Who Owns Firehouse Subs?
Restaurant Brands International, the company behind Burger King, Tim Hortons and Popeyes, which bought the chain from its firefighter founders for 1 billion dollars in 2021.
Before the sale, Firehouse was a private company controlled by its co-founders, brothers Robin and Chris Sorensen, both former firefighters. They built it from one sub shop in 1994 into a chain of about 1,200 restaurants.
The 2021 deal
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Buyer | Restaurant Brands International |
| Price | 1 billion dollars, all cash |
| Announced | 15 November 2021 |
| Completed | December 2021 |
| Restaurants at the time | About 1,200 in 46 states, Canada and Puerto Rico |
| Yearly systemwide sales | About 1.1 billion dollars expected for 2021 |
| Franchised | 97 percent of restaurants |
RBI said it saw big room to grow Firehouse in the US and abroad using its franchise network and digital systems. It promised to keep the brand based in Jacksonville, and it did.
Who owns RBI?
Restaurant Brands International is a public company based in Toronto, with shares traded in New York and Toronto under the ticker QSR. It is owned by its shareholders, and the Brazilian investment firm 3G Capital, which put Burger King and Tim Hortons together in 2014, has long been its largest one.
| RBI brand | What it sells |
|---|---|
| Burger King | Burgers |
| Tim Hortons | Coffee and baked goods |
| Popeyes | Fried chicken |
| Firehouse Subs | Hot subs |
So Firehouse Subs and Popeyes are sister brands. Popeyes prices are on the Popeyes menu.
Who runs Firehouse Subs now
Don Fox, who ran Firehouse for more than 13 years and oversaw the sale, retired as chief executive in 2023 and became chairman. RBI then appointed Mike Hancock, a longtime RBI executive who had been chief operating officer at Firehouse and earlier at Tim Hortons, as president of Firehouse Subs for the US and Canada.
The founders stepped back from running the business after the sale. How two firefighter brothers started it with about 35,000 dollars and a first order of two hot dogs is covered in why is it called Firehouse Subs.
Growth since the sale
Under RBI the chain has moved overseas for the first time in a serious way. By 2025 it had more than 1,300 restaurants worldwide, with locations in Canada, Switzerland, Mexico, Albania and the United Arab Emirates, and a deal to open 100 restaurants in Mexico over five years.
The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, the charity the brand is known for, continued after the sale. Current sub prices, sizes and calories are on the Firehouse Subs menu.
Related Questions
Who owns Firehouse Subs?
Restaurant Brands International, the parent company of Burger King, Tim Hortons and Popeyes. It bought Firehouse Subs for 1 billion dollars in cash in a deal announced in November 2021 and completed that December.
Is Firehouse Subs owned by Burger King?
Not directly, but they share an owner. Restaurant Brands International owns both Burger King and Firehouse Subs, along with Tim Hortons and Popeyes.
How much did Firehouse Subs sell for?
1 billion dollars in cash. At the time the chain had about 1,200 restaurants and expected around 1.1 billion dollars in systemwide sales for 2021.
Do the founders still own Firehouse Subs?
No. Brothers Robin and Chris Sorensen, who founded the chain in 1994, sold it to Restaurant Brands International in 2021 and no longer own it.
Is Firehouse Subs a franchise?
Yes, almost entirely. About 97 percent of Firehouse Subs restaurants were franchised at the time of the sale, so most are owned by local operators.
Where is Firehouse Subs headquartered?
Jacksonville, Florida, where the first restaurant opened in 1994. Restaurant Brands International kept the brand based there after buying it.
More on Firehouse Subs
About this guide. USA Food Menu is an independent reference site and is not affiliated with Firehouse Subs or Restaurant Brands International. Deal figures and restaurant counts come from company announcements and published reporting and change over time. Current prices are on the Firehouse Subs menu.
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