Filling the ever-gaping maw of the internet’s content machine means us mediafolk get seduced into writing about the most asinine “holidays” possible.
Not only are all of these holidays actually recognized by someone or something, they all fall in the first half of this month:
- National Pizza with the Works Except Anchovies Day
- National Spicy Hermit Cookie Day
- National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day
- National Broadcast Traffic Professional’s Day
- National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day
- National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day
Alas, it’s with the deepest discontent that we fall victim to today’s National Sandwich Day.
In our defense…
There’s a sensible reason for this observance: this November marks the 305th birthday of British nobleman John Montagu, the fourth Earl of Sandwich — and namesake of the sandwich.
And there are legit business reasons to fete sandwiches right now:
- The munching icon remains the dominant food of the working world — a whopping 95% of workers claim to eat at least one sandwich per week.
- McDonald’s announced this week that its McCrispy sandwich has grown into its own $1B global brand.
- But $1B is just a drop in the bucket — we’re only weeks removed from private equity firm Roark Capital dropping $9.6B on sandwich king Subway (the same company that spent a rumored $3B to acquire rival Jimmy John’s a few years prior).
- The rest of the sub market also has some zing: Potbelly’s pandemic recovery plan includes 2k new locations, and Jersey Mike’s has expanded to all 50 states.
- We also just covered the $2.4B (and fast-growing) US market for breakfast sandwiches.
It’s a great time to sling sandwiches, and reminds us to never forget the true meaning of this holiday: making tons and tons of cash.
BTW: Maybe it can also be about togetherness? The harsh origins of the 6-foot sub suggest the sandwich community needs healing.
- The first novelty sub on record weighed 22 pounds, sold for the modern equivalent of $285 — and tore apart a family for over three decades, per Tasting Table.