What started as a small sandwich shop in 1965 has grown into a global brand with over 40,000 stores in 100+ countries. Subway’s motto, “Eat Fresh,” has helped it become a favorite for many, offering customers fresh ingredients and the chance to create their own sandwiches. Today, it earns over $10 billion in yearly revenue, making it one of the biggest names in fast food. From helping a young man pay for college to becoming a worldwide success, it continues to grow by focusing on fresh, healthy choices and listening to what customers want.
Now explore how it became a household name you know and love around the world.
Motto of Subway
It’s motto is “Eat Fresh.” This means the food is made with fresh ingredients like vegetables, bread, and meats. Customers can choose what they want in their sandwich, making it just the way they like. The motto also shows that it wants to offer a healthier and better option compared to other fast food. It helps people feel good about what they are eating.
Why People Love Subway?
It offers a range of features that make it a people-first choice. They are:
- You can make your own sandwich: Enter the store choose the bread, meat, vegetables and sauces, wait for a few minutes and your order is ready. That’s how it works. No need to repeat what’s there in the menu; make your own.
- Healthier choice: It is seen as a healthier fast food option. You can choose low-fat or low-calorie meals if you want to eat light.
- Fast and easy: It offers quicker food options, which is great for busy people; they can have a good option, especially when they’re in a hurry.
- Good prices: It gives good deals and combo meals. Many people feel they get good food for a fair price.
- Same taste anywhere in the world: Its stores are available in multiple countries but one thing you will find in common is its taste. You will get a sandwich that tastes just like home.
- Clean and open kitchen: Most of its stores are clean, and you can see your food being made in front of you. This makes people feel more comfortable and confident in what they’re eating.
History of Subway
It started in 1965 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA. A 17-year-old boy named Fred DeLuca wanted to go to college but needed money. His family friend, Dr. Peter Buck, gave him $1,000 and an idea to open a sandwich shop. They called it “Pete’s Super Submarines”, and later changed the name to it.
In 1974, it started franchising, which means other people could open their own stores. This helped the company grow quickly. By the 1990s, it had thousands of stores and was loved for its fresh and made-to-order sandwiches.
It expanded to many countries and became one of the biggest fast-food chains in the world. But in the 2010s, it faced problems like too many stores, strong competition, and fewer customers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To improve, it launched the Eat Fresh Refresh campaign and was bought by Roark Capital in 2023 to help it grow again.
Recent Strategic Changes
Subway keeps changing its strategies to win the hearts of customers in multiple ways, sometimes with technology like improving their app qualities and adding new options for delivery or foods, other times updating the menu, improving food quality, and giving their stores a fresh look.
Below are some strategic changes it often does:
- Eat Fresh Refresh: To repeat the customers and stay up-to-date, it started the “Eat Fresh Refresh” campaign. It often made changes to its menu, added new sandwiches, and used better quality meats and bread.
- Technology and Delivery: It improved the mobile app and started taking orders from the food delivery apps like Uber Eats and DoorDash for the ease of customers. The team works closely to monitor their regular customers and has created loyalty programs for rewarding them.
- Focusing on Existing Stores: Its focus is not opening the new stores; instead, it is targeting to improve the stores in operation for better services. For smooth running and working together, it encourages store owners and teams to join.
- New Owners: In 2023, Roark Capital bought it, who owns other big food brands like Arby’s and Dunkin’. The new owners plan to help in its growth, improve how it runs, and make it stronger for the future.
Global Expansion
Subway started in the United States, but soon it began to grow in other countries too. In the 1990s, it opened its first international stores. People in different parts of the world liked the idea of choosing their own fresh sandwiches. Today, it has stores in over 100 countries, making it one of the biggest fast-food chains in the world. It has thousands of locations in places like Canada, the United Kingdom, India, Australia, and the Middle East. It also adds local flavors to its menu in different countries to match people’s tastes. This smart strategy helped it grow all around the world.
Conclusion
Starting with the simple idea of helping a young boy pay for college by making sandwiches and to becoming one of the most loved fast-food brands in the world, Subway has come a long way. People enjoy Subway because it feels personal—you get to choose what goes into your sandwich, just the way you like it. Over the years, it has grown across the globe, bringing fresh food to millions. Even when times were tough, it didn’t give up. It listened to its customers, made changes, and kept moving forward. Today it is more than just a place to eat—it’s a place where fresh food and good choices come together, and people feel at home.
