Type of Food: Sandwiches and Wraps

Interesting Fact:In 1991, Arby’s was the first to introduce a complete Lite Menu featuring three sandwiches and four salads under 300 calories and 94% fat free.

History:Foodservice veterans Leroy and Forrest Raffel opened the first Arby’s Roast Beef Restaurant in Boardman, Ohio on July 23, 1964. The goal was to offer something other than hamburgers in the fast food segment. On the original menu customers enjoyed roast beef sandwiches, potato chips, and Texas-sized iced teas.  To name their new venture, the brothers decided on Arby’s, which stands for R.B., the initials of the Raffel Brothers – although many suspect the R.B. stands for roast beef. Leroy and Forrest never looked back.   The company added an average of 50 restaurants a year in the 1970s while simultaneously creating and perfecting timeless menu favourites: Beef ‘n Cheddar, Jamocha Shakes, Curly Fries and Arby’s signature sauces, Arby’s BBQ sauce and Horsey Sauce®. Arby’s continued expanding both locations and menu items during the next decade, opening restaurant number 1,000 and introducing chicken to the menu in 1981. By 2005, there were 3500 locations in the United States.

Arby’s Website: www.arbys.com

Official Arby’s Social Media: Facebook - Twitter

View Arby’s menu: here

Find your local Arby’s: here

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Name: Blimpie

Type of Food: Sandwiches

Interesting Fact: The idea for a name appeared when they noticed that their new hoagie sandwich was similar in shape to a “Blimp”.

History: The first Blimpie was opened in Hoboken, New Jersey on April 4, 1964 by three young men with a dream: Tony Conza, Peter DeCarlo and Angelo Baldassare. It has since grown to the third largest sandwich chain in the United States, behind Subway and Quiznos. Currently there are nearly 1,600 franchises in the U.S. with a half dozen in Canada.

Blimpie Website: www.blimpie.com

Official Blimpie Social Media: Facebook - Twitter

View the Blimpie menu: here

Find your local Blimpie: here

Blimpie Specials: -Newsletter – Gift Card – Coupons

Name: Dagwoods Sandwichs et Salades

Type of Food: Sandwiches and salads

Interesting Fact: Dagwoods Sandwichs et Salades is involved in many local community events.

History: Founded by Montrealer Spiro Krallis, the first Dagwoods sandwich was sliced back in 1989. Dagwood sandwiches are made to order, with the meat being sliced per customer specifications. Currently there are 14 locations across Quebec.

Dagwoods Website: www.dagwoods.ca

Official Dagwoods Social Media: Facebook - Twitter

View the Dagwoods menu: here

Find your local Dagwoods: here

Dagwoods Specials: -Newsletter – Gift Card – Coupons

Name: Jamba Juice

Type of Food: Wraps, sandwiches, smoothies

Interesting Fact: Jamba Juice was  named the #1 Healthy option in the Quick Refreshment category in Zagat’s 2009 Fast Food Survey.

History: Jamba Juice was founded in April 1990 by Cal Poly graduate Kirk Perron, along with cofounders Joe Vergara, Kevin Peters, and Linda Ozawa Olds. In August 1997, Jamba entered into an operating agreement with Whole Foods Market to sell only “natural” products inside some of the Whole Foods’s locations, including Jamba’s smoothies’ ingredients. Jamba Juice focuses on healthy lifestyle food and beverage offerings, these include fruit smoothies, juices, teas, hot oatmeal made with organic, steel cut oats, and baked goods. Jamba Juice has 732 locations consisting of 499 company- owned and operated stores and 233 franchise stores.

Jamba Juice Website: www.jambajuice.com

Official Jamba Juice Social Media: Facebook - Twitter

View the Jamba Juice menu: here

Find your local Jamba Juice: here

Jamba Juice Specials: -Newsletter – Gift Card – Coupons

Name: Quiznos Sub

Type of Food: Sandwiches

Interesting Fact: To celebrate its 25th Anniversary, Quiznos gave away twelve restaurants in 2006, providing twelve lucky people the chance to achieve their own American Dream.

History: In the kitchen of Footer’s Italian restaurant in Denver, the first Quizno’s recipes were born. The owners of Footer’s used the baguette-style bread, red-wine vinaigrette dressing and tuna salad created in their kitchen to establish their new venture, opening the first Quizno’s in Denver in 1981. Rick Schaden (current franchisor-owner) bought his first franchise in Boulder, Colorado in 1987. Over the next few years, he purchased two more franchises. In 1991, he and his father, prominent aviation attorney Dick Schaden of Boulder, bought the franchise operation, which consisted of 18 restaurants. Today there are over 4000 Quizno’s restaurants operating in twenty-one countries.

Quiznos Website: www.quiznos.com

Official Quiznos Social Media: Facebook - Twitter

View the Quiznos menu: here

Find your local Quiznos Sub here

Quiznos Specials: -Newsletter – Gift Card – Coupons

Type of Food: Sandwiches

Interesting Fact: Doctor’s Associates, Inc. (DAI), is the national franchisor of Subway sandwich shops. The name was chosen because Dr. Peter Buck, co-founder, was a scientist with a doctoral degree, and Fred DeLuca had aspirations of becoming a medical doctor.

History: The company wad co-founded by Fred Deuce and Dr. Peter Buck. They opened their first Subway in Connecticut in1965. The elder Dr. Buck had suggested to family friend Fred Deuce try opening a submarine shop, and with $1000 to get him started, they were on their way. By 1974 they owned and operated 16 units throughout the state of Connecticut. It was at that time, they realized they needed franchisees to make it really expand. Brian Dixon, a good friend of Fred’s, was the first franchisee but he would not be the last. In 2006, the Subway chain entered its 41st year of operation with 26422 restaurants in 85 countries.

Subway Website: www.subway.com

Official Subway Social Media: Facebook - Twitter

View the Subway menu: here

Find your local Subway here

Subway Specials: -Newsletter – Gift Card – Coupons

Name: MR. SUB

Type of Food: Submarine Sandwiches

Interesting Fact: MR. SUB was the first to offer wraps in the food industry.

History: Orignally called Mr. Submarine (before the 1990s), MR. SUB’s first store was opened in March 1968 in Toronto’s Yorkville neighborhood by friends Jack Levinson and Earl Linzon. The response was overwhelming. Five months later the two founders opened a second Mr.Submarine. By 1972, MR.SUB sold its first franchise, and spread across Canada.

Today, there are over 520 restaurants from coast to coast, and Mr. Sub is still owned by the founding partners.

MR.SUB Website: www.mrsub.ca

Official MR.SUB Social Media: Facebook - Twitter

View the MR.SUB menu: here

Find your local MR.SUB: here

MR.SUB Specials: -Newsletter – Gift Card – Coupons

Name: Panera Bread

Type of Food: Breads, sandwiches, soups, salads & bakery items

Interesting Facts: Most locations offer free wireless Internet (Wi-Fi) access to customers. Panera operates the largest free wireless network in the United States.

History:

The Panera Bread® legacy began in 1981 as Au Bon Pain Co., Inc. Founded by Louis Kane and Ron Shaich, the company prospered in cities along the east coast of the U.S. and internationally. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Au Bon Pain became the dominant operator within the bakery-cafe category.

In 1993, Au Bon Pain Co., Inc. purchased Saint Louis Bread Company®, a chain of 20 bakery-cafes located in the St. Louis area. The company then managed a comprehensive re-staging of Saint Louis Bread Co. Between 1993 and 1997 average unit volumes increased by 75%. Ultimately the concept’s name was changed to Panera Bread.

By 1997, it was clear that Panera Bread had the potential to become one of the leading brands in the nation. In order for Panera Bread to reach its potential, it would require all of the company’s financial and management resources.

In May 1999, all of Au Bon Pain Co., Inc.’s business units were sold, with the exception of Panera Bread, and the company was renamed Panera Bread. Since those transactions were completed, over $1 billion in shareholder value has been created. Panera Bread has been recognized as one of Business Week’s “100 Hot Growth Companies.” As reported by The Wall St. Journal’s Shareholder Scorecard in 2006, Panera Bread was recognized as the top performer in the restaurant category for one-, five- and ten-year returns to shareholders.

In 2007, Panera Bread purchased a majority stake in Paradise Bakery & Café, a Phoenix-based concept with over 70 locations in 10 states (predominantly in the west and southwest). The Company purchased the balance of Paradise in June 2009.

In May 2010, Ron Shaich transitioned to the role of Executive Chairman of the Board and Bill Moreton, who had previously served as the company’s Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Operating Officer, was named Chief Executive Officer and President and to the Board of Directors.

As of June 29, 2010, there are 1,399 bakery-cafes in 40 states and in Ontario Canada operating under the Panera Bread®, Saint Louis Bread Co.® and Paradise Bakery & Café® names

Panera Bread Website: www.panerabread.com

Official Panera Bread Social Media: Facebook - Twitter

View the Panera Bread menu: here

Find your local Panera Bread’s: here

Panera Bread Specials: -Newsletter – Gift Card – Coupons