What 550 Sandwiches Taught Us About Flavor

May 13, 2026 – Sandwich innovation is exploding. Across LSR menus, operators are launching more sandwiches than ever making the category one of the fastest growing platforms for menu innovation.

The Sandwich Boom 💥

Sauce is the Cheat Code 🥪

After analyzing 550 sandwich launches and nearly 250,000 consumer ratings, our data shows that it’s not the protein or the carrier that makes or breaks a sandwich… it’s the sauce! “Sauce is what gives a sandwich its identity. It turns a familiar protein into something craveable, signals craftsmanship, and lets us differentiate the menu without complication to operations,” explains SVP of R&D, Chef Gavin Estes.

Sandwiches 🤝 Sauces

Sauce is the strongest lever for sandwiches, and every sauce serves a purpose. Flavors like garlic and ranch perform across a wide range of sandwiches, dayparts and proteins, consistently boosting purchase intent with modest price lifts. Whereas sauces like horseradish and BBQ tend to command higher prices often appearing alongside premium proteins like steak, brisket, and roast beef. But where the real magic happens is when you combine multiple flavors – think dill pickle ranch, parmesan garlic aioli, hot honey BBQ, lemon pepper buffalo, ginger wasabi or peach habanero. Such combinations result in a 16% lift in uniqueness, 6% lift in terms of draw, and 13% lift in price point.

Sandwiches are everywhere and the need to differentiate has never been more important. Sauces are the way to make yourself stand out. Download this Rubix-exclusive report to learn more about how sauces can be used to elevate your sandwich menu.