A consumer trend report identified the sandwich as a growth vehicle for the food service industry.
According to some restaurant industry trend watchers, 2013 has the potential to become "the year of the sandwich."
A between-bread meal is, after all, well suited to contemporary lifestyles. Sandwiches are quick to prepare; can incorporate a host of ingredients, flavors, and textures; and offer "grab-and-go" convenience.
They can also be priced attractively while still earning restaurant operators an attractive profit.
Technomic, a Chicago-based consulting and research firm serving the food and restaurant industries, recently completed a major research effort that examined the sandwich market.
Their 2012 Sandwich Consumer Trend Report identified the sandwich as a growth vehicle for the food service industry, with away-from-home sandwich consumption having increased significantly over the past several years.
Restaurant operators have already begun exploiting this market opportunity with a number of ingredient and menu innovations.
The perennial comfort food favorite, grilled cheese, has been reworked in creative ways, with an increasing variety of cheeses, meats, and garnishes being used to amp up the grilled cheese experience.
Hot dogs are another sandwich standard getting an update, with artisan buns and exotic toppings such as guacamole, pico de gallo, and flavored mayonnaise being used to build new flavor profiles.
Handheld morning meals in the form of breakfast sandwiches are also gaining in popularity, with components such as low-fat sausage, cooked egg whites, and fruit accents enhancing palate appeal while reducing calories. Fast food operators have been particularly aggressive of late in developing new breakfast sandwich offerings.
Technomic's research report also speculates that continued consumer concerns about the economy may be driving the recent popularity of sandwiches as dining out options. Appealing not only because they taste good, the report suggests, sandwiches also represent wallet-friendly choices.