Jersey Mike’s Subs, the Point Pleasant-based fast-casual sandwich giant with more than 3,200 locations across North America, officially announced its first major foray into Europe on Monday. The company has signed a landmark franchise agreement to open 400 stores across the United Kingdom and Ireland.
In a unique move for the brand, the expansion will be spearheaded by Jersey Mike’s founder and current Chairman, Peter Cancro. Leading the newly formed JM Submarines UK LTD, Cancro will personally oversee the brand’s entry into the European market, with the first location scheduled to open later in 2026.
The move marks a significant full-circle moment for Cancro. In 1975, at just 17 years old, he purchased the original “Mike’s Subs”. After nearly 50 years as CEO—a tenure that saw the brand grow from a single shop to a multi-billion-dollar entity—Cancro transitioned to Chairman in April 2025 following the company’s sale to Blackstone.
“I’ve lived and breathed this brand my entire life,” Cancro said in a statement. “To now have the opportunity to bring Jersey Mike’s to the UK and Ireland as a franchisee is incredibly exciting. I see tremendous potential in these markets.”
The expansion comes on the heels of a banner year for the company. In 2025, Jersey Mike’s was ranked as the No. 2 franchise in America by Entrepreneur and the No. 1 sandwich chain by Eat This, Not That! Charlie Morrison, CEO of Jersey Mike’s, emphasized that Cancro’s personal involvement is a “pivotal milestone” for the company’s evolution. “We could not ask for a better partner than Peter to lead this market expansion,” Morrison noted. “He built this brand from the ground up.”
While the expansion represents a massive scaling of operations, leadership remains committed to the “community-first” culture that defines the brand. Andy Skehan, president of International at Jersey Mike’s, suggested that the UK and Ireland are just the starting point for a broader global journey.
“I’m confident that communities worldwide will embrace what has made Jersey Mike’s a beloved brand across North America,” Skehan said.
