Biology of Business

Quiznos

Restaurants - Fast Casual · Founded 1981 · Defunct 2014

By Alex Denne

Quiznos' 2014 bankruptcy followed years of decline from 5,000 locations to under 1,000, illustrating how franchise conflicts can destroy restaurant chains. The company's franchisees filed lawsuits alleging the franchisor profited from supplier markups at franchisee expense. When franchisees became unprofitable, they closed stores. The mechanism failure was franchisor-franchisee mutualism breakdown—the franchisor extracted value that franchisees needed to survive.

Key Leaders at Quiznos

Rick Schaden

Founder/CEO

Key Facts

1981
Founded

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