Google Alert - SONIC drive-in

Web 1 new result for SONIC drive-in

About SONIC - Sonic Drive-In Cruise to SONIC® Drive-In.com to read the sonic menu, use the ... www.sonicdrivein.com/business/newsroom/

more SONIC spam

latest TXT.
i won't be trying any of the new burgers because they're over-hyping
them to me.  (remember?)
***
Hey Cruisers, hungry? Then drive in to your nearest SONIC Drive-in to
try our two new Loaded Burgers: The fiery Blazin' BBQ & the oniontastic
Ring Leader!

SONIC TXT spam

i wish they'd use this arm for discounts only and not announcements.
***
New Loaded Burgers @ Sonic Packed w/Flavor - The Ring Leader & the
Blazin' BBQ - Try One Today! LTO. Have a SuperSONIC Day.

quote of the moment

this is a deeper look at the survey receipts ... from the SONC 2009 annual report

***

"To ensure that our service initiatives are
successful, we have implemented a customer
feedback tool known as FanTrak, which has helped
us identify what is important to our consumers and
deliver on those key areas. Their feedback gives us
the opportunity to refine our products and services
so as to increase the likelihood they will return,
deepen their loyalty to our brand and ultimately
spend more with us each time they return. Based
on their feedback, our service has improved
substantially this past year, but the improvements
won’t end there. We continue to look for ways to
take our service to a higher level, and surprise and
delight our customers as only Sonic can do."

limeades for learning

this sent to SONIC cruisers.

***

Limeades for Learning^® is back again this fall.

Spread the word to help students.

SONIC^® has partnered with DonorsChoose.org again to support public school classrooms. In the last two years, SONIC and its franchisees donated $1.3 million to help teachers across the country help their students learn. And this year, with your support, we look forward to helping even more.

So, do you know a public school teacher? Let them know they can now register a project to help their students learn.

And, get ready, because this fall you'll get a chance to vote on the teachers' projects you want SONIC to fund.

Forward this email to any teacher you know or head to LimeadesForLearning.com to learn more.

robo-response

canned customer response from 2:00 this morning, in reference to my earlier visit.

***

Dear b1-66er:

We are very sorry that your 04/08/2011 visit to Sonic Drive-In did not live up to expectations and are grateful to you for telling us about it. If people like you did not bring these matters to our attention, we would never be able to fix them. We have forwarded your comments to the appropriate store supervisor for the location that you visited. If you have any further concerns in the future, please share them with us. Our goal is to continuously improve the Sonic Drive-In experience and to keep you as regular guest.

Sincerely,
Sonic Drive-In

SONIC SPAM

latest TXT message.  anyone following this 'blog knows this isn't news and this is the second time a TXT has been used as nothing more than a status message.

SONIC, don't use my TXT messages for sending me things i already know ... use it for discounts and announcements.  you're not der wienerschnitzel.  (you're not even das wienerschnitzel.)

***

Take the SONIC Match Maker Quiz & get a coupon for your perfect SONIC
Drink and Premium Beef Hot Dog match. Go to
http://matchmaker.sonicdrivein.com to play.

dog day today

latest TXT offer. i don't know if this is actually a bargain/discount
or just a spammy message ...

***

Try one of the new Sonic premium beef hot dogs today - All American, New
York, Chili Cheese & Chicago only $1.99

SONIC media kit IV -- SONIC's road to success

SONIC’s Road to Success

1953: Troy Smith opens his first Top Hat Drive-In in Shawnee, Okla., featuring an intercom speaker system for ordering and Carhop delivery service.

1956: Charles Pappe partners with Smith and opens the second Top Hat in Woodward, Okla.

1958: Top Hat Drive-Ins operating in Enid, Shawnee, Stillwater and Woodward, Okla.

1959: Due to trademark issues with the Top Hat name, drive-ins are renamed SONIC Drive-In for “Service at the Speed of Sound™.” In June, the Stillwater drive-in is the first to change its name to SONIC.

1963: SONIC celebrates 10 years with 19 drive-ins in Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas.

1973: SONIC turns 20 and several important events set the stage for the future growth of the company.

• With 165 drive-ins in operation, 10 principal franchisees form SONIC Systems of America (later to become SONIC Industries).
• SONIC Systems of America offers each drive-in operator the option to purchase 1,250 shares of stock in the company at $1 per share and SONIC becomes an over-the-counter, publicly traded company.

1977: Prime Time! The first SONIC television commercial airs on network television.

1980: Play Time! The first SONIC National Convention takes place in New Orleans.

1983: SONIC turns 30 with 975 drive-ins.

1986: SONIC’s top management completes a $10 million leveraged buyout of the company.

1991: SONIC completes an initial public offering (IPO) and SONIC stock begins trading on the NASDAQ under the symbol SONC.

1993: SONIC turns 40 with 1,274 drive-ins nationwide.

• Kimberly Aiken, a former Columbia, S.C. Carhop, is crowned Miss America.

1994: SONIC 2000, a five-year re-imaging strategy begins:

• The new “retro-future” SONIC logo is introduced.
• For the first time, the entire system adopts a consistent menu and appearance with store-level retrofits.

• The Fountain Favorites® and Frozen Favorites® menu is introduced to expand daypart sales and crew members flaunt new uniforms.

1997: First SONIC television commercial airs on cable television on ESPN.

1999: The 2,000^th SONIC Drive-In opens in Oklahoma City.

2000: SONIC enters the digital world with its own URL: www.SONICdrivein.com.

2001: SONIC’s 10^th year as a publicly held company

• SONIC Carhop named one of Teen People magazine’s “Top 10 Jobs That Rock.”

2002: SONIC is repeatedly recognized in several leading publications:

• Forbes magazine (October 2002)-SONIC is one of three companies named to the “200 Best Small Companies in America” list for the ninth consecutive year.

• BusinessWeek magazine (June 2002)-SONIC is named to the “Hot Growth Companies” list.

• 2,533 SONIC Drive-Ins coast to coast
  
  
• Average unit sales are $906,000

2003: Party Time! SONIC IS 50!

• SONIC initiates a yearlong 50th Birthday Celebration.
• SONIC sets out to find the Ultimate SONIC Fan in America with the help of its managers and crew members. SONIC received nearly 1,000 nominations, and selected Beverly Harris of Frisco, Texas, as the Ultimate SONIC Fan. Harris earned a trip to Hawaii for the 2003 Annual SONIC Convention.

• 2,706 SONIC Drive-Ins coast to coast
• Average unit sales are $907,000
• SONIC moves into new corporate headquarters in Bricktown, a culturally rich area of downtown Oklahoma City. The new address is 300 Johnny Bench Drive, Oklahoma City, OK 73104.

2004: Awards and acclaim for SONIC

• SONIC Chairman and CEO Cliff Hudson named top quick-service restaurantexecutive of the year by the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association for its annual Silver Plate Awards. A committee consisting of the editors of food service industry publications and last year's winners of the Silver Plate awards selected the winners.

• SONIC television and radio spots featuring the “Two SONIC Guys” win top honors:
  • National ADDYs - Silver
  • Radio Mercury Award
• 2,885 SONIC Drive-Ins coast to coast
• Average unit sales are $964,000
• SONIC listed No. 6 on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® list, the most comprehensive ratings list of franchises in the world.

2005: The 3000th SONIC Drive-In opens in SONIC’s hometown of Shawnee, Okla.

• SONIC named No. 28 in Forbes Magazine’s The 100 Best Mid-Cap Stocks based on its market capitalization.
• SONIC listed as No. 95 on Forbes’ 200 Best Small Companies list for the 12^th consecutive year.
• 3,039 SONIC Drive-Ins coast to coast
• Average unit sales are more than $1 million
• 19 consecutive years of higher same-store sales
• SONIC listed No. 1 in the hamburger category of Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® list.
  
  

2006: SONIC becomes Your Ultimate Drink Stop!^®

• Luck of the Straw, a promotion celebrating SONIC as the Ultimate Drink Stop^ sends 15 finalists to Las Vegas; SONIC fan Sutton Cavalier wins $168,894 – the same number of drink combinations now possible at SONIC.

• Kelly Pickler, a former Carhop at an Albemarle, North Carolina Drive-In is a contestant on American Idol and quickly becomes a fan favorite.
• Forbes names SONIC to its 200 Best Small Companies List. This is SONIC's 13^th consecutive appearance, the longest tenure of any company on the list.
• Entrepreneur names SONIC to its Franchise 500 list for the fifth straight year, and ranks SONIC as the best franchise in its category for the second straight year.

2007: Wake up with a SONIC Boom!

• SONIC launched its new premium roast coffees featuring real espresso-based drinks, including iced and hot lattes as well as a frozen-blended Java Chiller and a Sonic Boom – an extra shot of espresso customers may add to any drink flavor.
• SONIC retrofitted more than 600 partner and franchise drive-ins.
• More than 3,300 SONIC Drive-Ins across 34 states.
• Entrepreneur names SONIC^® as the No. 1 franchise in the burger category on Entrepreneur's 2006 Franchise^® 500 list, the most comprehensive ratings list of franchises in the world. SONIC's overall ranking rises to No. 8 on the Franchise 500^® list.

2008: SONIC offers an Everyday Value Menu

• SONIC launched its Everyday Value Menu to offer guests more affordable options. The menu included primarily new products and new sizing on traditional favorites.
• SONIC opens its first drive-ins in Chicagoland, Philadelphia, Detroit, St. Paul, and Seattle.
• The 3500^th drive-in opens in Chicagoland (Algonquin, Ill.).

• SONIC's overall ranking rises yet again to No. 6 on Entrepreneur's 2008 Franchise® 500 list.
• SONIC ranks number 10 in QSR magazine’s The QSR 50 for systemwide sales for the second year in a row. In addition, SONIC captures the number 4 spot for the second year in a row in the Burger Segment of The QSR 50.
• R&I’s Top 400 Restaurant Chains listed SONIC at No. 13 based on annual sales, number of units and average unit volume (AUV).

2009: SONIC launches Limeades for Learning^®

• Through a new program, Limeades for Learning^®, SONIC and its franchise partners have donated more than $638,000 to public school classrooms in local communities across the country.
• SONIC opened its first drive-in in the states of Massachusetts, New York and Maryland as well as the first location in the San Diego-area. New drive-ins continue to open in Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Detroit, St. Paul, Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle.
• SONIC held its second Free Float Night to say thank you to customers and kick off the summer. More than 5 million free floats were given out to customers.
• SONIC expands menu options for more health conscious consumers. New items include fresh apple slices with fat-free caramel dipping sauce and a new Premium Grilled Chicken Sandwich prepared fresh with a wheat bun made with whole grain.
• SONIC's overall ranking rises to No. 4 spot on Entrepreneur's 2009 Franchise® 500.

# # #

SONIC media kit III -- fact sheet

Fact Sheet

HISTORY SONIC, America’s Drive-In (NASDAQ/NM: SONC) started as a hamburger and root beer stand in 1953 in Shawnee, Okla., called Top Hat Drive-In, and then changed its name to SONIC in 1959. The first drive-in to adopt the SONIC name is still serving customers in Stillwater, Okla. As the nation’s largest chain of drive-in restaurants, SONIC has more than 3,500 drive-ins coast to coast and approximately 3 million customers every day. With more drink combinations than any other quick-service restaurant – more than 168,000 – SONIC is Your Ultimate Drink Stop^®. For more information about Sonic Corp. and its subsidiaries, visit SONIC at www.sonicdrivein.com. Through Limeades for Learning^®, SONIC and its franchise partners have donated more than $1.3 million to public school classrooms in local communities across the country. Visit www.limeadesforlearning.com to learn more about SONIC’s commitment to education.

NUMBER

OF DRIVE-INS Sonic has more than 3,500 drive-ins coast to coast.

HEADQUARTERS 300 Johnny Bench Drive

Oklahoma City, OK 73104

www.sonicdrivein.com

SALES $1,093,000 average unit sales (2009 fiscal year)

CARHOPS Personal Carhop service is one of many reasons customers enjoy visiting SONIC. Frequently seen spinning by on roller skates, smiling Carhops

personally deliver orders right to customers’ cars. What’s more, Carhops check back to ensure a quality experience. Each customer receives a mint

with a drink, dessert or meal purchase – a tradition started by company founder Troy Smith Sr. to remind customers they are worth a mint at SONIC.

MENU SONIC's award-winning menu offers a variety of unique menu items made after you order. Unique menu items include TOASTER^®

Sandwiches (made with thick Texas toast), Footlong Quarter Pound Coneys,

handmade Onion Rings, Tater Tots and a plethora of drink and dessert choices, such as Cherry Limeades. SONIC has more than 168,000 drink combinations, making it Your Ultimate Drink Stop!^®

# # #

SONIC media kit II -- company overview

Company Overview

In 1953, the prototype of the first SONIC^® Drive-In^ (NASDAQ: SONC) opened in Shawnee, Okla. Back then, SONIC revolutionized the ordering process by using curbside speakers that allowed customers to place food orders without ever leaving their cars. This technology spawned the slogan “Service at the Speed of Sound^™,” which translates to one word: SONIC.

SONIC Drive-In's founder Troy Smith, Sr. originally named the hamburger and root beer stand

Top Hat Drive-In, and aptly changed the name to SONIC Drive-In in 1959. Throughout its more than 50-year history SONIC has enjoyed one of the highest customer frequency rates in the quick-service restaurant industry.

Sonic Corp., an Oklahoma City-based, publicly held company, is the nation’s largest chain of drive-in fast-food restaurants with more than 3,500 drive-ins located coast to coast. Specializing in fresh, made-to-order meals, SONIC is best known for its signature menu items and personal, friendly Carhop service. Unique menu items include TOASTER^® sandwiches (sandwiches served on thick Texas toast), Footlong Quarter Pound Coneys (hot dogs with chili and cheese), fresh hamburgers, handmade Onion Rings, Tater Tots and a plethora of drink and dessert choices, such as Cherry Limeades. In 2003, SONIC introduced the nation to SONIC Breakfast featuring its signature BREAKFAST TOASTER^® sandwiches. In 2009, SONIC expanded its commitment to education and partnered with DonorsChoose.org to launch a cause branding program to support public school teachers and their students. Through Limeades for Learning^, SONIC and its franchise partners have donated more than $1.3 million to public school classrooms in local communities across the country.

Cliff Hudson, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Sonic Corp., leads the SONIC brand with average unit sales of $1.09 million. Under his leadership, the company continues to expand, delivering unique items to SONIC customers throughout the country.

# # #

SONIC media kit I -- applause & acclaim

{these media kit pieces are available as download from the SONIC web site ... i wanted them in here for search engine fodder, and for my future reference ... all this would be (c) america's drive-in properties, but they won't care since media kits are for propaganda dissemination by their very nature ... formatting and graphics have changed due to cut/paste anomalies ... i won't be cleaning those up.}

***

Applause & Acclaim

SONIC, America’s Drive-In, offers customers award-winning menu items and unparalleled customer service. As a result of its successes, leading business publications such as Forbes and Entrepreneur continually recognize SONIC as one of America’s top companies. Additionally, SONIC repeatedly receives accolades from restaurant industry publications and associations for outstanding service, menu variety and quality of food.

QSR Magazine (August 2010)

• QSR Magazine ranks SONIC at No. 10 in the magazine’s Top 50 QSR list based on systemwide sales. In addition, SONIC is ranked No. 4 in the Burger category.

Cause Marketing Forum Silver Halo Award (June 2010)

• SONIC’s Limeades for Learning® cause branding program earned a Silver Halo Award for Best Video at the Cause Marketing Forum June 3, 2010 in Chicago, Ill. The Cause Marketing Forum distributes Halo Awards to causes and companies who do their part to address a societal need and promote positive change.

Nation’s Restaurant News (January 2010)

• SONIC’s Limeades for Learning^® cause branding program is listed as No. 7 among the Top 10 scoring television advertisements for 2009 among all restaurant brands.

QSR Magazine (January 2010)

• SONIC’s Limeades for Learning^® cause branding program among one of the magazine’s Best of 2009: Charitable Giving programs.

Ladies’ Home Journal Do Good Stamp (December 2009)

• SONIC was honored as one of the inaugural list of brands to receive the Ladies’ Home Journal Do GoodTM Stamp . The Ladies’ Home Journal awards the Do Good Stamp to corporations that are committed to doing good and that are an inspiration. SONIC was honored for Improving Education through its national cause branding program, Limeades for Learning^.

Oklahoma Gazette (August 2009)

• SONIC was awarded “Best of OKC” honors for Dinner on a Budget and Happy Hour by in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Gazette.

Nation’s Restaurant News (June 2009)

• The magazine’s Top 100 report ranked SONIC at No. 13 for Top 100 chains ranked by U.S. Systemwide Foodservice Sales.

WebMD.com (March 2009)

• In a recent WebMD.com article, SONIC’s regular fries were recognized as having the lowest calories, lowest fat grams, lowest percentage of calories from fat and lowest total amount of “bad fats” as well as second lowest in sodium.

The Times – Shreveport, La. (March 2009)

• SONIC was a 2009 Reader’s Choice Awards winner for Best Fast Food place and Best Happy Hour in Shreveport, La., The Times.

AllBusiness AllStar Franchises List (February 2009)

• SONIC made the first annual AllBusiness AllStar Franchise Top 300 list for 2009. The ranking is a unique approach that assesses the strengths of franchising companies, including criteria such as Web visibility and the latest financial strength scores from Dun & Bradstreet. The editors at AllBusiness.com and experts choose the Top 300.

The New Tribune – Tacoma, Wash. (February 2009)

• SONIC was the preferred restaurant over Burgerville in The News Tribune’s Online Poll of readers. More than 1,200 readers voted.

Chicago Tribune (January 2009)

• The SuperSONIC Cheeseburger received an A- grand in a Chicago Tribune article ranking five new burger chains and their signature burgers. The Tribune described the taste test as “A nice sweetness to the buns…the cheese has successfully melted into the patty’s crevices and created an amalgam of beefy wonderfulness…well-balanced and well-flavored on the whole…not as greasy as similar burgers.”

Entrepreneur magazine (January 2009)

• SONIC's overall ranking rises to No. 4 spot on Entrepreneur's 2009 Franchise® 500. 

Amarillo Sunday News-Globe (October 2008)

• SONIC was awarded the Best Happy Hour by the Amarillo Sunday News-Globe.

QSR Magazine (August 2008)

• SONIC ranks number 10 in QSR magazine’s The QSR 50 for systemwide sales for the second year in a row. In addition, SONIC captures the number 4 spot for the second year in a row in the Burger Segment of The QSR 50.

Restaurants & Institutions (July 2008)

• R&I’s Top 400 Restaurant Chains listed SONIC at No. 13 based on annual sales, number of units and average unit volume (AUV).

Entrepreneur (January 2008)

• SONIC's overall ranking rises yet again to No. 6 on Entrepreneur's 2007 Franchise® 500 list.

Forbes (October 2006)

• Forbes names SONIC® as the No. 104 on its 200 Best Small Companies List.

This is the 13th consecutive appearance, giving SONIC® the longest standing tenure on list.

QSR Magazine (June 2006)

• Franchisees rank SONIC No. 1 in QSR's Annual Brand Satisfaction Survey for creating an inclusive, collaborative environment. The survey measures franchisees among the largest 150 chains tracked by Restaurant Research and asks franchisee operators to rate their own restaurant concepts around nine key brand components – sales and profit prospects, menu, promotional line-up, advertising, operations, system condition, concept management and franchisee support.

Entrepreneur (December 2005)

• SONIC listed as the No. 1 franchise in the burger category on Entrepreneur’s 2006

Franchise 500® list, the most comprehensive ratings list of franchises in the world. SONIC’s overall ranking is No. 13 on the Franchise 500 list.

International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (February 2004)

• SONIC Chairman and CEO Cliff Hudson named top quick-service restaurant executive

of the year by the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association for its annual

Silver Plate Awards. A committee consisting of editors of foodservice-industry

publications and last year's winners of the Silver Plate awards selected the winners.

# # #