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Join us as we take a walk down Memory Lane, remembering some of our coolest blog stories from 2025. It was another one for the books with lots to celebrate. Here’s a look at the highlights!
We celebrated the successful opening of our first ever Live Más Cafe, which was a total transformation of our existing Taco Bell on H Street in Chula Vista, CA. We checked in with Restaurant General Manager (RGM) Ernesto Figueroa about how it’s going – his excitement is contagious!
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At the close of 2025, DRG made the cover of QSR Magazine’s November issue as its Franchisee of the Year AND became the focus of an incredible feature article. Highlighted for our “relentless innovative mindset,” it was an exceptional way to close out our year!
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Eighteen of our very own were granted Live Más Scholarships by Taco Bell Foundation. They received a combined $200,000! Check out this year’s recipient list, another impressive group we’re happy to see soar to new heights.
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DRG’s Women in Leadership Network (WLN) continues its powerful mission of empowering DRG women from within the organization, and giving them opportunities for networking and professional development (with a side of community service). This year’s workshop followed a sports camp theme and resulted in perfect execution of the playbook!
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This year’s community grants efforts through the Taco Bell Foundation were nothing short of amazing. We were proud to contribute $1 million of the 2025 total through our Round Up (at the register) efforts in tandem with our generous guests.
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It was already dubbed “The Most Beautiful Taco Bell in the World” – and then we gave it a ‘lil refresh. Today, our Pacifica Cantina is the highest grossing Taco Bell in the DRG portfolio. People come from all over the world to visit, and it’s become a hotspot for special events (like dog surfing competitions) and wedding receptions. It’s a real crowd pleaser!
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We relish the upbeat energy of our latest company summit in March, celebrating the year’s highlights and setting our sights on a bold future.
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Each year, Diversified Restaurant Group’s (DRG) Women in Leadership Network (WLN) hosts an annual professional workshop. Held at our Restaurant Support Center (RSC) in Las Vegas, NV, these workshops aim to blend the spirit of teamwork with powerful leadership development. Upon their departure, our female leaders walk away with the tools they need to drive impactful change in our organization and beyond.
This year’s two-day conference took place on October 28 & 29. The theme was “Camp WLN,” a fun ode to the workshop’s abundance of sports- and team-centric activities. Highlights included keynote speaker and former football player Coach V, leadership “drills” and plenty of networking conversations.
We had the opportunity to speak with our Communications & Media Manager and WLN Network Lead, Sierra Burk, about all the prep work that went into the event. She says that she and her WLN counsel — which is composed of five other DRG women — worked to plan Camp WLN over a four month period. As they built out the agenda, they made it their goal that throughout the conference, attendees would be given opportunities to build new relationships, lessons on effectively leading a team and plenty of empowerment.
Nearly 70 women from across the organization (and country) gathered at Camp WLN, including DRG Area Coaches (ACs), Regional Directors, office team members, and for the very first time, Restaurant General Managers (RGMs). A number of male executives also stopped by the workshop to offer their support — including our very own CEO & President, SG Ellison, who gave a speech about the women leaders that have inspired and helped him get to where he is today.
It’s deeply important to us that we weave our community into development events like Camp WLN whenever we can. We have a close relationship with the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Nevada, so we invited eight female members of their leadership team to the workshop. Sierra shares that their presence was particularly impactful in the workshop’s leadership conversations, as the nonprofit leaders were able to provide important perspectives that DRG team members didn’t have previously.
At one point in the conference, attendees were split into teams and tasked with making hygiene kits for the Boys & Girls Club. As they assembled as many kits as possible in a given amount of time, the teams were able to participate in a little friendly competition. After all, Camp WLN was a sports-themed workshop! Participants put together 140 hygiene kits, which we then donated to the Boys & Girls Club.
Sierra shares that at the end of the conference, each attendee was given an “accountability partner.” These pairings were made to help those in attendance commit to their professional development. Over the coming months, the women will stay in touch with one another and share details about how they’re continuing to work toward their career goals. “We really wanted [what they learned] to resonate and stick,” according to Sierra.
WLN has grown exponentially in the four years since it first launched — and Sierra doesn’t see it stopping anytime soon. She says the group has big plans to use myDRG, our new internal company app, to reach more people in the organization. For example, a page dedicated to WLN on the app would allow DRG’s restaurant employees visibility into the leadership perks that we offer.
“I think with this new technology, we can reach even more women,” Sierra shares, adding that at some point, they want to make the WLN annual workshop and its resources available to women at every level on the DRG career ladder.
A huge thank you to everyone who attended Camp WLN! We can’t wait to see you next year.
We’re excited to share that we’ve added two incredible new members to the Diversified Restaurant Group (DRG) team! Jennifer Levine joins us as our Vice President of Human Resources, while Becky Rainey is our Senior Vice President & Restaurant Division Counsel.
Their arrival is a major win for the DRG Women’s Leadership Network (WLN), which now gains two outstanding leaders to help champion growth, mentorship and empowerment across the organization. It also marks a meaningful step forward in expanding female representation across our executive team.
Read on to learn a little more about Becky and Jennifer, and join us in giving them a very warm welcome!
Becky brings over 20 years of legal experience in both the restaurant and hospitality industries. She’s worked diligently alongside both franchisors and franchisees, making her the perfect fit for the projects she’ll take on with us here at DRG.
Becky will oversee our Risk and HR departments, all legal affairs and any compliance initiatives across our restaurants. She’s excited to bring early risk legal analysis and strategic guidance to these essential areas, help us to both protect the current state of our strong brand and build long-term savings for our bright future.
Becky also has an impressive portfolio of extracurricular accolades. For her work in creating a legal support program for abused women and children at a shelter in San Antonio, TX, she was named an Outstanding Professional in the Community by St. Mary’s University. Becky’s commitment to community service is already apparent here at DRG, as she will serve as President of the DRG Cares Corporation and be a strong contributor to our Women’s Leadership Network (WLN).
Becky is a proud Texan, and when she’s not working, she can often be found at a rodeo. Becky grew up riding horses and has served on various rodeo committees for both the Austin and San Antonio Rodeos. She’s excited to check out the National Rodeo Finals in Las Vegas, NV!
Jennifer’s passion for human resources began in college. She earned her B.S. in Hospitality Management with a concentration in HR from UNLV. Her alma mater regularly invites her back to speak with current students about her professional experiences, offering them priceless, real-world perspective.
When it comes to corporate HR experience, Jennifer has a lot of it! As a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), Jennifer has held leadership positions across a variety of industries, including casinos, entertainment, sports and more. She’s applied her specialized skill set to guide some of the world’s most recognizable brands through major acquisitions, companywide tech rollouts and property openings.
At DRG, Jennifer will oversee our HR field and back office functions in addition to any benefits operations. We can’t wait to learn from her strategic vision in these areas!
When she’s not working on her next big HR project, Jennifer can be found spending time with her husband, their three children and their Bernedoodle puppy (whose name is Chicken Nugget!).
Congratulations on your new roles, Becky and Jennifer! We couldn’t be more excited to welcome you to the DRG family.
We have a very exciting announcement: Diversified Restaurant Group (DRG) has just been named Franchisee of the Year by QSR Magazine! We’re thrilled to be featured on the front cover of QSR’s November issue. Check it out HERE.
This incredible honor recognizes exceptional, forward-thinking franchisees who’ve made a significant impact on the industry over the course of the last year.
The QSR Magazine team shared that our commitment to experience-driven development, emerging technology and a people-first culture in 2025 were all huge factors in their decision.
“DRG exemplifies the modern franchise partner,” Ben Coley, a QSR Magazine editor shared. “They’re not just running restaurants; they’re building destinations and testing the future of the quick-service industry.”
A few of the future-forward initiatives that stood out to the team include our introduction of AI in drive-thrus, significant investment in the Live Más Cafe concept and installation of EV charging stations in restaurant parking lots.
The 300-plus store Taco Bell operator has been on the front-line of innovation
– Danny Klein, VP Editorial Director, WSR & FSR Magazines
Of course, an honor of this caliber would never be possible without the hard work of each and every DRG team member.
“Our growth isn’t powered by development alone,” President and CEO SG Ellison shared. “It’s driven by our people, who live our values and deliver genuine hospitality every day.”
We want to give a huge thank you to every member of the DRG family. You’ve all helped make this incredible honor a reality!
If you haven’t already heard, Taco Bell’s latest venture is the Live Más Café: a concept that blends Taco Bell’s beloved menu with a unique, café-style experience.
Excitingly, Diversified Restaurant Group (DRG) is leading the Live-Más-Café charge. The first of the new concept’s locations was successfully piloted at the Chula Vista, CA Taco Bell in 2024 — and as of September 2025, the next two Live Más Café locations were officially opened under DRG leadership in Carmel Mountain Ranch, San Diego, and Simi Valley, CA.
Live Más Café gives our guests new reasons to visit Taco Bell, whether that’s for a handcrafted drink or their favorite taco,
– SG Ellison, CEO and President of Diversified Restaurant Group.
Grand opening celebrations were held at both the Carmel Mountain Ranch and Simi Valley locations, where Taco Bell fans enjoyed live entertainment, exclusive giveaways and complimentary samples.
Upon entering a Live Más Café, guests are greeted by “Bellristas.” They then get to choose from a menu featuring a number of signature drinks, from Churro Chillers to Agua Refrescas to coffee beverages like Vanilla Crema.
It’s safe to say that anyone who stops at a Live Más Café is in for an energizing and delicious treat!
We couldn’t be more excited to be planting the seeds for a Live Más Café-filled future. Through 2025, DRG plans to open additional locations across California in Corona, Eastvale, Hemet, La Canada, Lake Forest, Lancaster, Newhall, Pasadena, Rancho Cucamonga, Riverside, Temecula and Yorba Linda.
Come check us out!
Dear Team,
insert letter
Thank you for your hard work, dedication and passion. Here’s to a future filled with continued success and growth.
Warm regards,
SG Ellison
CEO & President
We’ve rolled out DRG’s beautiful new intranet system — aptly called “myDRG” — with all things DRG on screen and at your fingertips: company apps, benefits and pay info, newsletters … now, hop on myDRG from anywhere via [insert web link] or download the app directly to your phone. You’ll know you’re in the right place when you see all that’s DRG, ALL IN ONE PLACE. Check out what Garret Walti, Director of Technology, has to say about myDRG:
It was electric at Seventh and Flower with our newest cantina opening last summer! Dubbed “DTLA” given it’s located in the heart of downtown L.A., this ultra cool Taco Bell opened to a crowd of 750! And included Taco Bell CEO Sean Tresvant. With an elevated ambiance and music-inspired decor, according to SG, it’s one of most exciting cantinas we’ve opened to date. Streaming Feed the Beat music videos remind guests that they’re standing where L.A.’s iconic music took off.
Come check it out for yourself! 801 W. Seventh Street, Los Angeles
We concluded the second year of our Women’s Leadership Network (WLN) with immense gratitude for the ways these impressive DRG women show up for one another. We’re equally grateful to our male leaders who continue to rally behind this effort, too!
“WLN is an avenue to build relationships and lift each other up,” said Sierra Burk, Communications & Media Manager and WLN Co-founder.
With this purpose in mind, we brought together the whole cohort (nearly 50 women) for a thoughtfully designed “Wonder Woman Workshop” at the RSC in Las Vegas. Attendees from every market came together to connect and:
Read more about the workshop on our blog. In 2025, we’ll keep the momentum going! We’re expanding WLN to reach all women within DRG by offering a series of internally curated meetings accessible to all restaurant teams.
Did you hear?! DRG’s latest culinary venture was the introduction of an Arby’s Food Truck, now operating throughout Las Vegas and surrounding markets! Spread the word — the truck is available to book for parties and events!
At approximately 35 feet long, our cool food truck debuted with a colorful custom wrap that rightfully pays homage to Las Vegas culture. Talk about street presence! Elevating the guest experience once again, we’re excited to be the company taking Arby’s meats to the streets — in style.
We can’t promise SG will be serving, but we CAN promise a menu of Arby’s classics: roast beef, chicken and burger offerings, accompanied by popular sides, desserts and beverages. For the latest info, visit the Arby’s food truck site.
More DRG buzz! We opened a Live Más Cafe! Located in Chula Vista, CA (San Diego area) at 1548 East H Street, it marked an exciting “first” for our company and the brand. Here, guests can order all their Taco Bell faves plus refreshing specialty beverages. Nation’s Restaurant News and Food & Wine gave us a nice mention!
So what makes this latest concept different? The beverages take center stage: Chillers, Agua Refrescas, coffee and more. Preview the cafe on Instagram.
We all know when it’s time for a change. In 2025, we’re breathing some new life into the DRG brand — current branding was introduced in 2020. Expect the refresh to have elements that are comfortably familiar — like our classic building logo (inspired by DRG’s origins in real estate) — but level things up to have our brand overall feel more ELEVATED like our brand personality. We are bold, we are innovative, we are DRG!
Rebrand sneak peek:
No matter how busy we get, we’re nothing without YOU. We know how devastating unexpected events, family crises and financial hardship can be to home and work life. That’s why we created the DRG Cares Fund, to give us a way to be there for you when you need the extra financial support most.
DRG Cares is at the ready for you and your family, but also, you can be part of making a difference for someone else at DRG! Learn how to apply for a grant or make a life-changing donation:
Estimado equipo,
El comienzo del año ha llegado y se ha ido, y nos adentramos a toda velocidad en el verano. Pero quiero detenerme un momento para expresar mi orgullo y gratitud por el enorme trabajo que todos ustedes han realizado en los últimos meses. Ha sido extraordinario ser testigo de la energía, la dedicación, el trabajo en equipo y la determinación de todos los departamentos. Incluso en medio de un panorama de ventas difícil este año, la innovación y el espíritu creativo de DRG están en su punto más alto.
Me inspira la dedicación que cada uno de ustedes ha puesto en el lanzamiento de nuestras nuevas adiciones al menú, como el nuevo menú Cantina Chicken y el menú Cravings Value, mientras mantenemos excelentes operaciones. En el centro de soporte del restaurante nuestra colaboración también está en su punto más alto dentro del Departamento de Excelencia en Restaurantes. Una iniciativa derivada de este departamento que será esencial para mejorar la forma en que operamos en el futuro es la próxima intranet MyDRG, que promete revolucionar la eficiencia en el lugar de trabajo al servir como una ventanilla única integral para todas las necesidades relacionadas con el trabajo, incluidos Workday, las aplicaciones de operaciones y las comunicaciones esenciales.
Además, 2024 ya ha traído consigo hitos como el primer aniversario de la Red de Liderazgo Femenino (WLN) y el lanzamiento de nuestro nuevo programa de salud y bienestar para empleados, DRG Thrives. Estas iniciativas demuestran nuestra inquebrantable dedicación a fomentar un entorno de trabajo solidario e integrador. En la Cumbre de este año, inspirada en los Juegos Olímpicos, compartimos los objetivos de nuestra empresa, uno de los cuales es reducir el reemplazo de personal. En lo que va de año, llevamos un 118%, ¡un 63% mejor que el año pasado! Y la facturación total de las empresas se sitúa en un mínimo histórico del 65% Esto supone un descenso del 24% respecto al 89% del año pasado.
La familia DRG ha brillado con luz propia con seis ganadores de la Campana de Oro y un Entrenador de Área de la Campana de Oro, demostrando nuestro talento y nuestro afán de superación. Por no mencionar que, gracias a sus esfuerzos, hemos podido conceder $120,000 en becas Live Más a 11 empleados y más de $2.5 millones en subvenciones comunitarias
A la vez que celebramos nuestros éxitos, debemos ser conscientes de nuestros progresos con respecto a otros objetivos para 2024, como:
Juntos, elevemos nuestro juego y acabemos el año con fuerza.
Gracias por su trabajo, dedicación y pasión. Por un futuro lleno de éxitos y crecimiento.
Saludos cordiales,
SG Ellison
Presidente & CEO
Vino, vió, ¡y ahora estamos conquistando ambiciosos objetivos juntos! Nuestra última Cumbre de Liderazgo DRG en Las Vegas fue otra estimulante reunión de 160 líderes comprometidos. Inspirándonos en los Juegos Olímpicos de Verano y en la resistencia atlética, hemos pedido a todos que “Eleven su juego” en 2024.
ASPECTOS DESTACADOS DE LA CUMBRE
El GDR Red de Liderazgo Femenino (lanzada originalmente como Mujeres en Liderazgo (WIL) en 2023), acoge su segundo año de funcionamiento. El programa, de reciente creación y centrado en crear un espacio para que las mujeres se relacionen y crezcan mutuamente, corrió como la pólvora durante el primer año de su creación y ahora se considera un brazo vital de la empresa. La Red de Liderazgo de Mujeres (WLN) dio la bienvenida a la nueva promoción de miembros de 2024 en la Cumbre anual de Liderazgo de DRG celebrada en marzo. Nos enorgullece decir que la captación de miembros de la red suscitó un interés abrumador, ¡y duplicamos el tamaño de la cohorte!
La WLN se creó para promover una mayor diversidad en el lugar de trabajo, concretamente en la mesa de dirección. El objetivo final es capacitar a más mujeres del DRG para que sigan ascendiendo con confianza en sus carreras.
“EL AÑO PASADO, LAS MUJERES SINTIERON DE VERDAD QUE NOS IMPORTABAN, QUE LAS ESCUCHÁBAMOS Y COMPRENDÍAMOS”
Sierra Burk, Cofundadora de la WLN y Gerente de Comunicación & Medios
La WLN está abierta a Entrenadores de Área de DGR y superiores, y a personal de oficina (las cohortes anteriores también pueden volver a solicitarla). El plazo de solicitud de este año ya está cerrado, pero volverá a abrirse en febrero de 2025.
En Diversified Restaurant Group, nos enorgullecemos de ser algo más que un lugar de trabajo; somos una comunidad, una familia que se apoya mutuamente en las buenas y en las malas. Desde 2017, hemos entregado $500,000 en subvenciones a través del fondo de nuestra empresa DRG Cares y hemos apoyado a más de 400 empleados que se enfrentaban a crisis financieras tras sufrir un suceso traumático. Vea cómo el fondo ha repercutido en nuestros empleados haciendo clic en el siguiente vídeo.
DRG Cares nos permite crear una red de seguridad que se extiende más allá del lugar de trabajo, garantizando que ningún miembro del equipo se enfrente solo a los retos de la vida.
Los empleados pueden solicitar una subvención de hasta $2,000 dólares si se enfrentan a dificultades económicas inmediatamente después de una catástrofe natural o a una dificultad personal imprevista. Consulte los requisitos para obtener una subvención y cómo solicitarla en el enlace de preguntas frecuentes AQUÍ. Tanto si necesita ayuda económica para hacer frente a una urgencia médica, una catástrofe natural o una crisis personal, DRG Cares está preparado para echarle una mano cuando más lo necesita.
Hoy, le invitamos personalmente a unirse a nosotros para marcar una diferencia real en las vidas de sus compañeros de equipo haciendo una donación continua de tan sólo $1 por nómina* mediante una deducción periódica de su nómina. Eso equivale a sólo $26 al año, una pequeña parte de los ingresos, pero cuando se combina con las donaciones de otros, tiene el poder de transformar vidas. Si todos los empleados de DRG participan, ¡podríamos recaudar más de $200,000! Lo mejor de todo es que David Grieve y el Presidente y CEO del DGR, SG Ellison, se han comprometido a igualar las donaciones, dólar por dólar, ¡hasta $100,000!
¡A continuación podrá ver cómo se comprometen! Si no puede dar un dólar ahora mismo, sepa que cada céntimo cuenta.
Puede establecer fácilmente deducciones automáticas en su nómina o hacer una donación única en Workday siguiendo los pasos que se indican a continuación. ADEMÁS, todas las donaciones son deducibles de impuestos
Pulse “Add” o el signo “+” y seleccione “DRG Cares” en el campo Deducción. Introduzca la cantidad que desea aportar y ¡listo!
*Las donaciones son deducibles de impuestos.
Entrenadores de Área por favor, asegúrese de que el folleto Dollar for DRG Cares esté colgado en todos los restaurantes. Haga clic AQUÍ para imprimir y descargar el cartel.
Tres hurras por los ganadores del Club de Campeones de este año que acaban de celebrarlo con un viaje al hermoso Cabo San Lucas. Estos Campeones fueron una parte fundamental del éxito del DRG el año pasado y motores de la acción en sus campos. Queríamos devolverle el favor llevando la “diversión bajo el sol” a un nivel superior
Este prestigioso “club” tiene como objetivo honrar a los mejores empleados de DRG de una manera memorable. Nos esforzamos al máximo para mostrar nuestro agradecimiento Este año, los viajeros disfrutaron de la tan necesaria R & R en el lujoso Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Spa & Golf Resort.
Más información en el Blog.
Detrás de las grandes empresas hay líderes fuertes que saben cómo construir la base. Después de mucho crecimiento en DRG, este año se trata de conseguir que todo esté sincronizado: “que todas nuestras operaciones sigan elevándose y brillando”, como elocuentemente comparte el Presidente y CEO SG Ellison. Y todo ello celebrando el liderazgo de DRG en crecimiento e innovación.
Averigüe qué entusiasma a nuestros ejecutivos y ¡vamos por el oro! Disfrute de este mensaje de mitad de año de SG Ellison, CEO y Presidente; Todd Kelly, COO; Tom Douglas, Director de Restaurantes; Ben Marmor, CFO; Deb Wendorf, Sr. VP de Recursos Humanos; y Jason Dunn, VP de Excelencia Operativa.
Descubra qué miembros de nuestro equipo recibirán este año una ayuda económica para dedicarse a lo que más les apasiona Gracias a la Fundación Taco Bell y el esfuerzo colectivo de DRG en Round Up el año pasado, 11 de los nuestros en DRG han sido otorgados las Becas Vive Más. Consulte aquí nuestra célebre lista de ganadores.
Un saludo muy especial a una de las ganadoras de la beca Live Más de DRG, Gracie Salazar, que fue seleccionada por la Fundación para representar a la revelación de los becarios este año. En su apasionado vídeo de solicitud, Gracie, cuya carrera está interesada en la gestión deportiva, se compara a sí misma con una mujer Davante Adams – ¡La Fundación se enteró y coordinó un encuentro personal con Davante en el campo de entrenamiento de primavera!
¿Le interesa solicitar una beca? Esté atento a los anuncios sobre la presentación de solicitudes este otoño
Nos enorgullecemos de ofrecer alimentos y experiencias de la máxima calidad a nuestras comunidades, pero también las servimos de otras maneras. Este año, hemos ayudado a conceder más de $2.5 millones a organizaciones de nuestros mercados a través de la Fundación Taco Bell. Algunas de las mayores subvenciones concedidas fueron 50.000 dólares a Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Southern Nevada y $50,000 a BBBS of the Bay Area, y $125,000 al Boys and Girls Club of Southern Nevada.
Su incesante pasión por Round Up sigue apoyando a las comunidades a las que servimos al tiempo que defiende la misión de nuestra empresa!
¿Es dueño de una mascota? Nos enorgullece anunciar nuestra afiliación a Permit a Pet, ¡una nueva prestación de DRG que le permitirá vivir y viajar con su mascota por menos dinero! Se acabaron los trámites complicados, las normativas inciertas y las comisiones disparatadas. Permit a Pet facilita el proceso de obtención del permiso, garantizando que su(s) peludo(s) amigo(s) pueda(n) ser considerado(s) Animal(es) de Apoyo Emocional & Perros de Servicio Psiquiátrico. Visite http://www.permitapet.com para encontrar un plan y empezar a ahorrar
Para ver nuestro conjunto completo de beneficions puede dirigirse a benefits@drgfood.com.
¡Pahrump es uno de los seis restaurantes Arby’s del DRG con más de $2 millones en ventas en 2023! El local estuvo a punto de alcanzar el récord de ventas de la semana de apertura establecido por Arby’s Fairbanks y superó a Fairbanks en número de transacciones en casi 2,000, ¡alcanzando más de 7.000! ¡Gran trabajo al equipo y al líder Brent Josserand por impulsar las ventas y unas operaciones excelentes! ¡Por muchos años más de éxitos!
Dear Team,
The start of the year has come and gone, and we’re moving at full speed into summer. I am proud of, and thankful for the tremendous work you’ve all put in over the past few months. Witnessing the energy, dedication, teamwork and sheer determination displayed across all departments has been extraordinary. Despite a challenging sales landscape this year, DRG’s innovation and creative spirit achieved an all-time high.
I am inspired by the dedication each of you has poured into launching our new menu additions such as the new Cantina Chicken Menu and Cravings Value Menu, while maintaining excellent operations. At the Restaurant Support Center, our collaboration is also at an all-time high within the Restaurant Excellence Department. One initiative stemming from this department that will be essential in improving the way we operate moving forward is the upcoming MyDRG intranet which promises to revolutionize workplace efficiency by serving as a comprehensive one-stop shop for all work-related needs, including Workday, operations applications and essential communications.
Additionally, 2024 has brought milestones such as the one-year anniversary of the Women’s Leadership Network (WLN) and the launch of our new employee health and well-being program, DRG Thrives. These initiatives demonstrate our unwavering dedication to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment. At this year’s Olympic-inspired Summit, we shared our company goals, one of which is to reduce turnover. Year-to-date, we’re at 118% beating last year same-time results by 63%! And total company turnover is at a record low of 65%! That’s a 24% decrease from last year’s 89%.
The DRG family has shone brightly with six Golden Bell winners and one Golden Bell Area Coach, displaying our talent and drive for success. Not to mention, because of your Round Up efforts, we were able to give out $120,000 in Live Más Scholarships to 11 employees and over $2.5 million in community grants!
While we celebrate our successes, let us stay mindful of our progress against our 2024 targets, including:
Together, let’s elevate our game and finish the year strong.
Thank you for your hard work, dedication and passion. Here’s to a future filled with continued success and growth.
Warm regards,
SG Ellison
CEO & President
You came, you saw, and now we’re conquering ambitious goals together! Our most recent DRG Leadership Summit in Las Vegas was another invigorating gathering of 160 dedicated leaders. Inspired by the Summer Olympics and athletic endurance, we’ve called upon all of you to “Elevate Your Game” in 2024!
SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS
The DRG Women’s Leadership Network (originally launched as Women in Leadership (WIL) in 2023), embraces its second year of operation. The newly formed program focused on creating a a space for women to connect and grow from one another, caught like wildfire during the first year of inception and is now considered a vital arm of the company. The Women’s Leadership Network (WLN) welcomed the new 2024 class of members at DRG’s annual Leadership Summit in March. We’re proud to say that network recruitment was met with overwhelming interest, and we doubled the size of the cohort!
The WLN was created to promote more diversity in the workplace specifically at the leadership table. The end goal is to empower more DRG women to keep confidently climbing upward in their careers.
“This past year, women really felt that we cared — that they were heard and understood.”
Sierra Burk, WLN Co-founder and Communications & Media Manager
The WLN is open to DRG Area Coaches and above, and office personnel (previous cohorts may also reapply). This year’s application period is now closed but will reopen in February 2025.
At Diversified Restaurant Group, we pride ourselves on being more than just a place to work; we are a community, a family that supports one another through thick and thin. Since 2017, we’ve given out $500,000 in grants through our company fund DRG Cares and supported more than 400 employees who were facing financial crises after experiencing a traumatic event. See how the fund has impacted our employees by clicking on the video below.
DRG Cares allows us to create a safety net that extends beyond the workplace, ensuring no team member faces life’s challenges alone.
Employees can apply for a grant of up to $2,000 if they are facing financial hardship immediately after a natural disaster or an unforeseen personal hardship. See the grant qualifications and how to apply for a grant in the FAQ linked HERE. Whether you need financial assistance facing a medical emergency, a natural disaster or a personal crisis, DRG Cares stands ready to lend a helping hand when it’s needed most.
Today, you are personally invited to join us in making a real difference in the lives of your fellow team members by making an ongoing donation of just $1 per paycheck* via a recurring paycheck deduction. That comes out to just $26 a year — a tiny fraction of income — but when combined with the donations of others, it has the power to transform lives. If every DRG employee participates, we could raise well over $200,000! The best part, DRG Chairman David Grieve and President & CEO SG Ellison have committed to matching donations dollar for dollar up to $100,000!
Watch them go “on the record” with this commitment below! If you can’t give a dollar right now, please know that every penny counts.
You can easily set up automatic paycheck deductions or make a one-time donation in Workday by following the steps below. PLUS every donation is tax-deductible!
Press “Add” or the “+” sign, then select “DRG Cares” in the Deduction field. Enter the amount you wish to contribute and you’re all set!
*Donations are tax-deductible.
Area Coaches, please ensure the Dollar for DRG Cares flyer is hung in every restaurant. Click HERE to print and download the poster.
Three cheers for this year’s Champions’ Club winners, who just celebrated with a trip to beautiful Cabo San Lucas. These Champions were a huge part of DRG’s success last year and action drivers in their fields. We wanted to return the favor by taking “fun in the sun” up a notch!
This prestigious “club” aims to honor DRG’s top performers in a memorable fashion. We pull out all the stops to show our appreciation! Travelers this year enjoyed much-needed R & R at the luxurious Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Spa & Golf Resort.
Read more on the Blog.
Behind great companies are strong leaders who know how to build up the base. After much growth here at DRG, this year is all about getting everything in sync — “having all of our operations continue to elevate and shine,” as President and CEO SG Ellison eloquently shares. This, while celebrating DRG’s leadership in growth and innovation.
Find out what excites our execs and let’s go for the gold! Enjoy this mid-year message from SG Ellison, CEO & President; Todd Kelly, COO; Tom Douglas, Chief Restaurant Officer; Ben Marmor, CFO; Deb Wendorf, Sr. VP of Human Resources; and Jason Dunn, VP of Ops Excellence.
Check out which of our team members are receiving a financial boost this year to pursue their greatest passions! Thanks to the Taco Bell Foundation and DRG’s collective effort in Round Up last year, 11 of our own at DRG have been awarded Live Más Scholarships. View our celebrated list of winners here.
An extra special shoutout to one of DRG’s Live Más Scholarship winners, Gracie Salazar, who was selected by the Foundation to represent this year’s scholar reveals. In her passionate application video, Gracie, whose career interest is in sports management, likens herself to a female Davante Adams — the Foundation heard this and coordinated a personal meet and great with Davante at spring training camp!
Are you interested in applying for a scholarship? Stay tuned for announcements about applying this fall!
We pride ourselves on providing the highest quality food and experiences to our communities, but we also serve those communities in other ways. This year, we have helped grant over $2.5 million to organizations in our markets through the Taco Bell Foundation. Some of the largest of those grants given were $50,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Southern Nevada and $50,000 to BBBS of the Bay Area, and $125,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of Southern Nevada.
Your relentless passion for Round Up continues to support the communities we serve while upholding our company’s mission!
Are you a pet owner? We’re proud to announce our affiliation with Permit a Pet, a new DRG benefit that will allow you to live and travel with your pet for less! No more fretting over complicated paperwork, navigating uncertain regulations or paying crazy fees. Permit a Pet makes the process of getting a permit easier, ensuring that your furry friend(s) can qualify as Emotional Support Animals & Psychiatric Service Dogs. Visit http://www.permitapet.com to find a plan and start saving!
To see our full suite of benefits, you can reach out to benefits@drgfood.com.
Pahrump is one of six DRG Arby’s restaurants with over $2 million in sales in 2023! The location came close to reaching the opening week sales record set by Arby’s Fairbanks and surpassed Fairbanks in number of transactions by almost 2,000, reaching more than 7,000! Great job to the team and leader Brent Josserand for driving sales and excellent operations! Here’s to many more successful years!