Sonic Drive-In

Sonic Corporation
	Logo since 2020
	Sonic's headquarters in Oklahoma City, United States.
Company type	Subsidiary
Genre	Fast food
Founded	June 18, 1953; 71 years ago, in Shawnee, Oklahoma, U.S. (as Top Hat Drive-In)
Founder	Troy Smith
Headquarters	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
Number of locations	3,545 (2024)
Area served	United States
Key people	Paul J. Brown (CEO, Inspire Brands); Claudia San Pedro (brand president); Paige Bass, (SVP and general counsel); Christina Vaughan (SVP, Sonic Restaurants, Inc.); Eddie Saroch (SVP Franchise Relations); Lori Abou Habib (CMO);
Products	Hamburgers; Chicken; Sandwiches; Hot dogs; French fries; Soft drinks; Soft serves; Milkshakes; Salads; Coffee; Breakfast; Wraps;
Services	Franchising
Revenue	US$5.482 billion (2021); US$4.687 billion (2020)
Operating income	US$127.452 million (2016)
Net income	US$64.067 million (2016)
Number of employees	5,000 (2021)
Parent	Inspire Brands (2018–present)
Website	sonicdrivein.com

Sonic Corporation, founded as Sonic Drive-In and more commonly known as Sonic (stylized in all caps), is an American drive-in fast-food chain owned by Inspire Brands, the parent company of Arby's, Dunkin' Donuts and Buffalo Wild Wings.^[5] Sonic, founded by Troy N. Smith, Sr., opened its first location in 1953, under the name Top Hat Drive-In.^[6] Originally a walk-up root beer stand outside a log-cabin steakhouse selling soda, hamburgers, and hotdogs, Sonic currently has 3,545 locations in the United States.^[7]^[8] Sonic is known for its use of carhops on roller skates, and hosts an annual competition (in most locations) to determine the top skating carhop in the company.^[9] The company's core products include the "Chili Cheese Coney", "Sonic Cheeseburger Combo", "Sonic Blasts", "Master Shakes", and "Wacky Pack Kids Meals".

^ ^a ^b "Sonic Drive-In". Restaurant Business. November 1, 2020.
^ "Sonic Drive-In". www.restaurantbusinessonline.com.
^ ^a ^b "2016 Annual Report to Stockholders" (PDF). Sonic corp. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 11, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
^ "Sonic Drive-In". www.restaurantbusinessonline.com.
^ Monica, Paul R. La (September 25, 2018). "Sonic sold to Arby's and Buffalo Wild Wings owner for $2.3 billion". CNNMoney. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
^ Cite error: The named reference Sonic, The History of America's Drive-In was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "17. Sonic Drive-In". franchisetimes.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
^ "Sonic Drive-In". Restaurant Business. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
^ tory (August 2, 2016). "The QSR 50". qsrmagazine.com. Retrieved March 28, 2018.

[Restaurant-1] "Sonic Drive-In". Restaurant Business. November 1, 2020.

[2] "Sonic Drive-In". www.restaurantbusinessonline.com.

[2016_10-K-3] "2016 Annual Report to Stockholders" (PDF). Sonic corp. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 11, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2016.

[4] "Sonic Drive-In". www.restaurantbusinessonline.com.

[5] Monica, Paul R. La (September 25, 2018). "Sonic sold to Arby's and Buffalo Wild Wings owner for $2.3 billion". CNNMoney. Retrieved July 12, 2022.

[Sonic,_The_History_of_America's_Drive-In-6] Cite error: The named reference Sonic, The History of America's Drive-In was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[7] "17. Sonic Drive-In". franchisetimes.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022.

[8] "Sonic Drive-In". Restaurant Business. Retrieved July 12, 2022.

[9] tory (August 2, 2016). "The QSR 50". qsrmagazine.com. Retrieved March 28, 2018.

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