Continue to Site >>>
Food

How Sonic’s Mackenzie Gibson integrates culinary and marketing to drive innovation

Menu items are constantly flowing out of the R&D pipeline, all tapping into consumers’ desire for variety. By Patricia Cobe on Dec. 01, 2022

Mackenzie Gibson traded in her blazer for a chef’s coat when she was promoted to VP of Culinary and Menu Innovation at Sonic Drive-in. Previously in marketing, she now integrates that expertise into developing the menu, prioritizing Sonic as a consumer-driven brand.

She and her team keep the R&D pipeline constantly flowing with new items, balancing indulgence with comfort and innovation.

Mackenzie Gibson
Mackenzie Gibson

Listen as she talks about how even dumb ideas can gain traction and turn into successes, and how Sonic wants to grow up to be a burger QSR. She also hints at some amazing new items coming in 2023. (Breakfast, anyone?)

Subscribe to Menu Feed on Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe on Spotify.

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

marketing  Menu Feed  menu trends 
Pat plans and executes the menu sections of Restaurant Business and FoodService Director and hosts the weekly Menu Feed podcast. She provides in-depth coverage of chefs, trends and menu innovation.
View All Articles by This Author

Multimedia

Lettuce Entertain You shares new initiatives, Eggs Up Grill makes menu moves, and the dish on pizza styles and Brooklyn food

Menu trends at RLC, how a St. Louis chef is elevating sushi, and hot sauces and LTOs in the spotlight

An inside look at the James Beard Awards, McAlister's menu expansion and creamsicle drinks

So long Menu Feed, welcome to Menu Talk

The Latest

Financing

Restaurant job growth appears to be slowing

Operations

Texas Roadhouse continues its hot streak

Premium
Financing

Looking for the next Chipotle? These 3 chains are already there

Listen to your daily news: RB PodcastsNew episodes weekdays
RB Daily
A Deeper Dive
Menu Talk
Restaurant Rewind
Working Lunch

More on this Topic

Food

How we all came to scream for ice cream

Food

Arby's rolls out limited-time sauce named for Beyoncé's horse

Food

Nando's Americanizes its menu a bit as U.S. expansion continues

Food

How restaurants are snagging the new pack of snackers

Food

Lettuce Entertain You shares new initiatives, Eggs Up Grill makes menu moves, and the dish on pizza styles and Brooklyn food

Food

Chili's takes shot at the Big Mac with new Big Smasher burger

Exclusive Content

Financing

Looking for the next Chipotle? These 3 chains are already there

The Bottom Line: Wingstop, Raising Cane’s and Jersey Mike’s have broken free from the pack of well-established growth chains. Here’s why this trio stands out.

Financing

For Starbucks, 2 years of change hasn't yielded promised results

The Bottom Line: The coffee shop giant’s sales struggles worsened earlier this year, despite a flurry of efforts to improve operations and employee satisfaction.

Food

Nando's Americanizes its menu a bit as U.S. expansion continues

Behind the Menu: Favorites like mac and cheese, bowls and salads join the fast casual’s Afro-Portuguese-rooted dishes, including the signature peri-peri chicken.

Trending

Financing

Restaurant job growth appears to be slowing

Operations

Texas Roadhouse continues its hot streak

Premium
Financing

Looking for the next Chipotle? These 3 chains are already there

More from our partners

How restaurants can set themselves apart as banquet venues

How to use the plus-one strategy to build unique LTOs

How restaurants can make margin improvements that improve the bottom line

Ensuring Food Safety: How Better Equipment Helps

Investing in beverage programs without maxing labor: Why innovative products matter more than ever