The Company Behind Several Grocery Products Also Owns Jersey Mike's

When you want a decent sandwich, it's hard not to think of Jersey Mike's Subs. The sandwich chain has been serving up tasty handhelds since 1956 and has achieved enough success to currently hold over 2,000 locations in 47 states. It may not surprise fans that Jersey Mike's went from a local shop to a global franchise, but what may surprise you is that they're directly related to coffee and dairy producer Trilliant Food and Nutrition LLC. That connection is one you may have heard before, Blackstone Inc. Blackstone may not sound familiar, but the investment giant is the majority owner of both Trilliant and Jersey Mike's. Additionally, Blackstone also has a connection via investment acquisitions to various other popular brands and products.

After purchasing his boss's business at 17 years old, Peter Cancro rebranded Mike's Subs to Jersey Mike's Subs. From there, Jersey Mike's found itself on a bit of a roller coaster with bank failures and business booms between 1991 and 2006. By 2024, Cancro wanted to take the next step in Jersey Mike's legacy, partnering with Blackstone Inc. while maintaining leadership of the business. This allowed Jersey Mike's to expand its presence beyond the United States, as well as keeping up to date with the latest industry tech. 

As for Jersey Mike's connection to the grocery aisle, that took place in 2017, when Blackstone acquired Trilliant Food and Nutrition for $291 million.  Trilliant produces private-label coffee brands like Black Stag Coffee and Aspen Ridge Coffee, and that investment allowed consumers to find its labels like Black Stag in Walmart, Food Lion, and Walgreens as of 2022.

As of 2024, Blackstone still owns a majority in Trilliant, but may be looking to sell its stake. However, this wouldn't mark the first time it's placed a footprint in the nation's grocery aisles. In 2007, Blackstone acquired Pinnacle Foods, which produces many major grocery brands like Duncan Hines, Mrs. Butterworth's, Log Cabin syrups, and Swanson frozen dinners, to name a few. Admittedly, Blackstone's acquisition of Jersey Mike's took place after the firm's ownership of Pinnacle, as it was eventually sold to Conagra for $8.1 billion. Interestingly, that does create an indirect timeline, historically connecting Jersey Mike's with several well-known grocery brands through Blackstone's acquisitions.

It's worth noting that Jersey Mike's Blackstone connection doesn't end with groceries. Cheekily stated, the investment company acts sort of like a Six Degrees Kevin Bacon Game for the major sub chain, connecting it to various businesses and industries. Blackstone is the direct line connecting Jersey Mike's to a popular health-inspired drink chain, as well as the arts and crafts giant, Michaels. It also has a majority holding on Hilton Hotels since 2007, and even the genealogical company, Ancestry, as of 2020. Certainly, Jersey Mike's wide-spanning connection via Blackstone can seem mind-boggling. Just ensure it doesn't distract you from not making the same mistakes many make at Jersey Mike's on your next visit.