News

Zaxby's celebrates 20 years with search for biggest fan

July 5, 2010

To celebrate its 20th year, Zaxby's is courting its fans and encouraging them to document their passion for the brand with its Zaxby's Fanatic Video Contest at www.zaxbysfan.com. The contest begins July 12 and features Matt, the self-proclaimed reigning top Zaxby's fanatic, who challenges others to prove their love for Zaxby's.

“When Tony Townley and I were opening our first location, we had a real passion for our freshly prepared food and the business we began to build,” said Zach McLeroy, Zaxby's CEO and co-founder. “Couple that with the passion shown by our guests throughout the years, and it's no secret why we’ve successfully made it to year 20. We're eager to get our fans involved in the celebration and can't wait to crown the biggest fan in our Zaxby’s Fanatic Contest.”

Twenty winners will be chosen, with the grand prize fanatic receiving $5,000 in cash, along with Zaxby’s gift cards, a Flip video camera, a special plaque denoting their top fanatic status, along with a special T-shirt. Zaxby’s will raise awareness about the contest through in-store POP, online advertising, on the Zaxby’s website and through social media.

Joining the 20th year celebration are two memorable television personalities whose shows were earning top ratings when Zaxby’s began. Richard Dean Anderson, who starred in “MacGyver,” and John Ratzenberger, who played bar know-it-all Cliff Clavin in “Cheers,” will star in TV spots promoting the chain’s two new limited-time-only menu items. Anderson plugs the new Celebration Special, which contains staple items that put Zaxby’s on the map — Chicken Fingerz, Crinkle Fries and Texas Toast, served with a 32-oz. drink. Ratzenberger promotes the Birthday Cake Milkshake, a festive cake batter-flavored milkshake mixed with multicolored sprinkles and finished off with chocolate whipped topping. The company’s Facebook fans got a sneak peek of the spots in early July.

As an additional thank-you to guests, Zaxby’s is giving its Zax Mail Club members a free "Nibbler" on their birthday throughout 2010. Club members receive a coupon for the snack-sized sandwich in the mail during the month of their birthday. People can sign up for the club at www.zaxbys.com.

Zaxby's was started in Statesboro, Ga., in 1990, and has become a successful Southeastern restaurant chain. The chain has grown to more than 500 locations in 12 states where 16,000 team members serve an average of 250,000 customers each day.