Jimmy John’s Is Ready for Canada: “The Sandwich of Sandwiches” Opens Its First Canadian Location on Tuesday, Nov. 19, in Toronto

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 19, 2024--

Jimmy John’s, the popular American sandwich brand known for its high-quality ingredients and speedy service, will open its first Canadian location in Toronto on November 19 near Sherway Gardens, at 197 North Queen St., Etobicoke. Jimmy John’s debut in Canada reflects the brand’s commitment to growing across the country with Foodtastic, the Montreal-based restaurant operator.

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“We recognize exceptional brands and products when we see—and taste—them,” says Peter Mammas, President and CEO of Foodtastic. “The bold flavours and diverse menu at Jimmy John’s are truly unmatched, and we’re confident they’ll keep our guests coming back for more—and bringing their friends.”

To celebrate the brand’s expansion north of the border, Jimmy John’s will offer the first 200 in-store guests one complimentary six-inch Classic sandwich and a 16oz beverage during the grand opening event to be held on November 19 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. EST.

Obsessed with quality, Jimmy John’s uses premium meats and fresh vegetables that are hand-sliced in-house every day, along with freshly baked bread, to create “The Sandwich of Sandwiches.”

The menu includes a mix of classic, cold cut sandwiches and a lineup of new, signature sandwiches. Guests have the option to toast any sandwich on the menu and choose between Jimmy John’s iconic fresh-baked bread or a carb-friendly alternative, the popular “Unwich” lettuce wrap. The brand also offers its signature Jimmy Chips, made fresh from real potatoes and cooked to perfection.

There are 15 sandwiches on the Canadian menu, and favorites include the Meatball Parmesan—which has chopped tender meatballs topped with marinara, melted provolone and parmesan cheeses on toasted garlic butter bread—and the Chicken Bacon Ranch—which has shredded chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese ranch dressing and arugula. The Turkey Tom—a classic turkey and cheese sandwich that is a Jimmy John’s staple and the number-one seller in the United States—is also on the menu.

Guests can place their orders in-store, on JimmyJohns.ca or via the newly launched Jimmy John’s app (available in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store), which features the Jimmy John’s Rewards program. The menu is also available on the Uber Eats and Skip third-party delivery platforms.

Jimmy John’s is part of the Inspire Brands portfolio, which includes more than 32,600 Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, and Sonic locations around the world.

“Canada is one of the largest sandwich markets in the world, and we couldn’t ask for a better franchisee than Foodtastic,” says Michael Haley, president and managing director, international for Inspire Brands. “Canadian consumers are hungry for Jimmy John’s straightforward approach to making delicious sandwiches on their terms — a blend of quality ingredients and convenience that is second to none.”

Jimmy John’s expansion into Canada marks another step forward in its recent international growth journey, which began earlier this year. The brand made its international debut in El Salvador in September and South Korea in October. Jimmy John’s aims to open additional international markets in 2025.

About Jimmy John’s
Jimmy John’s, founded in 1983, is the largest owned delivery sandwich brand in the United States, with more than 2,600 restaurants in 44 states. Jimmy John’s is part of the Inspire Brands family of restaurants. For more information, visit JimmyJohns.ca and InspireBrands.com.

About Foodtastic
Foodtastic is a leading franchisor of restaurant brands in Canada, with over 1,200 restaurants and $1 billion in sales. With an extensive presence both domestically and internationally, Foodtastic continues to drive the growth and success of its portfolio through strategic acquisitions and innovative culinary experiences. For more information, visit foodtastic.ca

About Inspire Brands
Inspire is a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes more than 32,600 Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s, and SONIC locations worldwide. The company was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information, visit InspireBrands.com.

Peter Mammas, President and CEO of Foodtastic (left) and Michael Haley, President and Managing Director, International, Inspire Brands (right), celebrated the official opening of the first Jimmy John’s in Canada on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, in Toronto. The Sandwich of Sandwiches has officially arrived in Canada. The Canadian Press Images PHOTO/Monica Healy

NEW YORK (AP) — Jersey Mike's, the quickly expanding sandwich chain, is being acquired by asset management giant Blackstone.

In the transaction announced Tuesday, private equity funds managed by Blackstone will be used to acquire majority ownership of Jersey Mike's. The deal is "intended to help enable Jersey Mike’s to accelerate its expansion across and beyond the U.S. market," the companies said, as well as aid ongoing technological investments.

Blackstone and Jersey Mike’s did not immediately disclose financial terms in their Tuesday announcement. But a source familiar with the matter confirmed to The Associated Press that the transaction would value Jersey Mike's at around $8 billion, a figure previously reported by The Wall Street Journal.

The acquisition of the private company is expected to close in early 2025, subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions. Under terms of the agreement, Jersey Mike’s founder and CEO Peter Cancro will continue to lead the business and maintains a “significant equity stake" in the chain, the companies said.

“We believe we are still in the early innings of Jersey Mike’s growth story and that Blackstone is the right partner to help us reach even greater heights," Cancro said in a prepared statement — adding that Blackstone “has helped drive the success of some of the most iconic franchise businesses globally.”

Tuesday's agreement with Jersey Mike's follows a series of similar investments from Blackstone. Just earlier this year, the private equity firm acquired Tropical Smoothie Cafe in a deal that it said would also aid the chain's expansion.

Jersey Mike's roots date back to 1956, with a Point Pleasant, New Jersey storefront location that was originally called Mike’s Subs. In 1975, Cancro, then a 17-year-old high school senior who had worked there since he was 14, bought the operation with the help of his football coach.

Today, Jersey Mike's touts 3,000 locations that are open or in development across the U.S.

FILE - A sign for The Blackstone Group L.P. investment firm stands in front of their offices, Oct. 15, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)