Sizing Up the Sandwich Category

Sandwiches are on a roll. Refrigerated sandwiches were the fastest-growing U.S. food/beverage category for the year ended Nov. 1, 2015, according to data provider IRI. Sandwiches are the most popular brown-bag item, according to NPD Group data.

On average, Americans eat 3.6 to 3.8 sandwiches per week; 52% of those sandwiches are made at home, according to Technomic’s 2016 Sandwich Consumer Trend Report. In 2015, 35% of adults ate at least one sandwich per week in a restaurant, 29% ate one f…