Chapter 1
The thousand-dollar handshake
Chapter 2
The aggressive franchise playbook
Chapter 3
The five-dollar footlong phenomenon
Chapter 4
The dark side of the sub
Chapter 5
A multi-billion dollar pivot
YOUR GOAL
Master of How a teenager built the world's biggest sandwich empire
Ch 5 · A multi-billion dollar pivot
renato Subway's Multi-Billion Dollar Pivot
Skip the custom build, Order by the number, The billion-dollar pivot!
renato Subway grew from a 17-year-old's loan to 40,000 stores before joining Dunkin' and Jimmy John's under Roark Capital.
renato A remodeled Subway restaurant interior shines with modern counters and warm, dramatic lighting
Fun Fact
Footlong cookie: The Subway footlong chocolate chip cookie contains over 1,300 calories, making it a heavy snack to share.
Glossary
private equity (noun)
Investment funds that buy and restructure companies that are not publicly traded. In 2024, Roark Capital finalized its purchase of the sandwich chain for nearly ten billion dollars.
Investment funds that buy and restructure companies that are not publicly traded. In 2024, Roark Capital finalized its purchase of the sandwich chain for nearly ten billion dollars.
Quiz
How many U.S. locations did Subway close during its massive contraction between 2016 and 2025?
Quiz
What is the name of the snack-focused menu category introduced by Subway in 2024 featuring footlong cookies?
Quiz
Despite closing thousands of stores, what title does Subway still hold in the United States fast-food market?
Quiz
What is the estimated purchase price paid by Roark Capital to acquire Subway in 2024?
Quiz
Who was the CEO of Subway who oversaw the completed transition to Roark Capital ownership in 2024?
Quiz
Which private equity firm acquired Subway in 2024, adding it to a portfolio that includes Jimmy John's and Dunkin'?