Leadership

Cutting-edge technology is nothing new for Sonic

The concept owes its long run in no small part to recognizing a game-changing piece of equipment back when TV was a novelty.

After seven decades in business, Sonic finds itself once again in alignment with the lifestyles of the times, President Claudia San Pedro commented while being honored last week as the 2022 Restaurant Leader of the Year.

In honor of her selection, this week’s edition of RB’s Restaurant Rewind podcast looks back at how Sonic, one of the industry’s older quick-service chains, got its start. Technology played a key role in that birth, and continues to drive the brand’s evolution today, San Pedro said during her appearance at the Restaurant Leadership Conference.

And let us not forget the contribution of 1950s teen idol Frankie Avalon.

So wheel your way into a parking slot, tune in that carside intercom, and give a listen as RB Editor-at-Large Peter Romeo takes you through a quick history of the brand.

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

Multimedia

Exclusive Content

Financing

Franchising can put brands at a disadvantage in a market like this

The Bottom Line: Restaurant chains like &pizza and MOD Pizza continue to turn to franchising to reinvigorate growth or save dying concepts. But there are huge disadvantages when consumers are cutting back.

Technology

How drive-thru AI made a believer out of Taco John's CEO Heather Neary

The leader of the fast-food chain was skeptical of the technology when she joined the company last year. Now she hopes to bring it chainwide.

Financing

The great shift: Consumers voted with their feet last year

The Bottom Line: Restaurant customers shifted away from more traditional concepts to those they felt provided better quality and service. Was this brought on by economic challenges or is it part of a long-term industry reconfiguration?

Trending

More from our partners