It was the year McDonald’s introduced the McNugget and Jimmy John’s joined the world. In 1983 graduate Jimmy John Liautaud (pictured) was given a choice by his father: join the military or start a business. He chose the latter and set up shop in Charleston, Illinois, with four sandwiches made with bread baked in his mom’s kitchen – the Pepe (ham and provolone) is still a favourite today. The gourmet sandwich chain took off and has now reached 2,800 locations in 43 states.