On British Sandwich Week, learn more about the popular meal!

Sandwiches. Whether it’s for lunch, dinner or a just as a little snack, they’re incredibly popular all over the world.

Over time the sandwich has even extended to further creations, such as baguettes, paninis and rolls, and the simple method of adding a filling between two slices of bread has been a satisfying treat for generations. The British sandwich has long been a revolution, and in this blog post we’ll explain how the famous meal became tradition.

Which British icon invented the sandwich?

The sandwich, as we know it today, was made popular by John Montagu, 4^th Earl of Sandwich in 1762, though not strictly invented. 

The story is believed to be based around the Englishman being a keen gambler. Whilst engrossed in a 24 hour game, Montagu instructed his cook to prepare a meal that wouldn’t interfere, to which he was then presented with sliced meat between two pieces of toast. Unfortunately, the name of the cook, regarded as the true founder of the revolution, was never recorded.

From this time, many people began ordering ‘the same as sandwich’.

How the British sandwich became popular all over the globe.

It’s rather surprising that England was the country to find the sandwich, but it wasn’t long before it made its way across the globe. Englishwoman Elizabeth Leslie introduced the revolution to the States in 1850, when her cookbook suggested serving a ham sandwich as a main meal.

“Cut some thin slices of bread very neatly, having slightly buttered them; and, if you choose, spread on a very little mustard. Have ready some very thin slices of cold boiled ham, and lay one between two slices of bread. You may either role them up, or lay them flat on the plates. They are used at supper or at luncheon.”

“The greatest thing since sliced bread.”

Chances are you’ve heard of this saying before, but where exactly did it originate from? The final layer in the history of the sandwich derives from Davenport, Iowa, where Otto Rohwedder invented in the bread slicing machine in the 1920’s. Although this invention was initially squashed due to the excess packaging needed during wartime, it was soon lifted, and the invention quickly made life easier for housewives all over the world.

Sandwiches of today.

One of the first sandwiches was simply ham, but now there are so many options to savour. The sandwich is the ‘go-to’ lunchtime option and the top 10 favourites (as of August 2023) are very interesting.

• Ham and Cheese.
• Egg Mayonnaise.
• Cheese and Onion.
• Chicken and Bacon.
• Bacon.
• Tuna and Sweetcorn.
• BLT
• Cheese and Pickle.
• Prawn Mayonnaise.
• Cheese.

Enjoy freshly prepared sandwiches in your workplace!

Coinadrink Limited remains one of the few vending and refreshment operators that delivers a quality fresh food service in and around the West Midlands.

Through our fresh food vending machines and intuitive Micro Market solutions, we make it easy for staff to stay on site during lunch time as opposed to heading off and risking lost work time. This is a great way to increase employee wellbeing, improve staff relationships, and aid productivity.

We adhere to all the latest fresh food hygiene legislation and modify the standard HACCP procedure to suit the way we work, meaning our customers enjoy peace of mind in addition to high quality, tasty sandwiches.

If you’re looking for a more convenient and cost-effective alternative to a canteen, talk to our team about a fresh food service tailored to your workplace.