Awards
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.
Entrepreneur’s 2018 Franchise 500 Ranking
In Entrepreneur’s Top Franchise 500 Rankings for 2018, SONIC ranked #6 among other competitors including McDonald’s, Dunkin Donuts and Taco Bell.
Nation’s Restaurant News MenuMasters Awards 2018
SONIC’s limited time blended burger, the Signature Slinger, is the recipient of a 2018 Nation’s Restaurant News MenuMasters award for best limited-time offer. The MenuMasters Awards are among the most prestigious honors in food service.
Entrepreneur’s 10 Best Franchises to Open in 2018
In Entrepreneur’s 2018 list of best franchises to open, SONIC was ranked #6 on the list among Dunkin Donuts, McDonald’s and Taco Bell.
Entrepreneur’s Top 200 Food and Restaurant Franchises of 2018
In Entrepreneur’s 2018 Top 200 Food and Restaurant Franchises, SONIC was ranked #2 in the Hamburgers category along with McDonald’s and Jack in the Box.
Entrepreneur’s 2017 Franchise 500 Ranking
In Entrepreneur’s Top Franchise 500 Rankings for 2017, SONIC ranked 39 among other competitors including McDonald’s, Dairy Queen and Subway.
2017 QSR 50
In QSR’s “The QSR 50 2017,” an annual guide to the industry’s 50 top-performing brands, SONIC is ranked #12 among other competitors including McDonald’s, Burger Kind, Wendy’s and Subway.
Franchise Times’ Top 200+ List
Franchise Times’ Top 200+ ranked SONIC at 27 for the second year in a row in the restaurant category among competitors including Dairy Queen, Chick-Fil-A, McDonald’s, Burger King and Subway.
2017 Harris Poll EquiTrend Rankings
The 2017 Harris Poll ranked SONIC #8 out of 10 burger chains among the chains Smashburger and Steak N Shake.
Business Insider’s Most Successful Fast Food Chains in America
In Business Insider’s Most Successful Fast Food Chains in America, SONIC took the #12 spot out of 20 chains above competitors Jack in The Box and Dairy Queen.
Entrepreneur’s 2016 Franchise 500 Ranking
In Entrepreneur’s Top Franchise 500 Rankings for 2016, SONIC ranked 27 among other competitors including McDonald’s, Dairy Queen and Taco Bell.
2016 QSR 50
In QSR’s “The QSR 50 2016,” an annual guide to the industry’s 50 top-performing brands, SONIC is ranked 13 among other competitors including McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s and Subway.
Franchise Times’ Top 200+ List
In Franchise Times’ Top 200+, SONIC was ranked 27 within the restaurant category among other competitors including Dairy Queen, Chick-Fil-A, McDonald’s, Burger King and Subway.
Entrepreneur’s Top 20 Fast-Food Franchises of 2016
Entrepreneur Online included SONIC in their list of the top 20 fast-food franchises.
New York Post’s 20 Best Chain Restaurants
In the New York Post’s list of the 20 Best Chain Restaurants in America, SONIC was ranked #19 among other chains including Five Guys.
San Francisco Business Times “Best Burger”
The San Francisco Business Times put SONIC at the #5 ranking ahead of competitors such as Burger King and McDonald’s.
Entrepreneur 2015 Franchise 500 Rankings
In Entrepreneur’s Top Franchise 500 Rankings for 2015, SONIC ranked 24 among other competitors including Subway, Jack in the Box, Dunkin’ Donuts and Taco Bell.
Franchise Times Top 200+ (2015)
Franchise Times’ Top 200+ ranked SONIC in the top 30 within the restaurant category among other competitors including Dairy Queen, Chick-Fil-A, McDonald’s, KFC and Subway.
The QSR 50 2015
In QSR’s “The QSR 50 2015,” an annual guide to the industry’s 50 top-performing brands, SONIC is ranked 13 among other competitors including McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s and Subway.
The QSR Top 50 Burger Segment (2015)
In QSR’s Top 50 Burger Segment, SONIC ranked fourth on the list among other competitors including McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s.
2014 Temkin Experience Ratings (2014)
SONIC received top honors as America’s “#1 burger quick service restaurant,” ranking in the top of all brands in the 2014 Temkin Experience Ratings report.
Food Service Technology Conference & Showcase NexGen conference New Orleans (2014)
SONIC was awarded the “QSR Digital Brand of the Year” award at the Second Annual Restaurant Social Media Index (RIZMY) Awards. Out of 10,376 brands measured, finalists include brands from QSR, fast casual, casual dining and fine dining segments. SONIC is proud to accept the top award for the quick-service category.
2012 Nation’s Restaurant News Menu Masters Awards
SONIC’s line of Premium Beef Hot Dogs is the recipient of a 2012 Nation’s Restaurant News MenuMasters award for best new menu item. The MenuMasters Awards, now in their 15th year, are among the most prestigious honors in food service.
2011 Zagat Fast-Food Survey (2011)
SONIC ranked among the top five quick service restaurants in three categories in Zagat’s 2011 survey results: Best Value Menu, Best Milkshake and Best Drive-Thru.
AllBusiness All Star Franchises List (2011)
AllBusiness included SONIC in its third annual AllStar Franchise Top 300 list for 2011.
Food Network Magazine (2011)
Food Network Magazine featured SONIC’s Chef Trevor Wilson as having one of America’s best food jobs in the country.
Chain Store Age (2010)
SONIC was ranked No. 12 in Chain Store Age’s Top 20 Restaurant Chains.
Cause Marketing Forum Silver Halo Award (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 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.
Ladies’ Home Journal Do Good Stamp (2009)
SONIC was honored as one of the inaugural list of brands to receive the Ladies’ Home Journal Do Good Stamp. The Ladies’ Home Journal awards the Do Good Stamp to the 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.
International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (2004)
Cliff Hudson, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Sonic Corp., was honored with the 2004 Silver Plate – Foodservice Operator of the Year Award from International Foodservice Manufacturers Association.