OVERLAND PARK Kan. Applebee's is asking consumers to develop the chain's next burger in a contest similar to the one launched last week by Wendy's.
Applebee's "Big Burger Showdown" will award $5,000 to the grand-prize winner, whose burger will be featured on the casual chain's menu in 2008.
The contest is part of the chain's multi-platform campaign with Food Network. Judges from the network and Applebee's will select four regional finalists, and the winning burger will be chosen by chef Tyler Florence, a Food Network star and an Applebee's ad spokesman who has created exclusive menu items for the nearly 2,000-unit chain.
The contest will run through July 15. Florence will pick the winner in October.
Wendy's kicked off its "This Is My Burger" contest last week with the first stops on a 25-city road tour. It, too, is asking consumers to develop a new burger for the chain, though via a special website where contestants can submit their recipes.