CONGRATS TO AN AMAZING
FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR!
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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:
- Raising $3.2 million for Round Up and $250,000 for DRG Cares
- Reaching 71% of restaurants above brand average for 5-Star
- Achieving over $115 Million in EBITDA
- Securing above 8% in sales comp
- Attaining below 7% for outliers in each market
- Qualifying 12 General Managers to be Golden Bell winners next year!
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
DRG LEADERSHIP SUMMIT: THAT’S A WRAP!
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
- Celebration with 5-time Olympic Water Polo Champion, Jesse Smith;
- Comments by Taco Bell’s Taylor Montgomery, Chief Marketing Officer, and Melissa Friebe, Chief Insights Officer;
- Pinning of the second cohort of the Women’s Leadership Network (WLN);
- Comments by Deryk Engelland, former professional hockey player for the Golden Knights; and
- Recognition of our company’s 2024 award winners.
GET TO KNOW THE NEW WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP NETWORK (WLN)
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!
DRG is dedicated to developing DRG women into strong leaders.
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.
HELP US RAISE $250,000 for DRG CARES TO SUPPORT CO-WORKERS IN CRISIS
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.
If every employee donates just ONE Dollar per paycheck, that’s already over $200,000/year!
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!
Accept the challenge, DRG. Be the difference in someone’s life.
Every contribution helps!
*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.
Champions’ Club Recap: Highlights from Cabo
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.
MID-YEAR INSIGHTS FROM OUR EXECS
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.
CONGRATS TO 11 LIVE MÁS WINNERS
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!
DRG’S IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE
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!
Say hello to our newest benefit, Permit a Pet!
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.
Happy ONE-year anniversary to Arby’s Pahrump!
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!
