Sonic Corp. today announced another significant landmark in the growth of its chain. On May 16, Sonic’s Chairman and CEO Cliff Hudson will join franchisee J.C. (Jim) Winterringer in Shawnee, Oklahoma, the location of the first Sonic Drive-In, to celebrate the opening of the drive-in that has been ceremonially designated as the 3,000th Sonic Drive-In. Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry, a Shawnee native, also will attend the ceremony.
Shawnee-based Winterringer, one of Sonic’s 10 original franchisees, has 23 drive-ins in Oklahoma, Texas and Idaho. To commemorate the occasion, his organization will donate $3,000 to the Shawnee Public Library. “We are honored to be here among friends and family. We can think of no better way to show our appreciation for this town’s support than to give back to the community in a direct and meaningful way,” he says.
“For many reasons, this is a very special event for all of us at Sonic,” says Sonic CEO Cliff Hudson. “As an Oklahoma-based company, we are delighted that this milestone occasion will occur right here in our home state, and we are pleased that the governor will be able to join us for this celebration. As a franchise-focused organization, we also are gratified that this new drive-in signifies the ongoing dedication of our franchisees, and we’re especially pleased to join Jim as he opens his organization’s 23rd location.

Hudson also took the occasion to reiterate the company’s expectations for sales growth for the third fiscal quarter that ends on May 31, 2005. He noted that estimated systemwide comparable drive-in sales have been within the targeted range of 4 percent to 6 percent for the quarter to date. Sonic will release results for the third quarter in late June.