SONIC PLANS CUTS IN OKC
Sonic is slashing corporate jobs in OKC, but officials declined to say how many
Sonic Drive-In is slashing a significant number of its corporate jobs in Oklahoma City, laying off some, while asking others to relocate to the Atlanta offices of its parent company, Inspire Brands.
However, the Oklahoma-founded restaurant chain currently is ref using to answer just how many jobs Oklahoma City will lose through termination or relocation.
The company employed nearly 400 at it sc or porate office before being sold to Inspire Brands in 2018,
Sonic spokeswoman Christi Woodworth said.
After the substantial cuts announced this week, the company still will have more than 200 employed at the Brick town offices, but Wood worth declined to answer multiple qu esti ons regarding how many employees would be affected by the layoffs and transfers.
Sonic sold as part of a $2.3 billion deal, and at the time the companies said headquarters for the drive-in company would remain in Bricktown.
However, while the company may maintain a corporate presence in Oklahoma City, drastically slashing jobs at that “headquarters” is nothing new for Inspire, which also owns the restaurant chains Arby's, Buffalo Wild Wings and Rusty Taco.
Like Sonic, Buffalo Wild Wings employed nearly 400 at its Minnesota headquarters before being purchased by Inspire.
After buying Buffalo Wild Wings, Inspire cut 132 jobs, more than onefourth of the restaurant chain's corporate staff, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported in 2018.
Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt expressed regret for those losing jobs.
“We obviously feel for the people … and I hope the low unemployment rate i n Oklahoma City means they can find something soon,” Holt said.
He also acknowledged the health of the company holds a special spot in the hearts of Oklahomans, given its local history.
“We in Oklahoma City take great pride in its history and i ts continued presence here ,” Holt said .“The good news is that the brand will remain here in Oklahoma City.”