A study looking at has revealed a growing trend for fancy fillings such as , olives and mozzarella over classics such as ham and cheddar cheese.

Researchers for The Great British Sandwich Study, by Allinson’s, quizzed British adults of all age groups on their sarnie preferences, from their favourite type of bread to their ideal fillings. It found that while sliced ham is preferred by older generations, with a quarter of boomers saying its their number one meat for a bap, prefer leaner .

Meanwhile only one in 100 Gen Z, 18 to 27-year-olds, would consider pairing ham with English mustard, compared to one in 10 of the baby boomer generation. Two-thirds of boomers say cheddar is their favourite cheese for a sandwich, with that number falling through the age groups to 52% of Gen Z, who are almost as likely to include continental cheese such as mozzarella, halloumi and brie in their sarnies as the English classic.

Another growing sandwich trend is for fancy fillings such as avocado, peppers, chillies and olives, with a third of Gen Z opting for upmarket extras over just 10% of boomers. The latter prefer onion in their sandwiches, with 29% regularly sliding slices of red, white or spring onion inside compared to just 12% of Gen Z.

When it comes to condiments, mayonnaise is the nation’s favourite with around a quarter of Brits saying it is top of the toppings. The older generation are the greatest lovers of classic sauces, with one in 10 choosing salad cream or English mustard compared to just 2% or 1% of Gen Z respectively.

How people cut their completed sandwiches is also evolving with a move away from diagonal slices in favour of a top to bottom or side to side split, and a growing number of Brits appear to be cutting off their crusts. Nearly two in 10 Gen Z routinely lop off the edges of their sarnies compared to just 5% of baby boomers.

But however people like to eat their sandwiches, love for the snack is as strong as ever with 77% of people saying the meal is one of the world's great inventions.

An Allinson’s spokesperson said: “We are truly a nation of sandwich lovers. Regardless of what fillings we put inside, how we choose to serve or slice them, the humble sandwich has been a mealtime mainstay for centuries - and will be for centuries to come."

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