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The Wild, Thirst-Trappy Story of SD’s Own: Jack in the Box

CMO Ryan Ostrom on the brand’s local roots, clever marketing, why Jack might be the city’s most unlikely sex symbol, and it's not-so-surprising number-one seller
Jack in the Box, San Diego

This week on Happy Half Hour, co-hosts Troy Johnson and Jackie Bryant get deep-fried in nostalgia with Ryan Ostrom, CMO of Jack in the Box, the fast-food giant that made San Diego its home. They talk about Jack’s weird, wonderful marketing legacy (yes, they did blow up their own mascot), the late-night taco cult, and why the brand has no business making a burger this good. 

Ostrom dishes on his move from GNC to Jack, why the company refuses to take itself too seriously, and how their ads still push the envelope. Also on the menu: Troy’s childhood breakfast obsession, Jackie’s pandemic-era Jack phase, and the secret behind those drive-thru tacos that probably shouldn’t work—but absolutely do.

By Jackie Bryant

Jackie is San Diego Magazine's and Studios' content strategist. Prior to that, she was its managing editor. Before her SDM career, she was a long-time freelance journalist covering cannabis, food/restaurants, travel, labor, wine, spirits, arts & culture, design, and other topics. Her work has been selected twice for Best American Travel Writing, and she has won a variety of national and local awards for her writing and reporting.

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