Corporate Profile

CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS:

Sonny's Franchise Company
2605 Maitland Center Parkway, Suite C
Maitland, Florida 32751
407.660.8888

ESTABLISHED:

1968, Gainesville, Florida

FOUNDER:

Floyd "Sonny" Tillman

OWNERS:

Robert & Jeffrey 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:
Starters
Chicken Wings, Sonny's Special Recipe Onion Rings, Fried Okra, Chicken Tenders, Corn Nuggets, Brunswick Stew and Soup of the Day
Lunch/Dinner
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, Chicken, Bar-B-Q Combination Platters, Feast for Four, Chargrilled Chicken, Fried Shrimp, Southern Catfish Fillet, a variety of Big Salads and Big Deal sandwich combinations and much more
Side Items
Bar-B-Q Beans, Crinkle French Fries, Baked Potatoes, Baked Sweet Potatoes, Macaroni and Cheese, Coleslaw, Potato Salad, Onion Rings, Corn on the Cob, Fried Okra, Sonny's Southern Green Beans, Cornbread and Garlic Bread
Desserts
Homemade Fruit Cobbler, Banana Pudding
Menu Prices
Appetizers range from $2.99 to $6.99
Entreés range from $5.99 to $18.99
Desserts range from $2.99 - $3.79
Children's Menu prices range from $3.29 to $5.99

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.

Jeff Yarmuth - President/COO

Jeff Yarmuth is President and Chief Operating Officer of Sonny’s Franchise Company. Jeff began his restaurant career more than thirty years ago working with organizations such as Victoria’s Station, in Louisville, Kentucky. There he quickly advanced through the ranks from server to Southeast Regional Manager. He knows and understands operations from the ground up, a unique trait in the business. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and Economics from the University of Tennessee in 1973. In 1982, Yarmuth joined his cousin, Bob Yarmuth, as a franchisee for Sonny’s. In 1991, they purchased the company from Sonny Tillman and the rest is history.

Scott Feldman - Director of Marketing

Scott Feldman is Director of Marketing for Sonny’s Franchise Company. Prior to joining the Sonny’s team, Scott served as Director and Vice President of Marketing at various organizations including Hardee's, Pollo Tropical, Piccadilly, and Fazoli’s restaurants. He specializes in the creation of various programs that help turnaround negative sales trends over a short period of time. These programs target various company pricing structures, key demographic groups and new product development. He received a Bachelor of Science from Iowa State University and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Miami. In March 2010, he joined the Sonny’s team as Director of Marketing.

 
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.

 
 
Richard Lucy - Director of Operations & Training

Rich Lucy is Director of Operations and Training for Sonny’s Franchise Company. Prior to joining the Sonny’s team he served as an Area Director for Applebee’s. While at Sonny’s, he has helped with the utilization of Decision Logic, Hot Schedules and Kitchen Display System. He has helped the stores to a new level of accountability improving all areas of operations, including, guest’s likeliness to return or to recommend, cleanliness, quality and manager presence. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Health Management from Southeast Missouri University. In May 2008, he joined the Sonny’s team and was named Director of Operations and Training in September of that year.

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.

 

 

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES:

6,700 System Wide

SALES:

$238M in 2010

LOCATIONS:

128 Restaurants in 9 States