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.
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.
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 (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.
Entrepreneur (January 2007)
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.
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.
Forbes (August 2006)
Forbes names SONIC as No. 27 on its 100 Best Mid-Cap Stocks List. This is the second consecutive year SONIC has appeared on the list.
Restaurants & Institutions (July 2006)
R&I’s Top 400 Restaurant Chains listed SONIC at No. 14 for two consecutive years based on annual sales, number of units and average unit volume (AUV).
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.
Restaurants & Institutions Annual Choice in Chains Award (August 2005)
For the past 12 years, SONIC has been named one of the top five chains in the Best Overall Burger QSR category. In 2005, SONIC received the highest rating for convenience compared to its competitors.
Forbes (October and August 2005)
In October, SONIC ranked No. 95 in Forbes magazine’s 200 Best Small Companies list for the 12th consecutive year. SONIC boasts the longest-standing tenure of any company on the list.
In August, SONIC ranked No. 28 in Forbes magazine’s The 100 Best Mid-Cap Stocks based on its market capitalization. To qualify for this elite list, companies must have revenue of at least $500 million and net income of $15 million and show positive growth in 5-year return on equity, sales and earnings.
QSR Magazine (August 2005)
SONIC listed as No. 12 on QSR Magazine’s The QSR 50 for systemwide sales and No. 15 for unit growth.
Nation’s Restaurant News (June 2005)
The magazine’s Top 100 Chain and Company Rankings ranked SONIC at No. 18 for number of units and No. 23 for systemwide sales growth.
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.
