British Sandwich Week, 20-26 May, is organised by The British Sandwich & Food to Go Association, the trade body established in 1990 to represent the interests of  businesses involved with the food on the move industry.

The associations members are supermarkets, food-to-go manufacturers, sandwich bars, cafes, and suppliers of ingredients and equipment.

Like Oscars, Grammys, and Emmys, the association presents awards: Sammies.

According to research by Lumina Intelligence, 33% of consumers are bored with making the same lunches at home and are seeking inspiration and variety.

From France to Japan and everywhere else around the globe the British sandwich is establishing itself as one of the great foods of the 21st century. The key to the success of sandwiches is that, not only do they taste good, they are versatile and fit busy lifestyles.

During Sandwich Week, retailers will be launching new sandwiches and running special promotions and offers.

The sandwich is named after Lord John Montague, the 4th Earl of Sandwich. He liked to gamble. He liked it so much he didn’t take time out to eat. He would ask a waiter to bring him slices of meat between two slices of bread. Others began to order “the same as Sandwich”. The concoction became known as a sandwich.

There are 14 categories of Sammies’. Click here

There’s also a Lifetime Award. It’s for a parson or business that has made a substantial contribution to the development of sandwiches. The first winner of the award was, of course, The Earl of Sandwich. Other winners have been Marks & Spencer and Pret a Manger’s Julian Metcalfe and Sinclair.

May Brit Sand week

Official website: www.britishsandwichweek.com