Leading the Smoker Market with Touchscreen Technology

 “Kitchen Brains helped us not only solve a production crisis but positioned us as innovators in the commercial smoker space.”  
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Jackson Smoker Increases Output & Delivers Consistent BBQ

From Analog Bottlenecks to Touchscreen Precision

Jackson Restaurant Supply has been producing its signature smokers for over 30  years. Jackson's smokers are the company’s flagship—durable, high-capacity commercial smokers built for consistent,  repeatable results in busy kitchens.  

Products: Commercial smokers, restaurant supplies, hot and cold appliances

Markets Served: Regional restaurants and schools in the Southeast U.S.
Jackson Smoker Logo-1
The Challenge

Jackson's smokers were a key niche product, but the company’s control technology had not kept pace with modern innovations.

Specifically, their smokers' analog controls had reached the end of their life (EOL),  creating critical service and production risks: 

  • Production delays: Time-intensive wiring and installation of analog controls limited daily manufacturing capacity. 
  • Sourcing challenges: The analog control was no longer being manufactured, and replacement parts were unavailable, jeopardizing both existing customer support and the future of the product line. 
  • Technological gap: The smoker had fallen behind modern standards, threatening its competitiveness in the market.

Facing these mounting issues, Jason Steele, Jackson’s new owner,  set out to modernize the company's control system. Their search for a solution led them to Kitchen Brains.
The Solution

Kitchen Brains delivered a cutting-edge solution—the VTC-3000 touchscreen platform. By leveraging its extensive logic library, the team accelerated engineering and development and surpassed Jackson’s expectations.

  • Touchscreen interface: Modern, intuitive control panel
  • Pre-programmed cooking cycles: Guided cooking for consistent results
  • Pre-heat management: Automated temperature and timing control based on the product type
  • Refurbishment compatibility: Designed to upgrade existing smokers in the field

Jackson’s lead engineer was especially impressed with the control and the delicious results from the test BBQ.
Jackson Smoker Touchscreen Control v3
The Results

 

Expanded Market Potential

Touchscreen controls with advanced features that position Jackson to move beyond regional independents into medium-to-large restaurant chains.

 

 

Competitive Differentiation

Only touchscreen smoker designed for high-volume commercial kitchens, with features comparable to the coveted Traeger or Pit Boss smokers.

 

Future-ready Platform

Touchscreen control technology that opens opportunities for future integrations, such as Bluetooth and wireless probes.

Smarter Control = Efficiency, Consistency, and Customer Satisfaction

Product Differentiation
The only touchscreen clamshell smoker on the market.


Installation Efficiency
Reduced wiring complexity, saving 15–20 feet of wire per unit.

Faster Production
Easier wiring and assembly sped up the manufacturing process.


Material Savings
Shifted from multi-cut stainless steel panels to a single-cut box, saving $25 per unit in material costs.


Lighter Build
Streamlined design reduced overall product weight.


Upgradeability
Existing smokers can be upgraded in the field without shipping the entire unit back.

Field Service-Friendly
Electrical technicians can easily install the upgrade using the provided wiring harnesses and schematics.
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Enhanced User Experience
Guided cooking process: Less reliance on expert BBQ chefs.


Consistent Food Quality
Improved control over pre-heat and cook times.


Reduced Food Waste
Pre-programmed cycles minimize human error.


Easy Onboarding
Requires less training than legacy analog systems.
Modern Controls, Measurable Gains

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