New Focaccia Bread and Panini-Grilled Sandwiches Offer BLIMPIE(R) Guests 'a Taste of Italy'

ATLANTA -- This summer everyone can savor the flavor of Italy at BLIMPIE restaurants -- which will be offering three Italian-themed panini-grilled sandwiches on its new garlic herb focaccia bread. Focaccia, a type of flat bread related to the modern pizza, adds to the chain's artisan breads including onion poppy ciabatta and whole grain wheat.

"Our new menu items showcase creative flavor combinations, featuring our specialty breads and a line-up of hot panini-grilled sandwiches to provide our guests with a high-quality sandwich experience at an affordable price," said Mark Mears, chief marketing officer for BLIMPIE. "The addition of our new garlic herb focaccia bread and hot Italian-themed sandwiches reflect our Real. Fresh. Taste.(TM) brand positioning that differentiates a BLIMPIE from other subs."

This summer, May 1 - Aug. 31, BLIMPIE will offer its customers 'A Taste of Italy,' featuring three panini-grilled sandwiches as well as new garlic herb focaccia bread. The 'A Taste of Italy' line-up features the hottest new panini-grilled sandwiches at BLIMPIE -- The Mediterranean, The Tuscan and The Sicilian.

* The Mediterranean features oven-roasted turkey, parmesan-romano cheese, roasted red peppers, baby spinach, tomato, oregano, and oil and vinegar.

* The Tuscan includes oven-roasted turkey, pepperoni, provolone cheese, roasted red peppers, baby spinach and creamy Italian sauce.

* The Sicilian consists of slow-cured ham, prosciuttini, pepperoni, provolone cheese, roasted red peppers and creamy Italian sauce.

All three sandwiches are formulated to contain zero grams of trans fat and can be ordered on the new garlic herb focaccia bread or on the onion poppy ciabatta bread.

The 'A Taste of Italy' panini-grilled sandwich promotion will be supported by BLIMPIE via a fully integrated multi-media campaign, including broadcast, print advertising, in-restaurant merchandising and local restaurant marketing activities.

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/04-26-2006/0004348411&EDATE=