to be moving in that direction with antibiotic-free commitments and responsible sourcing initiatives.

Meat of the Future: Catering to Consumer Preferences

Here are two key ways I see Subway adapting its meat offerings to satisfy evolving consumer demand:

• New product lines: Subway is testing more premium meats like charcuterie turkey breast, increased varieties of bacon, thicker-cut pepperoni, and guacamole-infused bacon. These products cater to consumers wanting higher-quality proteins.

• Meat alternatives: With rising popularity of plant-based meats, Subway trialed a Beyond Meatball Marinara sub in Canada and the U.S. While not continued nationally, regional trials indicate Subway is exploring how to integrate non-meat options.

The Takeaway: Freshly Sourced Meats

Next time you visit Subway, you can sink your teeth into a sub piled high with meat from suppliers like Perdue, Keystone, and West Liberty Foods. While Subway has seen some controversy, they‘ve made major commitments to responsible sourcing, animal welfare, and antibiotic-free meats. As tastes evolve, we can expect more transparency and specialty meats on the Subway menu.

So savor that perfectly cooked steak or crispy chicken guilt-free. With its initiatives around fresh, sustainably sourced ingredients, Subway is working to serve meats you can feel good about.