From Sandwich Shop to Global Chain: The Success Story of Subway
Subway is a fast-food restaurant chain that has been serving sandwiches for over 50 years. It was founded on August 28, 1965, by Fred DeLuca and Peter Buck in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Since then, Subway has grown to become one of the largest restaurant chains in the world with more than 44,000 locations in over 100 countries.
In this post, we’re going to take a look at the history of Subway and how it became the successful chain it is today.
1. The Beginning
Fred DeLuca was just 17 years old when he decided to open up a sandwich shop called “Pete’s Super Submarines” with his friend Peter Buck. They borrowed $1,000 from Buck’s family and opened their first location in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
2. The Name Change
A year later, they changed the name of their company to “Doctor’s Associates Inc.” which was inspired by Buck’s goal of becoming a doctor.
3. Expansion Begins
Subway began expanding rapidly throughout Connecticut during the early ’70s and soon moved into other states as well including New York City.
4. Franchise Model Introduced
The franchise model was introduced in 1974 when Subway had its first franchised location open in Wallingford, Connecticut.
5. Subway Goes International
In 1984 Subway opened its first international location in Bahrain marking the beginning of worldwide expansion
6. Jared Fogle Becomes A Spokesperson
Jared Fogle became an overnight sensation after losing over 245 pounds while eating exclusively at Subway restaurants.
7.Subway Surpasses McDonald’s In Global Locations
According to CNBC news reports from September 2010 until April 2018 Subway surpassed McDonald´s having more locations around the world
8.Subway Serves Over A Billion Sandwiches Annually
As per Statista records from January till December 2019, Subway served over a billion sandwiches worldwide.
9.Subway’s “Eat Fresh” Campaign
“Eat Fresh” became Subway’s slogan in 2000 promoting the freshness of their ingredients and commitment to providing healthier food options.
10. Partnership With Coca-Cola
In February of 2021 Subway announced that it had entered into a partnership with Coca-Cola as part of its brand refresh strategy
11. Changes Made To The Menu
Over the years, Subway has added new items to their menu including salads, soups and breakfast items.
12. Controversies Surrounding Bread Ingredient
In 2014 an Irish court ruled that Subway could not call its bread “bread” because it contained too much sugar. This caused controversy and resulted in changes being made to the recipe in some locations.
13.Subway’s Response To COVID-19 Pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Subway introduced contactless pickup and delivery options for customers along with increased cleaning protocols at all their locations
14.Subway Undergoes Rebranding Efforts
In July 2016, Subway unveiled a new logo and updated store design as part of its rebranding efforts emphasizing fresh ingredients and healthy eating habits
15.Subway Continues To Expand Globally
As per Statista reports from January till December 2020 there are more than 44k subway locations across 100 countries globally
Conclusion:
From humble beginnings to becoming one of the largest fast-food chains in the world, Subway has come a long way since its founding in Bridgeport Connecticut. Despite controversies surrounding ingredient quality or franchise conflicts existing throughout time; by providing consumers with healthy alternative sandwich options while expanding rapidly around the globe using strategic partnerships – they have managed to stay relevant amidst changing consumer preferences over decades past.