WITH curry replacing fish and chips as the nation's favourite dish, it should come as no surprise that Britain's favourite new sandwich has a distinctly Eastern flavour.

Brambles, based in Middlesbrough, won the best new sandwich category at the British Sandwich Association's annual Sammy awards with a spicy onion bhaji on malted bread.

The wholesaler beat competition from the retail industry, pushing the Marks & Spencer cajun chicken pizzatella sandwich and Waitrose's Greek salad sandwich into the runners up spots.

The Sammies were presented at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, in London, and are one of the highlights of British Sandwich Week, which ends today. Brambles also won the best new chicken sandwich for its Pesano Chicken.

Ian Kemp, Brambles' financial director, said: "It is always a good motivational factor for everyone working in the business. We all like to see our company doing well.

"The success of the business is down to the staff."

Brambles employs 210 staff and supplies sandwiches to schools, universities, hospitals and councils.

It also sells to GNER, WRVS and Nescafe's franchised coffee shops.

The company makes about 250,000 sandwiches a week.