Survey Says Healthier Food Choices Score Big With Super Bowl Fans

Blimpie
Published: January 28th, 2015

Fatty Foods Still Dominate Party Tables, but More and More Americans Opt for Healthy Foods

January 28, 2015 // Franchising.com // SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Super Bowl parties are traditionally a fattening food fest, but a recently released survey by Blimpie (www.blimpie.com), America's Sub Shop, reveals Americans call time-out on calorie-packed favorites and crave healthier options on game day.

The just released national survey reveals:

• More than half (53%) surveyed want healthier food at Super Bowl parties.
• 63% say they'd choose healthier options over traditional game day favorites. Despite the claim to want to cut calories on the big day:
• 41% say they eat more calories on Super Bowl Sunday than they do on Thanksgiving.
• When asked What's the most annoying part of a Super Bowl Party, running out of food and drinks (47%) ranked right up there with people who don't control their kids (51%), folks who are way too serious about the game (50%) and double-dipping!(43%)

Folks surveyed say they lean towards healthier options, but when asked about Super Bowl foods, they cite the usual suspects of greasy foods. However, 1 in 3 ranks subs – which feature healthy options – as one of their favorite meals on game day. The survey of 344 men and women (age 21 and older) who will watch the Super Bowl this Sunday was commissioned by Blimpie, the national sub chain.

"We're thrilled to see subs on the list as a favorite Super Bowl food, and we have many healthy sub options like the Blimpie Best, Turkey & Provolone and Ham & Swiss," says Steve Evans, vice president of marketing at Blimpie. "Super Bowl Sunday is one of our busiest days of the year, and many of our stores do 20% of their entire year's catering order on this one day. So we're ready to serve our fans the healthy game day food they say they're craving."

Regardless of the spread on the table – or the scoreboard – the survey reveals Super Bowl Sunday is as sacred to Americans as a fully inflated football.

More than 1 in 4 (26%) say the Super Bowl should be a national holiday.

• 43% say they'd sign a petition to make it a national holiday.
• Americans rank the Super Bowl right after Christmas as their favorite holiday.
• 93% of those surveyed say they like to host Super Bowl parties. 64% say if hosting, they'd make food at home and order in. 33% will spend $250 or more on a party.

And whether it's subs, the Patriots or the Seahawks for lunch, Americans say their focus is the game.

• 82% say they'll continue to watch the game even if it's a blowout.
• When asked the favorite part of Super Bowl Sunday – 44% say the game itself and 25% say the commercials.
• 97% say they'll watch the game at a home – their own or someone else's.

"Super Bowl Sunday is a day for America to set aside the stresses of life, have fun with family and friends, and we're proud to be part of the celebration," says Evans. "Blimpie is as iconic of an American brand as the Super Bowl, and we know our subs will be part of the party for generations to come."

*Editor's Note: Please cite Blimpie as the source for this survey. *This online survey was done by a third party and commissioned by Blimpie. Survey participants had no affiliation with Blimpie. *The survey included 344 respondents, 165 men, 179 women.

About Blimpie

Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Blimpie® serves sub sandwiches prepared with quality ingredients along with delicious soups and salads. Founded in 1964, Blimpie has grown to approximately 600 franchised restaurants across the U.S. and abroad. In 2006, Blimpie became part of Kahala Brands™, one of the fastest growing franchising companies in the world with a portfolio of 15 quick-service restaurant brands. For more information about Blimpie visit www.blimpie.com.

For more information about Kahala Brands, visit www.kahalamgmt.com.

SOURCE Blimpie

Contact:

Jessica Benedick
Blimpie
480.622.3349
jbenedick@kahalamgmt.com