Subway
A 1,000 dollar loan and a lot of sandwiches. Subway began in 1965 when 17-year-old Fred DeLuca borrowed 1,000 dollars to open a sandwich shop. Its growth, footlongs and how it works.
Footlong sandwiches: Provided by Subway, CC BY-SA 4.0
A student's business
In 1965, 17-year-old Fred DeLuca wanted to pay for college. Family friend Peter Buck, a physicist, lent him 1,000 dollars and suggested opening a submarine sandwich shop. Pete's Super Submarines opened in Bridgeport, Connecticut, that August. The name was changed to Subway in 1968.
Growth through franchising
Subway franchised aggressively with low start-up costs and small store sizes, fitting into petrol stations, airports and shopping centres. For years it had more locations than any other restaurant chain in the world, though it has since closed many underperforming stores.
How it works
Customers choose a bread, a protein, cheese, vegetables and sauces, and the sandwich is built in front of them. The footlong became a signature size, and toasting became standard in the 2000s. Subway marketed itself as a lighter fast food option, though nutrition depends heavily on choices like cheese, sauces and bread size.
New owners
After decades as a privately held family-run company, Subway was sold to the investment firm Roark Capital in 2024. It continues to update its menu with signature sandwiches and fresh-sliced meats in many markets.
Peter Buck stayed a co-owner for decades, and the two founders' partnership, which began with a single loan, built one of the most recognisable restaurant brands in the world.
Menu guide
Subway menus centre on six-inch and footlong subs on breads such as Italian white, multigrain and Italian herbs and cheese. Popular builds include the Italian BMT, the Spicy Italian, turkey, tuna and the meatball marinara. Vegetables are free, so loading up on lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and onions adds crunch and fibre. Wraps and salads offer lower-bread options, and cookies are a long-time sweet side.
Did you know? Subway calls its staff sandwich artists. The chain has run many promotions over the decades, including the famous 5-dollar footlong deal that began in 2008 and became a huge advertising jingle in the US.
Nutrition varies widely by order: bread size, cheese and sauces make the biggest difference, and Subway's online calculator lets you check your exact sandwich.
- Footlong sandwiches: Provided by Subway, CC BY-SA 4.0
Text written by Fast Food Run.
