| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurants |
| Founded | Eau Claire, Wisconsin (1987) |
| Headquarters | Eau Claire, Wisconsin |
| Key people | Eric Wolfe, CEO[1] |
| Products | Sandwiches Soups Other food products |
| Revenue | $22 million (2007)[1] |
| Website | erbertandgerberts.com |
Erbert & Gerbert's Sandwich Shop[2] is a restaurant franchise that mainly sells submarine sandwiches. The chain was founded in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in 1987 (though the first store opened in 1988).[3] The company now has 47 locations throughout Colorado, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin .[4] A new location is expected to open during 2010 in Georgia.[2] The headquarters are in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.[5]
Kevin and Beth Schippers opened the first restaurant on Water Street in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in 1988[3]. The store and sandwiches are named after characters in stories Kevin's father used to tell him.[3] Due to Kevin's desire to pursue ministry, in 2003 Schippers sold the franchising company to investors led by primary owner Eric Wolfe.[5] In 2003, Schippers was also awarded Wisconsin’s 2003 Emerging Small Business Person from the Small Business Administration.[6] Kevin Schippers continues to own the original Eau Claire location.[7]
They prepare their sandwiches differently from their competitors: they "take out the guts", (cut the bread and take out the soft white dough part).[8] Nothing goes to waste; they leave the guts on top of the sandwich when they are done. They emphasize quality ingredients[9] and often are located near college areas.
Erbert & Gerbert's new advertising spot Human Flipbook has been posted on YouTube and has had over 756,000 views since being added September 14, 2007.[10] The ad utilized 150 shirts in a stop motion animation.[11] Advertising firm Colle+McVoy won "Best of Show" for the ad from the Advertising Federation of Minnesota.[12] In 2009, Erbert & Gerbert's was awarded a Gold Effie Award for their advertising campaign, designed by Colle+McVoy.[13]
To celebrate the 20 year anniversary of Erbert & Gerbert's, a commercial was created utilizing allegedly the world's largest Air Vortex Cannon.[14] Since being added March 6, 2008, the commercial has had over 802,000 views.[14]
Section Sources[15][16]
Erbert and Gerbert's main menu items are submarine sandwiches sold at nine inches in length. All sandwiches on the french or whole wheat breads are eight inches with the exception of the children's sandwiches, which are four inches. Sandwiches are also available on sliced wheat bread. There are fourteen sandwiches on the menu. Meats available are ham, turkey, roast beef, salami, tuna and surimi. Topping include provolone cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, bacon, avocado, alfalfa sprouts, oregano, oil and vinegar, mayonnaise and dijon mustard. Also available are soups, potato chips, pickles, cookies and soft drinks. There are eighteen different soups, although the number available varies from location to location. Loaves of bread that are unused from the previous day are sold as well.
Sandwiches take names such as Halley's Comet and Comet Morehouse, as well as made up names such as Girf and Geeter.
</references/> Erbert & Gerbert's have recently changed their menu layout and released sandwiches that were previously LTO (Limited Time Offer). The new sandwiches include the Spartan, Quatro, Giza, Titan, Erupter, and Pompeii. These sandwiches differ substantially from their main competitor's.