History tells us that our love affair with the humble sandwich started in the 18th century when the term was supposedly coined by the Earl of Sandwich. He demanded meat to be served between slices of bread to avoid interrupting a gambling game to eat a traditional meal. As soon as people started ordering ‘the same as Sandwich’ the name stuck!

The sandwich has evolved dramatically from those humble beginnings, with the lines of what constitu tes a sandwich becoming ever more blurred. Today’s time-poor consumers are looking for a filling food-to-go
item that is portable, easy to eat on the move and customisable to suit their personal tastes. A sandwich is so versatile as the filling, carrier, sauces and dressings can be switched and swapped to create millions of different delicious handheld snacks. Fillings are ever changing, taking inspiration from international cuisines and street food trends. Carriers are available in a vast array of formats from naan breads and pita breads to lettuce leaves and chocolate chip cookies! Operators across all sectors need to maximise their sandwich and food-to-go offering to entice customers, students and residents and keep them coming back for more!

To help take the headache out of creating great ideas for your menus we’ve explored the latest food and cuisine trends to create a range of amazing sandwich and food-to- go ideas – whether you’re a restaurant, cafe, school or care home there are solutions to suit all sectors.

Download Trend Guide