Orlando Baking Marks 150 Years with Sandwich Contest

CLEVELAND – Orlando Baking Co. will celebrate its 150th anniversary by launching the Great American Sandwich Search on Monday, July 4.

The contest, which runs through Sept. 30, will give residents of northeastern Ohio an opportunity to share their favorite sandwiches and possibly win a cash prize.

“Without our loyal customers here in northeast Ohio, we wouldn’t be celebrating 150 years in business,” said John Anthony Orlando, president and CEO. “The Great American Sandwich Search is our way to reach out to them to say thank you and let them show us their culinary creativity.”

The company’s bread, buns and rolls can be found at more than 200 Mahoning Valley stores and restaurants.

One grand prize winner will be awarded $1,500, and five sandwich category winners each will receive a $150 prize. Sandwich categories include Best Sandwich for Sports Fans, Best Culturally Inspired Sandwich, Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich with a Twist, Best Plant-Based Sandwich, and Best Breakfast Sandwich.

“We’re confident that the rich tradition and cultural diversity of this region will result in some pretty amazing sandwich options to choose from,” Orlando said.

Contestants must complete the form and submit their contact information, category selection, recipe, and a photo of their sandwich. Each entrant will receive a coupon worth $1.50 off any Orlando Baking Co. product.

A panel of five northeastern Ohio celebrity judges will determine the winners. The judges are Derek Ivancic, executive chef at JACK Cleveland Casino; Jen Picciano, WOIO-TV reporter and co-host of the “Mark Nolan Show” on WMJI-105.7 FM; Dillon Stewart, editor of Cleveland Magazine; Bill Wills, a podcaster and radio talk show host of Cleveland’s “Morning News with Wills and Snyder,” and Ricky Smith, comedian, writer and founder of RAKE (Random Acts of Kindness Everywhere).

The winning sandwich in each category and the grand-prize winning sandwich will be unveiled in October and the winning recipes will be shared.

Headquartered in Cleveland, Orlando Baking Co. produces more than 250 varieties of fresh and frozen hearth-baked bread, rolls, and specialty items. The fifth-generation family business is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2022. Founded in Castel di Sangro, Italy in 1872, part of the family moved to Cleveland in 1904 and re-established Old-World ways of baking European classics.

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