Fred DeLuca facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fred DeLuca
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DeLuca in 2011
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Frederick James Matthew DeLuca
October 3, 1947 New York City, U.S.
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| Died | September 14, 2015 (aged 67) |
| Alma mater | University of Bridgeport |
| Years active | 1965–2015 |
| Title | Founder / President of Subway (1965–2015) |
| Spouse(s) | Elisabeth (m. 1966) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Suzanne Greco (sister) |
Frederick Adrian DeLuca (born October 3, 1947 – died September 14, 2015) was an American businessman. He was the co-founder and president of the Subway fast food chain. He started Subway with his family friend, Peter Buck. During his time leading Subway, it grew to become the largest restaurant franchise in the world.
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Early Life and School
Fred DeLuca was born in Brooklyn, New York, on October 3, 1947. His parents were Carmela and Salvatore DeLuca. When he was 10, Fred moved to Amsterdam, New York. There, his family became friends with Peter Buck. Later, as a teenager, he moved with his family to Bridgeport, Connecticut. He finished high school at Central High School in 1965. Fred always wanted to go to college, and he did, graduating from the University of Bridgeport.
Starting Subway
In 1965, when Fred DeLuca was just 17 years old, he needed money for college. He wanted to study medicine. His family friend, Peter Buck, suggested an idea to help him. Peter Buck loaned Fred $1,000 to start a sandwich shop.
Fred's idea was to create a "fast-food place that offered healthy, less fattening food." The first name they used in radio ads was "Pete's Submarines." But it sounded like "Pizza Marines," so they changed it to "Pete's Subway." In 1968, they shortened the name to just "Subway," which is what we know today.
Subway's First Steps
The very first Subway shop opened on August 28, 1965, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Fred's mother, Carmela, and Dr. Buck helped him. The first year was a big learning experience and quite a challenge.
A year later, they opened their second location. They quickly learned that people needed to see their shop easily, and marketing was very important. Fred believed his biggest mistake was picking a "crummy location" for the first shop. Their third shop was in a very visible spot, and that location is still there today!
Fred DeLuca ran Subway like a family business. His mother managed the first shop. His sister worked as a "sandwich artist." Even his wife, Elisabeth, worked in the main office. Every Monday, Dr. Buck would visit Fred and Carmela to talk about the Subway business. Over time, they decided to let other people open Subway shops, which is called franchising. This is when Subway really started to grow fast.
Growing Big
Subway opened its 100th store in 1978. By 1987, they had reached 1,000 stores! The company continued to grow very quickly. In 1993 alone, Subway opened 1,100 new locations.
Jared Fogle and Subway
Fred DeLuca once read an article about a man named Jared Fogle. This man had lost a lot of weight by eating Subway sandwiches. Fred met Jared and made him a special spokesman for Subway in the year 2000. After Jared became the face of Subway, the company's sales and the number of new stores grew incredibly fast.
Subway's Lasting Impact
During Fred DeLuca's time, Subway became the biggest restaurant franchise in the world. He pushed for many new stores to open. Sometimes, he even encouraged new Subway shops to open very close to existing ones. Subway is still the largest sandwich chain in the world today.
Personal Life
Fred DeLuca had homes in Milford, Connecticut, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He lived with his wife, Elisabeth. He had a son named Jonathan.
His Passing
On July 15, 2013, Fred DeLuca shared that he was being treated for leukemia, a type of cancer. Fred DeLuca passed away on September 14, 2015, in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida.
Awards and Recognition
In 2002, Fred DeLuca received a special honorary degree from his old college, the University of Bridgeport. This was called a Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.). He also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Connecticut Restaurant Association.
See also
In Spanish: Fred DeLuca para niños
Images for kids
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DeLuca in 2011
