Who co-founded Subway with Fred DeLuca in 1965?

Peter Buck co-founded Subway with Fred DeLuca in 1965.

Buck was a nuclear physicist who provided DeLuca with a $1,000 loan to open a sandwich shop. The first restaurant, originally called Pete’s Super Submarines, opened in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Buck also became DeLuca’s business partner, helping guide the company’s expansion.

The founders’ partnership transformed a single Connecticut sandwich shop into a major international chain. The business later adopted the Subway name and developed its familiar submarine-sandwich format. DeLuca handled much of the company’s public leadership, while Buck remained an important figure in its ownership and development.

People sometimes identify DeLuca as Subway’s sole founder because he was the company’s best-known executive. However, the founding partnership is historically credited to Fred DeLuca and Peter Buck. Buck’s original loan and continuing partnership were central to the company’s creation.