Published September 2022

Since the beginning of time (or, rather 1762 when the term “sandwich” was officially coined), this iconic fillings-and-bread combo has been a lunchtime staple. And while we always recognize the importance of a creamy cheddar or sourdough bread with a perfect chew, we can’t help but call the tender slices of meat between those ingredients our favourite part. With back-to-school season in full swing and many of us packing lunches by the wagonful, it felt like the perfect time to dive deep into our deli-roasted meat offerings and help you create the perfect sandwich. 

When you visit our delis, you’ll be met with a variety of meats, including three deli-roasted favourites: turkey breast, roast beef and succulent Soleterra d’Italia Modena ham. And when we say fresh, we mean it! These meats are roasted fresh in small batches every day by our talented market chefs. Being roasted in small batches ensures that each meat is cooked perfectly and never sits too long in our deli cases; you’ll receive the same fresh-from-the-oven product regardless of the time of day you visit. Best of all, there’s no need for added preservatives because our meat goes right from our oven to your shopping cart. 

We like to keep things as simple as we can when it comes to seasonings. Our roast beef is seasoned only with salt and pepper before being popped into the oven, and all three flavours of our turkey breast (salt and pepper, sun-dried tomato and herb and garlic) are all made with simple, whole ingredients. When the meat tastes this good on its own, there’s no need to add anything else — that’s been our motto since we roasted our first batch over two decades ago.

While the flavour of freshly roasted meat is unmatched, there’s even more to love about sourcing your sandwich filling from our deli. Firstly, the texture! Though it may not be something you always think about when picking your protein, there’s no arguing that the buttery, natural feel of a roasted turkey breast is superior to that manufactured consistency of a supermarket cold cut. Our Modena ham is roasted on a rotisserie, allowing a delicious, caramelized crust to render. That satisfying crunch just isn’t possible in a preserved meat! And when it comes to tenderness, our roast beef is unparalleled. Secondly, the nutritional value! Pre-packaged meats (even the ones marketed as “natural”) are often full of added water, salt, sugar and starches that make up a large part of their weight. Our turkey and beef are free of these additives, and our Modena ham has an incredible 19% meat protein. Thirdly, our team is here to help you get exactly what you need. You can get each meat sliced as thin or as thick as you like — and as much as you like! Whether it’s 50g or 500g, our deli team will perfectly prepare it to your liking. Oh, and if you’re someone who struggles with estimating weights, don’t fret! We recommend 90–100g of protein per sandwich as a starting point.

Our markets are full of artisan bread, local and imported cheeses, fresh veggies, roasted meats and condiments just waiting for you to make your own sandwich creations, but let’s face it — you don’t always have the time. Thankfully you can still enjoy these enticing ingredients in all our Grab ‘n’ Go sandwiches, hyerollers and wraps. If you’re not in a sandwich mood, you can enjoy our turkey, beef and ham as part of a charcuterie board, too. We’re passionate about pairings, so ask any of our team members to share their favourite combinations.

The next time you’re shopping in our market for a picnic or stocking up for school lunches, we encourage you to make visiting the deli part of your trip. No matter which of our oven-roasted meats you choose, we guarantee they’ll make you think differently about lunchtime.