Subway History Subway Success Story

You have to confess that Subway has supported you at some time in your life, whether you love it, detest it, or feel ambivalently about it. We're not talking about a subterranean rail system; rather, we're discussing what is probably America's most well-known sub sandwich chain.

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Due to its widespread availability, many of us have found ourselves rushing into a Subway when time is of the essence or other alternatives are few in order to get a dependable turkey breast sub. If it's your preferred fast food restaurant, you could actively seek out a place to sate your hunger for a warm sweet onion chicken teriyaki. All of these reasons are legitimate ones.

You're not seeing things when you talk about how ubiquitous Subway seems to be. When it comes to the sheer number of outlets, Subway outnumbers the competitors in the sandwich category, according to QSR Magazine. By 2021, Subway will have 21,147 franchise locations, a nearly unimaginable number. Arby's will come in second with only 3,409 outlets.

How did this happen, then? According to Fortune, the sandwich company has locations ranging from Baptist churches to high schools. What are its origins?

$1,000 dream

Nuclear physics gave birth to Subway, so don't be concerned about the Roentgens in your steak and cheese. As stated by Subway in its official history, the tale dates back to 1965. Fred DeLuca, at 17 years old, was struggling with how to pay for his college tuition at the time. He sought guidance from a nuclear scientist friend of the family, Dr. Peter Buck, who worked in the energy industry. According to the New York Times, Buck thought the young DeLuca may do well running a successful sub store he recalled from his youth. He even provided a $1,000 loan to start the business.

Pete's Super Submarines was the store's original name when it first opened in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The foot-long sub sandwich, which was initially priced at 69 cents, was their flagship item, and it was sold out on the first day of business. But there was one issue—the name. DeLuca and his Buck decided on the less confusing name Pete's Subway because customers frequently misheard it; later, the name was abbreviated to simply Subway.

Rising Quickly

According to The Washington Post, the partners established Doctor's Associates in 1966 as a holding company for Subway's assets. The name alludes to both Buck's doctorate and DeLuca's earlier ambition to pursue a career in medicine.

Doctor's Associates started franchising Subway franchises in 1974. In his interview with Inc., DeLuca described their expansion. "We didn't have a lot of huge ideas, other than the fact that, OK, franchising would help us reach our target of 32 locations and enable us to operate stores farther from our homes. Due of our lack of experience, it took us a very long time to master the franchising industry. There were no franchise coaches or advisers available to us."

Subway aimed to open 5,000 outlets by 1994 after expanding to 200 sites by 1982. Subway's $5,000 comparatively cheap franchise fee and inexpensive building expenses helped it expand. Additionally, they started a programme that gave monetary rewards to franchisees who created additional locations and supported their fellow franchisees. With 5,144 outlets open by 1990, they had already achieved their objective.

Subway has unveiled a new strategic plan outlining its ambition with the aim of expanding even more in the future. According to Food Business News, this entails updating their eateries, emphasising quality over quantity, and luring seasoned franchisees who share their growth-focused mentality.