17歲借錢創業，他打造出價值80億美元的三明治帝國——Jersey Mike’s 的逆襲之路

在美國的餐飲業界，有一個名字正逐漸成為「共贏加盟」的典範，那就是Jersey Mike’s Subs，一家專注於冷熱三明治的連鎖品牌。這家餐飲王國的創辦人Peter Cancro，出身普通，卻以一場不同凡響的加盟革命，帶領企業從街邊小店一路成長為市值達80億美元的三明治巨擘，並於近期被全球最大資產管理公司之一的黑石集團（Blackstone）收購，震撼市場。

然而，相較於其他依靠資本操作、商業手段併購擴張的連鎖品牌，Peter Cancro的成功，靠的不是資本壓制或大規模招募加盟商，而是用「利益共享」與「共創價值」的理念，塑造出Jersey Mike’s與眾不同的企業文化與成長模式。Peter Cancro的創業故事可說傳奇。他在 1971年，從他當時在新澤西州打工的三明治小店開始起步。當時這間店面正欲轉讓，他深知機會難得，便鼓起勇氣向母親的朋友借12.5萬美元（相當於今天的約90萬台幣），直接買下這家店。從此，他全身心投入三明治的世界，靠著親力親為與真誠待客的服務態度，逐步建立口碑。1990年代開始，他轉向全美擴張，推出 Jersey Mike’s 的連鎖加盟制度。但與許多大型連鎖不同，Cancro並沒有將加盟變成一種「割韭菜」的手段。他反其道而行，選擇「投資加盟者、讓員工當老闆」的模式，徹底改寫餐飲加盟的規則。

Jersey Mike’s 最廣為人知的制度，是由總部主動出資，幫助內部員工或資歷深的夥伴開設新店，將他們從打工仔推向創業者的身份。總部通常會先行墊付約40萬美元的啟動資金，作為加盟店的開店成本，而員工只需支付極少的入股金，就能擁有部分店鋪的股份與分紅權利。此舉不僅大幅降低員工創業門檻，也讓他們有更強烈的責任感與歸屬感，轉而將店鋪經營視為自己的事業。在短短兩年內，透過這種方式，超過100名原本的員工晉升為合夥人，帶動全系統的積極性與創新動力。這種共享模式帶來的成效相當驚人。自從實施「共贏加盟」後，Jersey Mike’s 全美門店不僅在數量上穩定成長，店鋪營收與顧客滿意度也大幅提升。許多原本經營乏力的門市，在合夥人制度刺激下煥然一新。

據《QSR Magazine》2023 年統計，Jersey Mike’s 的年成長率是同業平均的13倍，而顧客回訪率與品牌忠誠度也持續攀升。這不僅歸功於產品品質，更來自於品牌文化：員工視品牌為「自家事業」，更願意在門店服務、食材品質與顧客互動上下苦功，創造出差異化的顧客體驗。Jersey Mike’s 更以「文化」作為核心競爭力，在行銷中強調真誠、家庭、當地參與等元素，與當地社區建立強連結。這在快節奏、標準化嚴重的美國快餐市場中，是一種極罕見的溫度。在消費者與媒體口中，Jersey Mike’s 常被譽為「美國最有溫度的連鎖三明治品牌」。它不像 Subway 那樣標準化，也不追求極端成本壓縮，而是在保持品質、鮮度與服務精神的前提下，實現規模化。

許多餐飲評論媒體都指出，Jersey Mike’s 的產品品質在快餐三明治中屬於高水準，尤其強調現切肉片與麵包新鮮出爐。此外，消費者普遍認為該品牌員工態度更友善、門店整潔度高、點餐流程流暢，是一個「人情味濃厚」的快餐體驗。在投資界方面，黑石集團於 2024 年決定收購 Jersey Mike’s 的多數股份，引發市場熱議。這不僅象徵 Jersey Mike’s 已達國際級投資機構認可的商業高度，也顯示其模式具有可擴展性與長期發展潛力。

Peter Cancro的故事與 Jersey Mike’s 的崛起，打破「加盟即剝削」、「品牌靠財團」的刻板印象。他用實際行動證明，讓員工共享企業成果、共同打造願景，比一味壓榨與控制來得更有效率，也更具持久性。當其他連鎖品牌還在苦思如何擴張加盟數、榨乾成本、壓低人力開支時，Jersey Mike’s 靠著將員工轉為合夥人，實現成長、忠誠、創新三者兼得的商業奇蹟。最終，那些願意「與人分享利益、共同飛翔」的企業，往往比獨自登高者飛得更穩，也走得更遠。Jersey Mike’s，不僅是三明治的品牌，更是「共享成就」的典範。

At 17, He Borrowed Money to Start a Business—Now He’s Built an $8 Billion Sandwich Empire: The Rise of Jersey Mike’s

In the highly competitive U.S. food industry, one name is emerging as a new model of win-win franchising: Jersey Mike’s Subs, a fast-growing sandwich chain known for its fresh hot and cold subs. The man behind this empire, Peter Cancro, didn’t come from privilege or wealth. Instead, he led the company from a humble sandwich shop to an $8 billion brand—recently acquired by global investment giant Blackstone—by pioneering a franchise model built not on exploitation, but on shared success.

Unlike many chains that rely on aggressive capital expansion or franchisee churn, Cancro’s strategy centered on sharing ownership, empowering employees, and creating mutual value—a philosophy that now defines Jersey Mike’s distinct corporate culture and growth strategy.

A Humble Beginning

Peter Cancro’s entrepreneurial journey is nothing short of legendary. In 1971, at just 17 years old, he was working at a small sandwich shop in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. When he heard the store was for sale, he knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He borrowed $125,000 (equivalent to nearly $900,000 NTD today) from a friend of his mother’s and bought the store outright.

From that moment on, Cancro dedicated himself fully to the sandwich business. Through hands-on service and a genuine approach to customer care, he slowly built a strong local reputation. By the 1990s, he began expanding Jersey Mike’s nationally by introducing a franchise model. But rather than following the traditional “top-down” franchising approach, he turned the system upside down: he invested in his employees and turned them into owners.

The “Shared Growth” Franchise Revolution

What sets Jersey Mike’s apart is its employee-first franchising model. The company’s headquarters often fronts up to $400,000 in startup costs to help long-time employees or internal staff open their own Jersey Mike’s store. In return, these employees pay only a small equity stake to become partial owners—with rights to profits and long-term shares.

This initiative drastically lowered the entry barrier for employees to become franchisees and fostered a deep sense of ownership and accountability. Suddenly, staff members weren’t just employees—they were partners in the business.

In just two years, over 100 former employees became co-owners, igniting a wave of motivation and innovation across the system. The results were dramatic. Store revenue, customer satisfaction, and franchise performance surged, especially in previously underperforming locations.

Explosive Growth and National Acclaim

Since adopting the “co-ownership” model, Jersey Mike’s has experienced explosive growth. According to QSR Magazine, in 2023 the brand’s growth rate was 13 times the industry average. Its customer return rates and brand loyalty have also reached record highs.

The key wasn’t just product quality—it was culture. Because employees felt genuine ownership of the brand, they invested more care into service, cleanliness, and food preparation. That care translated into unique, people-centered experiences that set Jersey Mike’s apart from its competitors.

Unlike brands such as Subway—which are highly standardized and focused on cost-cutting—Jersey Mike’s has built a reputation for freshness, authenticity, and community engagement. It emphasizes hand-sliced deli meats, fresh-baked bread, and sincere, local service. As a result, Jersey Mike’s is often described by both customers and the media as “America’s most heartfelt sandwich chain.”

The brand also uses “culture” as a core competitive advantage, promoting values like honesty, family, and community involvement. In a fast-food market often dominated by speed and automation, this approach is refreshingly human.

Critical and Consumer Reception

Food critics and business analysts alike praise Jersey Mike’s for maintaining high food standards within the fast-casual category. Consumers frequently cite the friendliness of staff, cleanliness of locations, and smooth ordering process as key reasons for repeat visits. The experience feels less like a corporate chain, and more like a neighborhood staple.

This cultural and operational strength caught the attention of Blackstone, one of the world’s largest investment firms, which acquired a majority stake in 2024. The deal sent ripples through the industry, signifying that Jersey Mike’s had not only reached a new level of commercial success but had also built a scalable, sustainable business model with long-term value.

A New Narrative for Franchising

Peter Cancro and Jersey Mike’s have upended traditional assumptions about franchising. At a time when many brands pursue aggressive expansion by squeezing franchisees and cutting costs, Jersey Mike’s has shown that empowerment, trust, and shared ownership can drive growth, loyalty, and innovation.

By turning workers into co-owners and building a brand on mutual respect, Cancro has proven that you don’t need to exploit people to build a billion-dollar empire. Instead, you can lift them up—and fly together.

In the end, the companies that share success often go farther and more sustainably than those that climb alone. Jersey Mike’s isn’t just a sandwich chain—it’s a living case study in how inclusive business practices can transform industries and lives.