Who owns Sonic Drive-In?
Sonic Drive-In is owned by Inspire Brands (the United States), which has owned the brand since 7 December 2018.[1]
This ownership is reported in official statements but has not yet been matched to a regulatory filing.
Key facts
- Current owner
- Inspire Brands, Inc. reported
- Owned since
- Previous owner
- None recorded
- Owner HQ
- 🇺🇸 United States, Atlanta, Georgia
- Origin
- 🇺🇸 United States, Shawnee, Oklahoma
- Founded
- 1953
- Category
- Restaurants & foodservice › Quick-service restaurants › Burger & chicken chains
- Last verified
- · 1 sources
About Sonic Drive-In
Sonic operates drive-in restaurants where customers park in a bay, order through an intercom and are served by staff on roller skates, a format almost extinct elsewhere. Inspire Brands acquired the chain in 2018. Its drinks range, including flavoured slushes and ice combinations, generates a much larger share of sales than at other chains.
Ownership timeline of Sonic Drive-In
- 2018 – present Inspire Brands [1] reported
Where Sonic Drive-In sits in Inspire Brands
Controlling ownership as of . Brands grouped under the entity that owns them; large groups are collapsed.
Open the full Inspire Brands ownership tree →
Other brands owned by Inspire Brands in restaurants & foodservice
Latest news about Sonic Drive-In
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Frequently asked questions
Who is the parent company of Sonic Drive-In?
The parent company of Sonic Drive-In is Inspire Brands, a privately held company headquartered in the United States.
Is Sonic Drive-In American?
Yes. Sonic Drive-In originated in the United States in 1953 and its owner, Inspire Brands, is also headquartered in the United States.
Since when has Inspire Brands owned Sonic Drive-In?
Inspire Brands has owned Sonic Drive-In since 7 December 2018.
Is Sonic Drive-In still owned by Inspire Brands?
Yes. As of 16 September 2026, Sonic Drive-In is still owned by Inspire Brands. The ownership record was last checked against primary sources on that date.
Sources (1) & corrections
Last verified . Every ownership fact above is backed by one of these primary documents. Numbers in brackets in the text refer to this list.
- [1] Inspire Brands — our brands — Inspire Brands, Inc., Official document; retrieved 18 September 2026.
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