Sandwich maker Blimpie has signed Arizona Cardinals player Chris “Beanie” Wells to an endorsement deal.
The Arizona Cardinals running back will be a spokesperson for the company. Its rival Subway has relied heavily on sports figures in the past for its advertisements, including Michael Phelps, Michael Strahan and CC Sabathia. Blimpie has very infrequently used athletes as spokespersons but did star Nascar driver Jeff Gordon in Blimpie marketing in 2005. Wells is its first ambassador from the National Football League (NFL).
“Being a professional athlete, nutritious, wholesome meals are an important part of my daily routine,” Wells said. “Now with The Lighter Stuff menu, Blimpie has made it even easier and tastier for me to stay on point with my health and fitness goals.”
Blimpie is even mimicking the popular Subway ‘five-dollar foot-long’ concept, offering ‘Lighter Stuff’ foot-long subs for US$5 or a US$5 combo deal.
“It’s becoming increasingly important for restaurants to offer healthier menu options, but never at the expense of taste,” Nola Krieg, R&D chef for Blimpie said. “I order my subs with extra pickles. It adds taste without adding any significant fat and calories.”
