Subway, Starbucks giving away free coffee this month
There was a time, not too long ago, when Tim Hortons and Starbucks weren’t gonna let no chumps sell coffee in this country.
The two giants had a stranglehold on the coffee market – there had grown to be more than 3,000 locations of the two chains across Canada – and few other brewers could carve out their own territory.
But then McDonalds started giving its coffee away last year and, suddenly ... hey, maybe Tim and Howard Schultz aren’t the only guys that can make a good cup of joe.
Indeed, the success of Mickey Ds’ giveaway has prompted an array of promotional fast food freebies (most recently, Burger King had a morning of free breakfast sandwiches), but none seem to go over quite as well as free coffee.
And, really, for a familiar name trying to break new ground, what better way to throw the public’s perception of your brand than with freebies?
Subway has become the latest restaurant to try its hand at a coffee giveaway, shelling out free, no-purchase-necessary cups at its B.C. and Alberta franchises.
(For whatever reason, these are the only two provinces participating in the promo for now, and no number of nationwide Subways I called today could verify why the whole chain of Canadian restaurants isn’t on the same page for this one.)
In any case, western Canadians can head into Subway until April 22 (Disclaimer: since there are no corporate Subway offices, we can’t verify if every B.C./Alberta restaurant is participating in this promo, but one Vancouver restaurant manager did assure me they all are) and get a free cup of coffee, no strings attached.
The rest of us? If we’re short on a free coffee fix, check out Starbucks this Thursday.
The Seattle-based chain is offering a free fill-up on a brewed or iced coffee if you bring in a reusable travel mug, no purchase necessary. It’s part of their “Shared Planet” initiative.
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
Posted by: Tina Virgilio | Apr 14, 2021 10:37:04 AM
Ya, well it is probably a fine
thing for the sake of reputation givving back into the industry...
the coffee drinkers/buyers definately get a reward is sojething to remember...! especially for starbucks that is suprising..!!!
fine thing, i think...!
Posted by: Ben | Apr 14, 2021 12:48:17 PM
Just saying when McDonalds gave away free coffee the prices for the seniors cup of joe went up as soon as the promo was over.
Posted by: Camerock | Apr 14, 2021 4:28:54 PM
That's cool that they're giving away free coffee. Really, it has no impact on their bottom line, brewed coffee is probably the cheapest thing to make going, unless you count tap water.
Posted by: Michele Robertson | Apr 14, 2021 5:36:27 PM
Brewed coffee is cheap to make, it costs more for the cup and lid; but the real cost comes in the cream and sugar/sweetener.
Posted by: Steve c. | Apr 14, 2021 5:49:54 PM
Here in Winnipeg we've had the free coffee deal from both Mac'D's and Subway back in feb/mar. It's cool if ya like coffee, but I did find it strange to see how many young kids were walkin' away from the counter with a coupla " double doubles " each! These were Jr. High and Elementary school age kids like anywhere from say 14 to 8 years old!! I guess everyone needs that morning shot or afternoon boost! I used ta have chocolate milk!....ah well.
cheers
Posted by: cheryl | Apr 14, 2021 6:28:09 PM
Really??? Whoo Hoooooooo! Bring on the reusable travel mugs! Good for them!
Posted by: Michael | Apr 14, 2021 10:30:13 PM
Subways serve Seattle's Best Coffee, which is owned by Starbucks!
Posted by: gan0n | Apr 16, 2021 2:11:32 PM
mcd's has really good coffee.
Posted by: justme | May 4, 2021 10:35:52 AM
we all know, it costs only PENNIES to produce the actual cup of coffee - so it always amazes me that folks will pay beaucoup bucks to feed their JOE habit
I used to go regiularly to a local diner for breakfast - one of my few treats.
Then, Mrs. C the owner stopped offering free coffee with her breakfasts. So by trying to save a few pennies, she cost herself 4 to 5 visits a week, sometimes daily. I now only visit about once or twice a month - and when asked by the wait staff if I would like coffee, I politely ask if it is extra and then decline.
To me, and maybe I am unreasonable, I would have preferred to pay a modest increase for the breakfast and still have the coffee, than face a $1.50 per cup a la carte price. But, now I have more money($130) in my pocket, and she has less. And I do not miss brekkie that much...
Posted by: promotional cups | Jul 14, 2021 3:35:54 AM
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