Once upon a time, the BLT was downright transformative. Someone dreamed up this simple combination of crispy bacon, crunchy lettuce and juicy tomatoes tucked between slices of bread spread with mayonnaise—and when they did, they made gastronomic history. The same can be said of other cherished American sandwich classics, ranging from the Monte Cristo to the Muffuletta and from the Reuben to the Lobster Roll. Chefs today remain alert and ever hopeful that lightning will strike, turning today’s culinary innovation into tomorrow’s menu icon.

To make magic in the sandwich category, the choice of carrier is as crucial as the selection of fillings. High-quality, artisan breads that offer nutritious benefits and clean labels are particularly well-suited for chefs seeking to innovate in this space. And as they look to differentiate their sandwich offerings from the competition, chefs seek every available advantage, among them, products with built-in brand recognition.

Three brands from Flowers Bakeries Foodservice, LLC check multiple boxes in this pursuit:

• Canyon Bakehouse is a complete line of gluten-free products. Also free of dairy, nuts and soy ingredients, they are baked with whole-grain goodness. They are available in multiple forms and flavor varieties, including classic breads, thicker-sliced heritage breads, bagels, English muffins, rolls and buns.
• Popular Dave’s Killer Bread products are organic and Non-GMO Project Verified. These whole-grain products feature “killer” taste and texture, without use of artificial ingredients. The lineup includes six varieties of bread in both conventional and thin slices, plus breakfast breads, bagels, English muffins, buns and rolls.
• The thick-sliced breads and brioche-style rolls and buns from Nature’s Own Perfectly Crafted never feature any artificial flavors, colors or preservatives and high-fructose corn syrup. They are also Non-GMO Project Verified.

Attributes like organic, artificial ingredient-free and other hallmarks of these brands carry premium value with diners, and being able to deliver these, without any sacrifice of flavor, is simply smart strategy. “Cleaner label products are still on trend,” notes Krystle Farlow, Brand Director, Flowers Bakeries Foodservice, LLC. “Many consumers are concerned with what they put into their body.” Similarly, interest in gluten-free options has become a legitimate menu driver, as this once niche dietary solution has evolved into a thriving industry with a broad consumer base, said Beyond Market Insights in a 2023 report. Many consumers without a gluten sensitivity seek to eliminate or reduce consumption of gluten in pursuit of reported digestive and cardiovascular benefits.

Three Areas of Sandwich Opportunity

A future classic sandwich that not only endures but excites and inspires fresh iterations is likely to emerge from one or more of three currently trending areas: breakfast, bagel and globally inspired sandwiches. Chefs are likely to look to premium carriers to serve as a tasty foundation.

Photo Credit: Dave’s Killer Breads

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Breakfast Sandwiches

Any successful breakfast sandwich relies upon a soft, but sturdy bread that can hold up to and enhance a wide variety of fillings. Here, toasted Dave’s Killer Bread Rockin’ Grains English Muffins provide delicious structure for this Bodacious Plant-Based Benedict, featuring tofu, avocado, tomato and fresh dill, topped with a vegan hollandaise made with cashew milk.

Future breakfast builds are likely to go bigger and bolder, with a towering array of indulgent ingredients. Consider stacking crispy bacon, guacamole, fried eggs and American cheese on a hearty bread or using a brioche bun to carry softly scrambled eggs, caramelized onions, Sriracha mayonnaise and melted cheddar cheese for a craveable morning treat. Artisan breads that boast brand recognition and signal premium cues elevate any combination.

Photo Credit: Canyon Bakehouse

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Bagel Sandwiches

The humble bagel has been making bigger plays on modern menus, breaking out of its morning roots and demonstrating its value as a sandwich carrier. “The bagel offers great versatility from breakfast to lunch and even an afternoon snack,” says Farlow. Its unique chew is a satisfying element, and it has no equal as a sturdy carrier holding up to moist ingredients like tuna salad or marinated veggie builds. This Reina Pepiada on Bagel, featuring a chicken salad made with avocado, mayonnaise and cilantro, enjoys the added benefits of a Canyon Bakehouse Bagel that is free of gluten, dairy, nuts and soy ingredients.

Chefs are turning to bagel sandwiches to play with trending flavor profiles. Consider spice-rubbed tofu layered with cool avocado, lettuce and a bright lime aioli on a savory Everything Bagel from Canyon Bakehouse. This recipe hits the flavor bull’s-eye: plant-based, chile heat, cool contrasts and everything seasoning. Bagels also can be swapped in for other breads in iconic builds to deliver a fresh twist. For example, use it to replace the baguette in a French dip or the sub roll for a Philly Cheesesteak or the rye of a Reuben.

Photo Credit: Nature’s Own Perfectly Crafted

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Sandwiches Inspired by the Global Pantry

Modern chefs are turning to the global pantry with ever-greater enthusiasm, and sandwiches provide the perfect canvas for easy, enticing explorations by diners. There’s no end to the directions they can turn, whether it’s seeking to generate new translations of the Vietnamese banh mi or the Latin American arepa, or finding inspiration in ingredients, flavors and combinations that remain a bit exotic to many American consumers.

Above, this open-faced Veggie and Goat Cheese Burger, served on Nature’s Own Perfectly Crafted bread, reflects the opportunity found in using the safe format of a sandwich to give consumers a greater range of flavor experiences. Consider a fried egg combined with five-spice-flavored bacon, duck pâte and spicy pickles for a decadent banh mi breakfast sandwich. Or a Spanish-inflected grilled cheese sandwich featuring manchego, jamón serrano and Medjool dates. What they might have in common is a premium bread.

“Quality breads enhance the overall experience, allowing ingredients to shine,” says Farlow. “Our brands provide a great base product for new interpretations of virtually any global sandwich trend that spotlights quality ingredients.”

Seize the advantages of these powerhouse brands and add them to your menu lineup. Visit Flowers Bakeries Foodservice, LLC to learn more.