According to the New York Times, “Many food marketers sponsor contests among consumers to stimulate demand for products, but one under way from the pizza purveyor Papa John’s International is perhaps more extensive than most.”

“More than 12,000 people entered the Papa John’s contest, the company said, which is being called the Specialty Pizza Challenge. Prizes are being offered for creating a pizza to be sold nationally that uses the ingredients that are used to make Papa John’s pizzas. The pizza ideas of 10 entrants were produced on Tuesday and served to a panel of four judges, including Ted Allen of the Food Network cable channel and Doug Bond, the Papa John’s executive chef. The entries were submitted through the Papa John’s page on Facebook and the judging process was broadcast live on Tuesday on the page. The judges selected three pizzas from the 10; the trio will be offered at Papa John’s stores from Aug. 2 through Aug. 29. The pizza that sells the most among the three will win the contest and its creator is to receive an unspecified share of the pizza’s sales up to $10,000 — which the playful public relations people for Papa John’s could not resist describing in a news release as a “slice” of the sales. Other prizes for the winner will include an appearance in a Papa John’s commercial and free Papa John’s Pizza for life. The three finalists are as follows: The Big Bonanza, featuring barbecue sauce, bacon, ham and onions, submitted by Blair Dial of Springfield, Ill, Cheesy Chicken Cordon Bleu, featuring spinach Alfredo sauce, grilled chicken, a three-cheese blend and ham, submitted by Barbara Hyman of Los Angeles, The Workin’ Fire, featuring pepperoni, spicy Italian sausage, jalapeño peppers and a mix of Parmesan and Romano cheeses, submitted by Kendra Chapman of Ball Ground, Ga.”