Subway is the world's largest restaurant chain by number of locations, founded in 1965 by Fred DeLuca and Peter Buck in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Originally called Pete's Super Submarines, the company rebranded to Subway in 1968 and began franchising in 1974, eventually growing to over 37,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries. Headquartered in Shelton, Connecticut, Subway specializes in made-to-order submarine sandwiches, wraps, salads, and cookies, allowing customers to choose from a wide selection of breads, proteins, vegetables, and condiments assembled in front of them. The brand's Eat Fresh philosophy emphasizes freshly prepared food with ingredients sliced and baked daily in each restaurant. Subway's franchise model has been one of the most accessible in the industry, with relatively low startup costs compared to other major chains, contributing to its massive global footprint. In 2023, Subway was acquired by Roark Capital Group, a private equity firm, in a deal valued at approximately $9.6 billion, ending nearly six decades of private family ownership. The company has undergone significant menu refreshes and operational improvements, including the Subway Series of chef-curated sandwich recipes and upgrades to bread, protein, and ingredient quality. Subway's scale makes it a significant employer globally, with hundreds of thousands of workers across its franchise network, and its ubiquitous presence in strip malls, gas stations, and urban locations has made it one of the most recognized restaurant brands worldwide.

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Subway is the world's largest restaurant chain by location count with 37,000+ restaurants in 100+ countries, specializing in made-to-order submarine sandwiches and wraps.