The local economy has benefited from significant investment by Pfizer, a US pharmaceuticals company, which has built a research & development centre near Sandwich, employing over 1,500 people. Viagra, Pfizer's treatment for erectile dysfunction, was discovered here.
The town's connection with the snack of the same name is that John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich allegedly invented it; see his entry for further details.
There is another village in Kent called Ham Street, or just Ham. A road sign some miles away pointing to both villages, thus:
has had to be replaced several times because people keep stealing it.