3 simple ways to step up your sandwich game

Posted on Tuesday, 22ⁿᵈ January, 2025

When purchasing a sandwich out of home, diners are usually on the lookout for something better than or different to what they could make themselves at home. Coupled with their desire to try what’s on-trend, foodservice venues can draw in more business by adding innovative twists to their sandwich menus. 

Not every operator needs to go to the lengths of Brooklyn Bridge Deli with its signature sandwich menu or South Dowling Sandwiches with its proprietary ingredients. However, the reality is, sandwiches are a perfect platform for innovation, with an easy-to-adapt format that’s ripe for cuisine crossovers, overloaded slabs, trending flavours, contrasting ingredient combinations and inventive formats.

Discover 3 simple yet effective ways to 'rizz' up your sandwich menu.

Shopping locally for sandwich fillings or other menu ingredients offers multiple benefits for businesses. Kitchens can generally source higher quality and often more flavoursome produce from nearby farms. In turn, this approach can provide a compelling farm-to-plate story and a significant competitive advantage.

Did you know that 77% of Gen Z diners and 70% of Baby Boomers are also willing to pay more for dishes with locally sourced ingredients? This statistic was highlighted in our 2024 Future Menus report as the driving force behind the Local Abundance trend spreading across the globe.

Many operators we speak with nominate local farmers’ markets as a great place to see and try fresh produce. They are an excellent forum for speaking directly with a lot of farmers and other producers in a short space of time, as well as to observe consumer behaviour to see what local foods are popular and trending.

Our research reveals that a growing number of operators across Australia and New Zealand are adding signature sauces and spreads to their sangers.
 
A signature sauce can add unique on-trend flavours to a dish, increasing menu diversity, setting your sandwiches apart from those of your competitors and allowing you to easily respond to changing consumer trends and preferences.

We recommend starting with a base of our famous Hellmann’s Real—a high-quality, rich and creamy mayonnaise—and adding other ingredients or sauces to build unique signature flavours that take your handheld heroes to new heights. Also consider Hellmann’s Vegan mayonnaise for a plant-based solution that doesn’t compromise on flavour.

We all know today’s diners enjoy trying new dishes and they love the idea of a limited-edition offer. So, why not change up your sandwich menu with exciting and unmissable specials? Short-time-only offers generate news, build exclusivity and help you take advantage of seasonal ingredients, current trends and special buys. 
 
Local venues that are leading the way with limited-edition sandos include Melbourne CBD Italian diner Marameo, which recently featured a wagyu beef sandwich with mustard, pickled onions, caciocavallo and a beef jus sauce.  
 
Darlinghurst venue Mrs Palmer Sandwich has built its entire business around limited-edition sangers, with its chef-made creations available for just two weeks at a time. 
 
Limited edition offers, typically advertised through social media channels, can generate FOMO and give diners a convincing reason to visit your venue. 

With some simple tweaks, we can elevate a traditional sanger into an affordable luxury. Check out these recipes that take a straightforward sandwich and give it a lift with the help of a distinctive addition or two. 

Hanoi fish sandwich 

Seafood-in-a-sandwich is a growing trend, and this recipe employs a red curry mayo for a genuine flavour kick. 

Stay tuned for the exciting new Chef’s Modern Guide to ‘Rizzing up the S’wich’.

Disclaimer: The content of this article is created for inspiration purposes only. It is not intended as clinical, medical or nutritional advice.