The Hardee's Show Us Your Meemaws competition has been launched by the QSR brand as a nationwide initiative that stars Caleb Pressley and encourages consumers to submit their spirited grandmother to be chosen as the ultimate winner.
The campaign focuses on spirited grandmothers who are warm, authentic and loving with a focus on good food, and will see the grand prize winner receiving a $65,000 retirement boost, a signature meal and the chance to serve as a the new face of the brand. The competition can be entered by having individuals Sumit a video of themselves or their grandmother on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X or Threads by August 30, 2026.
Vice President of Brand Marketing Sarah Breymaier spoke on the Hardee's Show Us Your Meemaws competition saying, "We know many of our guests have fond memories of sharing meals with their grandparents at Hardee's. We want to celebrate that connection by finding a Meemaw who shares our passion for great food and family. And Caleb was the perfect partner for this campaign. His authentic humor and charismatic storytelling bring the spirit we're looking to capture with 'Show Us Your Meemaws.'"
Image Credit: Hardee's
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Grandparent-led Branding
- Elder family figures are becoming powerful brand ambassadors, creating space for QSRs to build campaigns around nostalgia, trust and intergenerational dining rituals.
- Social Video Contests
- User-submitted short-form videos are expanding participation-driven marketing models, giving brands scalable access to authentic stories and community-generated content.
- Nostalgia-based QSR Campaigns
- Family memory and comfort food themes are reshaping fast food promotions, with emotional familiarity differentiating brands in a crowded value-driven market.
Where This Applies
- Quick-service Restaurants
- Restaurant chains are blending menu promotion with character-driven storytelling, opening new paths for loyalty through culturally relatable personalities.
- Social Media Marketing
- Platform-spanning contests across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X and Threads highlight how distributed engagement can transform campaigns into participatory entertainment.
- Retirement and Senior Services
- The inclusion of a retirement prize signals growing crossover between consumer marketing and senior lifestyle narratives, connecting financial wellbeing with mainstream brand culture.
