Canadians crave quality ingredients, ethnic twists on beloved meal of the masses, study suggests
Vancouver Sun
Copyright © 2014 Vancouver Sun
Almost everyone in Canada – a whopping 94 per cent of us – eats at least one sandwich a week, with 35 per cent eating a sandwich at least every other day.
But according to a new report by Technomic Inc. – a research and consulting firm focused on the food industry – healthy options are more important than ever.
The Canadian Sandwich Consumer Trend Report found today’s shoppers place more importance than ever on the quality of the sandwich, from the bread to the meat, cheese and condiments.
The majority of us say healthy sandwich options are a priority at lunch (57 per cent) and dinner (56 per cent).
And just 44 per cent say they’re satisfied with the “healthfulness of sandwiches away from home.” Which, in a way, is good news for all those café owners out there: there’s room for growth. “Operators need to focus on the quality of their sandwiches to help drive traffic and steal share,” Darren Tristano, executive vice-president of Technomic Inc., said in a release. “Certain concepts can emphasize sandwich quality and improve health perceptions at the same time through better-foryou sandwich claims, such as fresh, artisan or made-from-scratch.” A growing number of shoppers also say they like to try new or unique flavours on sandwiches: 27 per cent, up from 21 per cent in 2012.
HERE’S WHAT ELSE THE REPORT FOUND:
Canadians eat, on average, 3.3 sandwiches per week
35 per cent of Canadians eat a sandwich at least every other day
39 per cent of the sandwiches we eat are not made at home, but purchased elsewhere
60 per cent of the sandwiches we buy are takeout meals
48 per cent of us buy grab-andgo sandwiches
44 per cent would like healthier sides with our sandwiches
21 per cent of us – and 32 per cent of 25- to 34-year-olds – would like more ethnic sandwich options at restaurants
WHAT WE’RE EATING
Top 5 on the menu
Sandwich/wrap Appearances
Chicken 834
Veggie 406
Steak 204
Mixed protein 181
Pork 179
Source: Technomic MenuMonitor survey of 4,747 menu items in Q2 2014
How many of us order a sandwich away from home once a month or more for the following:
Our Top 3 lunch sandwiches
Burger: 23%
Sub/hoagie/hero: 19%
Deli: 10%
Our Top 4 dinner sandwiches
Burger: 32%
Sub/hoagie/hero: 22%
Chicken-breast sandwich: 7%
Deli: 7%
Fastest-growing condiments/sauces
Honey 55%
Tartar sauce 25%
Jam 22.2%
Caesar 20.3%
Tomato sauce 20%
Marinara 16.7%
Sauerkraut 15%
Pico de gallo 12.5%
Horseradish
mayonnaise 12.5%
Mango salsa 11.1%
Source: Technomic MenuMonitor survey of 2,058 menu items from Q2 2013 to Q2 2014
