Industry News

A recent story in the Guardian newspaper raised concerns about the use of nitrates and nitrites in foods, particularly cured meats, including bacon and ham.

In a keenly contested final of the Sandwich & Food to Go Designer competition, Katarina Broadribb from Lemon and Soul wowed the judges with her Smokey Roll.

At a glittering event on 4th May 2023, the winners of the Sammies 2023 were revealed.

The clock is ticking and as on 4th May 2023 we will be bringing everyone together at the Royal Lancaster London and crowning this year’s Sandwich & Food to Go Industry Award winners.

This year British Sandwich Week takes place from 22^nd to 28^th May and there are some great opportunities for retailers and brands to take advantage of the campaign.

Our Primary Authority has issued the following Assured Advice for products labelled as containing free range eggs.

The Sammies are the benchmark for excellence in our industry, with awards acknowledging new products, marketing initiatives, overall performance and so much more presented to retailers, manufacturers, and suppliers alike.

Whether a nationwide chain, small independent, established giant in the sector or plucky upstart with a great new idea, there’s a trophy which could have your name on it.

All the details at www.thesammies.co.uk 

The winners of the Sandwich & Food to Go Industry Awards have been announced at the Sammies Awards dinner on 5th May 2022. 

The Sandwich Industry Award was presented to Kevin Vyse and Will Mercer, for their breakthrough work in all-paper packaging. Meanwhile Greencore's Catherine Fleetwood claimed the title of Sandwich & Food to Go Designer with her creation "You're bacon miso bananas!"

Head over to the Sammies site for all the details.

Our Plans for British Sandwich Week 2022

You can see a recording of the presentation made by our agency about our plans for British Sandwich Week and how your business can get involved here

For further information about the Week, please contact Director Jim Winship at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on 07850 104034

Following a number of concerns over the potential cross-contamination presence of mustard in some wheat coming into the UK from abroad.

A new report highlighting the acute labour shortages across the food industry has been published and delivered to Ministers across Government.

Under new Government proposals, all producers of packaging will have to bear the full cost of packaging waste – including local authority litter and waste collection costs – from 2023.

We're thrilled to reveal the winners of the British Sandwich & Food to Go Industry Awards 2021.

In August 2020 the government announced that in 2021 the Single-Use Carrier Bag Charge would be increased to 10p and extended to all retailers in England. Since its introduction, use of carrier bags in the main supermarkets has reduced by 95% and the Government is keen to build on this success.  

Food to Go Trends to Watch in 2021 – free member presentation by the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) - Wednesday, 27th January at 3 pm

During 2020, food-to-go retailers and specialists alike had to rethink every element of their food-to-go offering to adapt to the changes in consumer behaviour brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

So many chefs! So many incredible recipes! Seven delicious sponsor ingredients! Seven deserving winners!

Our breakfast briefings bring together our sector to share insights and network. As you’d probably expect, we’ve had to put our programme on hold right now, but rest assured we’ll be resuming it just as soon as we can.

While the number of people going vegan has risen over the past few years, 91% of vegans still struggle to find suitable ‘grab and go’ food options. But things are changing fast and what’s remarkable is how quickly vegan options are now becoming mainstream with a raft of recent new innovations in this space.

This article is an extract. For the fuller article, see the latest issue of Sandwich & Food to go News (which BSA members can access here).

We’re delighted that Greggs' David Ross will be presenting at our next BSA members’ breakfast session, taking place in London on March 25.

Here are some of the ways we think businesses across our sector and beyond can learn from the Greggs approach.

With all entries now in for this year’s Sammies, we are delighted to announce in its 25^th anniversary year a record number of entries, with many new businesses and individuals entering across the award categories and hoping to walk away with one of the coveted titles.

Last week BSA brought the sandwich and food-to-go industry together at an event designed to share insights and promote networking. The audience heard from some excellent speakers, drawn from across the sector, at this session created specifically for our members. Here’s what we took as the key themes from the day.

We take a look at the past month and highlight developments to be aware of across the sector. 

We’ve been out and about in London seeing some of the latest formats from some of the UK’s leading retailers. Here’s what we took from the visits from a food-to-go and sandwich perspective.

With just one month to go until entries close, now is the time to enter these prestigious awards, recognising and honouring excellence and achievement in the sandwich and food-to-go industry. 

The British Sandwich & Food to Go Association is advising businesses not to over react to the news this week that Out of Home foodservice businesses will in future be required to fully label products that are prepackaged for direct sale.

A comprehensive review of sandwich and chilled food delivery into hospitals and care homes is to be undertaken by The British Sandwich & Food to Go Association following the deaths of five people from listeriosis with the aim of ensuring that best practice systems are operating throughout the supply chain.

The Sammies Awards 2019 will undoubtedly remain a wonderful memory for many of our winners this year. The evening saw us celebrate successes from across this vibrant industry from high street favourite Greggs collecting a hat-trick of awards to some wonderful independent sandwich shops across the UK celebrating glory in these nationally acclaimed awards.

Join us for a Presentation on the Sandwich Market by Gavin Rothwell, Head of Food-to-go at IGD preceding the British Sandwich Designer of the Year 2019 Grand Final.

Following on from the FSA’s #easytoASK allergen campaign, which encouraged 16-24-year-olds to speak up about their allergies or food intolerances when eating out, ordering in or cooking with friends, the FSA will be continuing to help build awareness with a campaign in readiness for Valentine’s Day.

The Sammies Awards are all about awarding excellence. From the New Sandwich Award to the Sandwich & Food to Go Retailer Award, The Sammies Awards are all about recognising the achievements of the industry and honouring those who have worked to advance the UK sandwich and food to go markets.