Jack's Worker from Geraldine Named 2022 Biscuit Bake-Off Champion

Taniesa L. Sullivan | The Weekly Ledger News

GERALDINE — Jack’s Family Restaurants (Jack’s), a Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) network headquartered in Birmingham and boasting more than 220 locations across Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Mississippi, today crowned the company’s 23rd Annual Biscuit Bake-Off champion at a finalist event held in the Magic City.

Selected from seven regional employee finalists, Reilly Caroll of Jack’s in Geraldine was awarded the company championship from a panel of judges based on her biscuit’s height and diameter, pan color consistency, and overall taste.

The event – hosted by WBRC FOX-6 Anchor Jeh Jeh Pruitt – was judged by Jack’s COO Karen Kelly, Jack’s Chief People & OPS Strategy Officer Dana Taylor, WBRC Fox-6 Meteorologist Mickey Ferguson, The Next Round Sports Host Jim Dunaway, Comedian Matt Mitchell, and Mark Plunkett, “Chef Jack.”  

Along with the title of “Jack’s Biscuit Bake-Off Champion 2022,” Caroll received a $1,000 prize.

“Nothing speaks to the soul of the South quite like a biscuit, and Jack’s is known for serving up some of the finest quality, handmade biscuits for our customers,” says Todd Bartmess, Jack’s CEO. “Our Annual Biscuit Bake-Off is not only a way to honor the best biscuit makers from among our over 250 biscuit makers, but it truly connects Jack’s staff and the community with one menu item that all of us can agree on as being truly, authentically Southern.”

“I am honored to be this year’s Biscuit Bake-Off champion and to represent Jack’s with this award,” said Caroll, who has been an employee of Jack’s in Geraldine since September of this year. “Our restaurant has some of the finest chefs and employees in the Southeast and I am honored to have been selected amidst the tough competition I was up against.”

Jack’s Biscuit Bake-Off began in 1999 and has since maintained a four-round competition format: store level, area level, regional level, and final round. After first winning their store’s bake-off competition format: store level, area level, regional level, and final round. After first winning their store’s bakeoff competition, a total of 36 regional winners were then narrowed to the following seven finalists: Debra Chastain (Jack’s Argo, AL), Audry Jordan (Jack’s Louisville, MS), Elizabeth Wilkins (Jack’s West Point, MS), Reilly Caroll (Jack’s Geraldine, AL), Carla Taylor (Jack’s Heflin, AL), May Lykes (Jack’s Clanton, AL) and Glenda Colburn (Jack’s Red Bay, AL). 

“We are proud of all finalists and truly appreciate the ongoing excitement and participation from our employees each year,” added Bartmess. “We’ve built a special Jack’s network both in our stores and in our communities, and we look forward to continuing to grow our brand family through unique activations like this one.”

(Sand Mountain Reporter)