Fred DeLuca
Encyclopedia
Frederick "Fred" DeLuca (born 1948) is an American
businessman
, best known as the co-founder of the Subway
franchise of sandwich restaurants. DeLuca is an alumnus of University of Bridgeport
and Central High School
in Bridgeport, CT.
home. Until that time, Deluca worked at a low wage paying job at a hardware store, trying to raise money to pay for college, to study in the field of medicine. When he began his sandwich stand he chose a mediocre location for his shop. Deluca wanted a food place that was healthy. His plan was to begin a “fast-food venture that provided a healthier, less fattening bill of fare.” On the radio advertisement they had promoted the name as "Pete's Submarines", which sounded like Pizza Marine, so they changed the name to "Pete's Subway", eventually it was shortened to "Subway", as it is known today.
The first shop opened on August 28 that year in the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut. The first year of business was a learning experience and of course a challenge. A year later Deluca and Buck opened their second location and it took that amount of time for the two men to realize that visibility and marketing were the two main key factors to the success of the business. DeLuca believed that the biggest mistake he made was where he set up his very first shop as it was a "crummy location.". Knowing that they needed a better spot with much visibility, the third outlet was in a highly visible location and that location is still there today.
In 1978, Subway’s 100th store opened and in the 1000 store mark in 1987, whereas the McDonald's chain only had 800 .
As of October 2011, the company counts over 35,400 franchised locations in 98 countries and produces US $9.05 billion sales every year. In 2007, Forbes magazine named DeLuca number 242 of the 400 richest Americans with a net worth of $1.5 billion. Today, Subway is one of the most popular chain restaurants.
DeLuca and Peter Buck
also partnered to create Franchise Brands in an effort to assist other entrepreneurs in replicating their success in the franchise
industry.
where he and his family became friends with Peter Buck
. Once in his teens, he moved with his family to Bridgeport, Connecticut. After succeeding, DeLuca continued his dream to go to college and graduated from the University of Bridgeport; a private university in Bridgeport, CT.
DeLuca lives in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, along with his wife and one son.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman
Businessperson
A businessperson is someone involved in a particular undertaking of activities for the purpose of generating revenue from a combination of human, financial, or physical capital. An entrepreneur is an example of a business person...
, best known as the co-founder of the Subway
Subway (restaurant)
Subway is an American restaurant franchise that primarily sells submarine sandwiches and salads. It is owned and operated by Doctor's Associates, Inc. . Subway is one of the fastest growing franchises in the world with 35,519 restaurants in 98 countries and territories as of October 25th, 2011...
franchise of sandwich restaurants. DeLuca is an alumnus of University of Bridgeport
University of Bridgeport
The University of Bridgeport is a private, independent, non-sectarian, coeducational university located on the Long Island Sound in the South End neighborhood of Bridgeport, Connecticut. The University is fully Accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges...
and Central High School
Central High School (Connecticut)
Central High School is a high school in Bridgeport, Fairfield County, Connecticut in the United States. It was originally founded in 1876 as Bridgeport High School.In 2003 the school held 2,217 students and 152 teachers...
in Bridgeport, CT.
Career
In 1965 when DeLuca was seventeen years old, he borrowed $1,000 from friend and restauranteur Peter Buck, to start his first sandwich shop, after Buck suggested the idea to DeLuca at Buck's Armonk, New YorkArmonk, New York
Armonk is a hamlet and census-designated place located in the town of North Castle in Westchester County, New York. As of the 2010 census, the CDP population was 4,330....
home. Until that time, Deluca worked at a low wage paying job at a hardware store, trying to raise money to pay for college, to study in the field of medicine. When he began his sandwich stand he chose a mediocre location for his shop. Deluca wanted a food place that was healthy. His plan was to begin a “fast-food venture that provided a healthier, less fattening bill of fare.” On the radio advertisement they had promoted the name as "Pete's Submarines", which sounded like Pizza Marine, so they changed the name to "Pete's Subway", eventually it was shortened to "Subway", as it is known today.
The first shop opened on August 28 that year in the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut. The first year of business was a learning experience and of course a challenge. A year later Deluca and Buck opened their second location and it took that amount of time for the two men to realize that visibility and marketing were the two main key factors to the success of the business. DeLuca believed that the biggest mistake he made was where he set up his very first shop as it was a "crummy location.". Knowing that they needed a better spot with much visibility, the third outlet was in a highly visible location and that location is still there today.
In 1978, Subway’s 100th store opened and in the 1000 store mark in 1987, whereas the McDonald's chain only had 800 .
As of October 2011, the company counts over 35,400 franchised locations in 98 countries and produces US $9.05 billion sales every year. In 2007, Forbes magazine named DeLuca number 242 of the 400 richest Americans with a net worth of $1.5 billion. Today, Subway is one of the most popular chain restaurants.
DeLuca and Peter Buck
Peter Buck (restaurateur)
Peter Buck is a physicist, restaurateur, and philanthropist. He co-founded the Subway fastfood restaurant chain.-Education:A native of South Portland, Maine, Buck graduated from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine in 1952. He then earned master’s and doctoral degrees in physics at Columbia...
also partnered to create Franchise Brands in an effort to assist other entrepreneurs in replicating their success in the franchise
Franchising
Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
industry.
Personal life
At the age of 10 Fred moved to Amsterdam, New YorkAmsterdam (city), New York
Amsterdam is a city located in Montgomery County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 18,620. The name is derived from the city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands....
where he and his family became friends with Peter Buck
Peter Buck (restaurateur)
Peter Buck is a physicist, restaurateur, and philanthropist. He co-founded the Subway fastfood restaurant chain.-Education:A native of South Portland, Maine, Buck graduated from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine in 1952. He then earned master’s and doctoral degrees in physics at Columbia...
. Once in his teens, he moved with his family to Bridgeport, Connecticut. After succeeding, DeLuca continued his dream to go to college and graduated from the University of Bridgeport; a private university in Bridgeport, CT.
DeLuca lives in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, along with his wife and one son.