Sonic 2011 Annual Report Download - page 9

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Please find page 9 of the 2011 Sonic annual report below. You can navigate through the pages in the report by either clicking on the pages listed below, or by using the keyword search tool below to find specific information within the annual report.

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Big-picture thinking and long-term views are essential planning for any corporation. On a
granular level, however, Sonic is fundamentally a franchise organization – it has been since the
1950’s – with approximately 87% of our drive-ins operated by franchisees. So, our franchisees
and their associates – the thousands of women and men who remain passionate about our
brand – in turn drive the Sonic culture, help shape its strategies and are essential to leading the
growth and expansion of the Sonic footprint across the country.
Penny Guthrie, CEO of D&B Properties, Inc. in Dyersburg, Tennessee, along with her daughter,
Sara Jo Ferguson, who directs the company’s marketing and payroll (right and left, respectively,
on opposite page), epitomize the drive, determination and passion of our franchisees. Winner of
the Chain Leader Award for 2011, Penny has been with Sonic since joining her stepfather in the
business in 1984 to run 24 drive-ins. Today, her company operates 41 drive-ins in five states
and sets the bar for the top 20% of our chain, providing a blueprint for how we can continually
improve our performance. Ask Penny about her operational success, and she will tell you the
obvious: The customer is number one! That’s a catchphrase used by so many, however with
Penny, you can sense true commitment in her voice: Her customers are going to leave happy
and satisfied that their Sonic experience was the highlight of their day.
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