The SONIC Way: Custom Drinks, Drive-Ins and Doing It Their Way

John Kelly, Brand President of SONIC Drive-In, joins Hospitality Hangout for a conversation about drinks, drive-in culture, nostalgia, technology, and why SONIC still feels different. John talks about the power of SONIC’s beverage platform, from cherry limeades and Refreshers to dirty soda, SONIC ice, and more than a million drink combinations. He also gets into the SONIC Smasher, value, mobile ordering, SONIC Rewards, third-party delivery, and the role of drive-in stalls in creating a guest experience that still feels personal. The episode also explores how SONIC is thinking about AI and restaurant technology. John’s focus is on helping general managers make better decisions, improve speed of service, and run stronger restaurants without letting technology get in the way of hospitality. From “newstalgia” to custom drinks, this is a look at how SONIC is keeping its brand fun, familiar, and different. Episode Credits:Produced by: Branded Hospitality MediaHosted by: Michael Schatzberg, Jimmy FrischlingProducer: Julie ZuckerCreative Director: Adam LevineShow Runner: Drewe RaimiPost Production: Three Cheers Creativewww.thehospitalityhangout.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.