NEW YORK -- Last year, Americans bought more than $121 billion in sandwiches, according to a recent Packaged Facts report, "Sandwiches in the U.S.: Foodservice and Retail Market and Trends." Progressive Grocer reports that the market for prepared sandwiches is forecasted to keep growing exponentially, partly because of the popularity of such sandwich chains as Subway and Quizno's.

The report also indicates that sandwich restaurants had the largest revenue growth from 2003 to 2005 and added locations faster than any other sandwich segment during that time. Sandwich sales account for 25 percent of total U.S. foodservice sales.

"With the introduction of paninis and international flavor profiles, the opportunity to raise sandwiches to a new art form has taken place as even local delis and convenience stores have begun to upscale and add health-infused ingredients to their sandwich arsenals," Packaged Facts publisher Don Montuori told the newspaper. "Sales in retail outlets now surpass sandwich chains, and restaurants sales, which dominate the market with more than half of sandwich revenues, show no signs of slowing up."