Who let the dogs out? Subway releases the SubDog
Subway brought the foot-long ballpark style hotdog back just in time for baseball season to start.
Subway is an official national partner of the Toronto Blue Jays, and as a supporter, the sandwich chain brought out the stadium favourite: The foot-long, all beef hot dog.
The company co-brands with major brands like Pepsi and Nestle, and has a global culinary team to track trends.
Convenience Store News Canada spoke with chef John Botelho, culinary manager for Subway Canada about the chain’s product development process and partnerships, such as Subway-inspired Italian Herb Cheese Bread potato chip for Lays and a hot dog with Schneider's all-beef hot dog.
Originally, the SubDog started out as an April Fool’s joke in 2022, but when customers demanded the joke become a reality, the chain took the idea seriously. Botelho said while the SubDog is available for a limited time, it is not created on whim. “Even though we get all these ideas, we don't just throw it at a dart board, and whatever sticks, we launch. We do have a process, so we will concept research them.
“We want to make sure that it's the right fit for the brand, make sure it's quality ingredients, that's what we're known for—and also the foot long sub. So it just makes sense: Launch a full-on hot dog,” said Botelho.
Sourcing from Schneiders was key. “This is a good quality hot dog—all beef…I'm excited to bring in that same Subway feel to the hot dog.”
Botelho emphasized quality ingredients and thorough concept research and how the team also experiments with bread varieties, like ghost pepper bread, and offers customizable hot dogs. The innovation process involved external tastings to ensure brand fit.
Unlike the stadium dogs, these are offered in freshly baked buns of the customer’s choosing, and like the chain’s sandwiches, can be customized with a range of cheese and toppings. The connection between stadium style dogs and the sports-themed activations are no coincidence:
“The Toronto Blue Jays are Canada's team—their fanbase runs from coast to coast—and that's a big part of why we chose them as a partner. We're seeing strong engagement with this campaign right across the country, from British Columbia to the Maritimes, especially coming off their incredible World Series run last year. We also have a coast-to-coast contest launching on June 29 that will generate excitement nationally, well beyond Ontario. Our franchisees are local business owners who know their communities, and this partnership gives them a platform that resonates wherever you are in Canada," said Michelle Dias, public relations director, communications and sponsorship for Subway Canada.
Subway Canada and the team announced a multi-year partnership featuring in-stadium activations, exclusive fan contests, and integrated promotions with its shops. As part of the sponsorship, Subway offers a special game-day promotion for fans.
"We are offering Subway MVP Rewards Members 25% off footlongs on Blue Jays Game Days — and given how often the Jays play, that's a very rich, recurring benefit that gives guests a real reason to download the app and keep coming back. The new app experience is something we're genuinely proud of, and this partnership is bringing new members into it every day. For us, this is about building lasting relationships with guests who love baseball and love Subway,” added Dias.
The SubDog will officially be launched on June 29 and will be available in participating restaurants across Canada through August 31, 2026.
