Fast Forward: Women of Fast Casual

Swedish college student becomes Subway franchisee

Two years after Amira Ben Khalifa began working as a sandwich maker at a Subway in Sweden, the 25-year-old college student is now its owner.

Amira Ben Khalifa working at a Subway she now owns in Alingsås, Sweden. Photo provided.

November 12, 2019 by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Two years after Amira Ben Khalifa began working as a sandwich maker at a Subway in Alingsås, Sweden, the 25-year-old college student is now its owner.

"I purchased the restaurant that I worked in and that's in my hometown," Khalifa said in an interview with FastCasual. "I felt like it was a natural place to start my career as a franchise owner since I already was familiar with the restaurant and its customers."

Khalifa bought the unit in August after saving most of her earnings from working nights and weekends over the past two years as a sandwich artist and eventually as a manager. Her family also helped support her dream by backing the business.

"I am so grateful," said the computer engineering major, who is on track to graduate in two years from the University of Skövde. "I started my business because it's always been a dream of mine to be my own boss. I'm the first in my family to be a business owner, and I feel very proud and accomplished of that."

Only 32% of all new businesses in Sweden are started by women, according to the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth, which also said that for women's entrepreneurship to be as common as men, it would mean 75,000 new businesses and some 278,000 new job opportunities.

"My greatest advice would be to challenge yourself and take risks," Khalifa said to other young women who'd like to follow in her footsteps. "That's what I did! And it felt great after. There is also a quote that's always stuck in my head and that's: 'anyone can become what they dream of if they just take the risk.'"

Although dreaming big is a must, dreams will die without a well thought-out plan. For Khalifa, that plan included creating a support network before opening her business.

"I'm constantly learning every day, and that's what's so exciting about this experience," she said. She also recommended that young entrepreneurs find mentors and eventually also act as them for others.

"My mom is my mentor," Khalifa said. "She never gives up and always pushes me to follow my dreams. She has been an inspiration for me since childhood."

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Franchising

About Cherryh Cansler

Cherryh Cansler is VP of Events for Networld Media Group and publisher of FastCasual.com. She has been covering the restaurant industry since 2012. Her byline has appeared in Forbes, The Kansas City Star and American Fitness magazine, among many others.

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