Jimmy John’s is an American sandwich chain that is almost entirely franchises. The business was founded in 1983 with only four sandwiches on the original menu. The first Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwich shop, in Charleston, IL, was not in an ideal location so the founder decided to offer delivery of sandwiches to boost sales. Incorporating this new delivery business model proved successful and by the end of 1987 Jimmy John’s had opened its third Illinois location. They still offer “freaky fast” delivery, as well as in-store pick up and drive-thru options. There are currently over 2,600 stores across 45 states. In 2016, Roark Capital Group purchased a majority stake in the company. Then in October 2019, Inspire Brands purchased the company from Roark Capital Group. It is estimated that Jimmy John’s franchise system generates around $2.1B in annual revenue. The company is headquartered in Champaign, IL.

Inspire Brands, Inc., is the 2nd largest restaurant company in the world. The privately-held company has a portfolio of distinct, highly-valued brands such as Sonic, Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Jimmy John's, and Dunkin’. They manage over 32,000 restaurants, 650,000 company and franchise members, and have over $30B in global system sales. Inspire Brands is headquartered in Sandy Springs, GA.