Jason’s Deli is turning to its customer base to engineer its next limited-time offering. The Beaumont, Texas-based fast casual chain launched The Great Sandwich Search on Tuesday, inviting fans to submit ideas for a new sandwich that will appear on menus in November.
The nationwide contest coincides with National Sandwich Month. Entries are being accepted online until Aug. 21. Following the submission window, finalists will advance to a public voting phase running through Aug. 27 on the chain’s social channels. The winner is scheduled to be announced on Aug. 31.
The grand prize includes free sandwiches for a year. Beyond the food, the winner earns “bragging rights and culinary fame,” according to the announcement.
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“Sandwiches have always been at the heart of Jason’s Deli, and our guests are the real experts on what makes one great,” Kim Collura, Vice President of Marketing, said in a statement. “Some of our best inspiration comes from the guests who visit us every day, and The Great Sandwich Search invites our fans to show off their creativity and be part of shaping our menu.”
Crowdsourcing in the Fast Food Sector
Enlisting guests to drive menu innovation is becoming a broader trend in the industry. Last year, Burger King debuted its “Whopper by You” platform. The first customer-inspired creation from that effort, the BBQ Brisket Whopper, landed on menus in July. A second iteration, the Ultimate Steakhouse Whopper, rolled out in January.
Burger King’s competition encourages guests to add a spicy twist, unique topping or cheese, or offer a culinary makeover on the Whopper. These crowdsourced creations do not leave the chain chefs off the hook; the ideas must be developed into recipes and scaled up to be executed systemwide.
For operators, this method serves as a low-risk way to gauge consumer interest before committing resources to a full-scale rollout. It effectively engages the customer base as a massive, voluntary focus group, providing immediate market validation for flavors that might otherwise seem risky to test.
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Entry Requirements and Rewards
Jason’s Deli is also offering exclusive perks through its Deli Dollars loyalty program during August. Members can earn double points on sandwich purchases every weekend throughout the month. Additionally, the program offers a chance to earn a fourth sandwich free when a sandwich is purchased on three separate visits.
Official rules and entry details are available at the company’s website. The contest features a template to build a sandwich, directing creators to check off the meats, cheeses, spreads, bread, and other ingredients they want to include. All items must be part of the existing Jason’s Deli supply chain.
No purchase or Deli Dollars membership is required to enter The Great Sandwich Search. However, the grand prize winner must enroll in the loyalty program to redeem their free sandwiches for a year.