11 HOT & HEARTY FACTS FOR NATIONAL SANDWICH DAY

11 HOT & HEARTY FACTS FOR NATIONAL SANDWICH DAY

Today is National Sandwich Day, and with data suggesting Americans consume over 300 million sandwiches a day, there’s no doubt this foodie holiday is worthy of serious celebration. With that said, we wanted to share 11 little-known and interesting facts surrounding all things sandwiches and subs – see below! 

  1. Home is where the heart is. Six cities titled “Sandwich” can be found across the globe, including Sandwich, IL, Sandwich, MA, and Sandwich in Kent (UK). 
  2. What came first? The Earl or the Sandwich? According to Britannica.com, the sandwich was named after John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, a first lord of the British Admiralty in the 1770s and 80s. He was an avid gambler and was rumored to have created the easy-to-eat sandwich during an especially long card game when he was unable to leave the table.
  3. No matter their age, Americans relish the idea of pickles on their sandwiches. A recent survey commissioned by Firehouse Subs shows Gen Xers (84%) and Millennials (82%) appear to enjoy pickles on their sandwiches most, closely followed by Boomers (76%) and Gen Z (74%).
  4. Submarines literally inspired the “sub.” Legend has it that Benedetto Capaldo, a restaurant owner near an east coast U.S. Naval submarine base, would receive hundreds of orders a day from local workers during World War II. The sandwiches, which he originally referred to as “grinders,” eventually morphed into being called “submarines” and “subs.” 
  5. Let’s be frank, a hot dog is a sandwich, at least according to the USDA. Respondents in a YouGov 2019 survey weighed in, too. Thirty-four percent of those surveyed included hot dogs as sandwiches. Interestingly, the first menu item at Firehouse Subs was actually the “Dalmatian Dog,” which consisted of an all-beef hot dog served with a choice of chili, relish, cheese, slaw, onions, mustard, ketchup on a poppy seed bun. 
  6. The Great Mayo Debate. A 2021 survey from Wakefield Research and Firehouse Subs found that 86% of sandwich lovers prefer at least some sort of mayonnaise on their sandwiches.
  7. Super-sized sandwich creations can be found all over the world. Here in the U.S., Michigan claims the world’s largest sandwich at 5,440 pounds, while Lebanon proudly holds the record for the longest sandwich at 2,411 feet. In 2019, chefs in Mexico City invited 10,000 people to enjoy the world’s largest torta at 236 feet. 
  8. Appetites divided. According to USDA research, American men eat more sandwiches (52%) than women (43%) in a day.
  9. What’s in a name? There are at least seven common terms used for “sandwich,” which often differ regionally. Those include our favorite “sub,” “hero,” “potbelly,” “grinder,” “hoagie,” “po’boy” and “blimpie.” 
  10. There is much debate on America’s favorite sandwich, but it’s what’s inside that counts. At Firehouse Subs, the Hook & Ladder -- featuring smoked turkey breast, Virginia honey ham, and melted Monterey Jack, steamed to perfection and served on a toasted sub roll -- has been our guests’ ultimate favorite for over 28 years.
  11. Subs save lives. A portion of every purchase at all Firehouse Subs locations goes to the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation to provide lifesaving equipment to first responders. To date, $71 million has been awarded to hometown heroes in 50 states and Puerto Rico.