Sandwiches help operators mitigate cost of living pressures

According to data from Lumina Intelligence’s Menu Tracker, sandwich counts rose across menus at coffee shops, pubs and bars, restaurants and QSR in March 2022 by between 0.2 and 0.6 percentage points compared to the previous month.

Sandwich prices, meanwhile, saw modest price increases versus the overall average.

On average, main dishes across all channels grew by 5.8% in price between February and March.

In coffee shops, the average price of a sandwich in March was £3.57, a 2.3% rise on February 2022 prices; while in chain restaurants it was £9.06, a 2.1% increase.

The QSR channel recorded the biggest rise, with sandwich prices going up 5.3% to £5.56; while in pubs and bars, prices fell 3% to £6.68.

Additionally, sandwich calorie counts have increased by 17%, suggesting they are being bulked out to cater for a fuller meal, according to Lumina. 

On average, sandwiches listed on menus in March 2022 contain 580 calories, versus 497 in February.

The average calorie count of a sandwich within the pub and bar channel is much higher at 875 versus the other three channels, with coffee and sandwich shops offering sandwiches with a much lower calorie count of 412.

“The rising cost of living will see consumers become more conscious of what they spend their disposable income on,” says Katherine Prowse, senior insight manager at Lumina Intelligence.

“Lower-ticket meal solutions and channels are well placed to attract consumers that seek value. Sandwiches provide operators within all channels to mitigate this challenge by offering cheaper solutions.”