Corporate Profile
CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS: |
Sonny's Franchise Company |
ESTABLISHED: |
1968, Gainesville, Florida |
FOUNDER: |
Floyd "Sonny" Tillman |
OWNER: |
Robert Yarmuth |
DESCRIPTION: |
Sonny's Bar-B-Q offers a variety of Bar-B-Q meats, including St. Louis Cut Ribs and Sonny's Signature Baby Backs, Pulled Beef Brisket, Pulled and Sliced Pork, Sliced Turkey, and Chicken, all smoked slowly over a hardwood fire. Today, with 128 restaurants in nine southeastern states, Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q is one of the largest, most popular Bar-B-Q chains in the country. Our secret? We cook it up slow and serve it up fast and friendly. |
FEATURED MENU ITEMS: |
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CORPORATE TEAM: |
Robert Yarmuth - Chairman/CEO
Bob Yarmuth is Chief Executive Officer of Sonny’s Franchise Company. Upon graduation from law school, Bob began working with his brother’s newly formed magazine, Louisville Today, overseeing the business operations. After a few years, he decided to purchase a Mr. Gatti’s Pizza franchise and his restaurant career began. He graduated from the University of Michigan and received his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Louisville in Kentucky. Bob firmly believes in always putting people first; the restaurant industry was a perfect match with this philosophy. Bob purchased a Sonny’s franchise and sold Mr. Gatti’s Pizza in 1980. More than ten years later in 1991, Yarmuth and his cousin, Jeff Yarmuth, purchased the Sonny’s chain from Sonny Tillman and the rest, as they say, is Bar-B-Q history. Darrin Heisey - Director of Information Technology
Darrin Heisey is Director of Information Technology for Sonny’s Franchise Company. He has more than nine years of experience in information technology (IT) and over 15 years in the restaurant industry. He received his Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from Florida Southern College. He has served the last two years as the Director of IT for Sonnys Franchise Company, where he has implemented a number of technological advances, streamlining processes for the company. Christie Schatz - Director of Human Resources
Christie Schatz is Director of Human Resources for Sonny’s Franchise Company. She received her Bachelor of Science in Social Science from Florida State University and a Human Resources Management Certification from Rollins College. Prior to joining the Sonny’s team, she worked in sales and served as a Marketing Rep. at Signature Graphics, Inc. She joined Sonny’s in 2001. In August 2004, she transitioned to Human Resources Manager and in May 2006 was promoted to Director of Human Resources.
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NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: |
6,700 System Wide |
SALES: |
$238M in 2010 |
LOCATIONS: |
126 Restaurants in 9 States |