h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

In the US, the cheerful sandwich-clad visitor to the office began to appear in the 1950's or 60's, as the service economy exploded. It evolved to the van in the same way it did in the UK, only much sooner. Sandwich vans still operate in the US, mostly visiting places where real labor is performed, like construction sites and warehouses. They are affectionately known as 'roach coaches' and 'garbage trucks' for the high quality of their product, but do a thriving business nevertheless. They are all independent entreprenurial ventures, so there is none of that 'global domination' stuff mentioned here. However, no two coaches will visit the same site, at least in my experience.