Be Creative with Your Carriers

Biscuits, pretzel buns, foccacia and flatbread are the best new foodservice items to hit the sandwich world since sliced bread. Today, foodservice chefs are turning to new bread carriers outside of the usual sliced white, sourdough and wheat as a means of updating and elevating old standards.

Expand Your Sandwich Board

One of the latest trends in foodservice in the sandwich category is to offer a more varied selection of proteins such as cured meats, salumis and unusual meats in the menu mix. Same goes for the cheese. If you are not able to do it on regular basis, create signature sandwiches that use these ingredients and offer them as a limited time promotion.

Edible Garnish

Consider garnish as an integral part of the sandwich. Tasty and appealing garnishes, such as antipasto items, pickles and relishes can elevate foodservice dishes by bringing in elements of freshness along with a colorful and highly visual eating experience.

Tell It Like It Is

Create menu descriptions that describe both what is in the dish and highlight the unique sandwich combinations you put together. Don’t confuse or overwhelm your guests with too many unneeded words or adjectives. Highlighting an otherwise everyday ingredient or special cooking techniques can make often forgotten ingredients the star of the show. For example call out ingredients like Fuji Apples and techniques like Oven Roasted Chicken to entice diners to try foodservice menu items.

Surprising Spreads

Fresh herbs either mixed in the spread or used with the lettuce can play a large role in bringing big flavor and signature appeal to what might otherwise be considered an everyday sandwich component. Don’t be afraid to play with new spreads or oils, they can transform a sandwich from ordinary to extraordinary.

Make It Sharable or Offer Half Portions

Offer the option in your foodservice establishment to cut sandwiches into shareable portions. Focus on the shared experience which is still a growing foodservice trend, especially with the Millennial generation. This also plays on the health and wellness trend as well. Also keep in mind that sandwiches are even more enjoyable with sides of dips, spreads or soups for dunking, so offering half or quarter portions combos with soup or dips is a great way to offer the customer more of a dining experience.