Happy Holidays!
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Dear DRG Family,
As we approach the end of another remarkable year, I find myself reflecting on the incredible journey we’ve undertaken together as a company. The holiday season is the perfect time to express my deepest gratitude and share my immense pride in each and every one of you.
This year has been nothing short of extraordinary, filled with challenges that we faced head-on and triumphs that we celebrated together. As President & CEO, I am incredibly proud of the hard work, dedication, and resilience that each member of the DRG family has demonstrated day in and day out.
Our commitment to excellence has propelled us to new heights such as adding 24 restaurants to our San Diego market, placing us as the largest Taco Bell franchisee by sales volume. We’re on track to becoming one of the top 10 largest restaurant companies in the country. From the frontline teams in our restaurants to the support staff in our offices, it’s your collective efforts that have made this success possible.
As we take a moment to celebrate the holiday season with our loved ones, let’s also reflect on the milestones we’ve achieved as a company. Your hard work, passion, and commitment have not gone unnoticed, and I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for your contributions to our shared success.
Looking ahead, I am excited about the possibilities that the future holds for DRG. With a team as talented and dedicated as ours, I am confident that we will continue to achieve great things in the coming year.
Wishing you and your loved ones a joyous holiday season filled with laughter, warmth, and well-deserved relaxation. Thank you for being an integral part of the DRG family and for making this year a truly memorable one.
Cheers to our continued success!
Warm regards,
SG Ellison
President & CEO
2023 Year in Review
Mike and Mark Year-End Video
2023 DRG Highlights:
CANTINA F1 WATCH PARTY RAISED $75,000 FOR THE TACO BELL FOUNDATION
F1 debuted its first race on the Las Vegas strip, which also happened to take place directly in front of our Las Vegas Cantina! In the spirit of racing to the top this year, DRG partnered with the Taco Bell Foundation to host an exhilarating watch party where all ticket proceeds totaling $75,000 were generously contributed to the foundation. The unique location of our Cantina provided an unparalleled front-row seat to the high-speed excitement. Against the backdrop of screeching tires and roaring engines, we clinked tacos and beers with Taco Bell corporate, esteemed franchisees, and our dedicated team, creating an unforgettable evening of racing and philanthropy.
NEW! Ghost Kitchen Taco Bell
We’re excited to share that DRG opened the first Ghost Kitchen Taco Bell within Cloud Kitchens’ Charter Oak Food Pickup– a Bay Area ghost kitchen that specializes in delivery service– at 90 Charter Oak Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94124. This marks the only ghost kitchen location within the Taco Bell brand’s portfolio! The Charter Oak Ghost Kitchen utilizes state-of-the-art Cloud Kitchens technology to fulfill delivery orders quickly and efficiently. This showcases our continued dedication to finding innovative solutions for delivery. Guests can order delivery via the Taco Bell App or on their favorite delivery platform – DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, Postmates. We’re thrilled to welcome this new restaurant and want to recognize the hard work put into making it possible. Great job!!
Q4 Store Openings
San Fransisco CA
Kansas City MO
Vista CA
Basehor KS
Eastvale CA
The DRG Family Grew With the St. Mar Acquisition!
Our St. Mar acquisition of 23 restaurants in the San Diego and Riverside Counties was a pivotal achievement for DRG this year. Once again, thank you to the DRG employees who were essential in the successful onboarding and transition of the new team members! Since the acquisition last Summer, DRG has felt a significant impact from the growing pool of talented individuals operating our business. With new talent, we get to keep raising the bar every year. The sky is the limit with what we can accomplish as one team, one dream, one DRG.
Live Más Scholarships
The application for a 2024 Live Más Scholarship is open and closes January 3rd, 2024! Don’t miss this opportunity to receive up to $25,000 annually towards your education!
Apply now at https://apply.mykaleidoscope.com/scholarships/livemas2024.
Every year, the Live Más Scholarship program grants hundreds of youth across the country scholarships to pursue their passions and make the world a better place. In Spring 2024, the Taco Bell Foundation will award $10 million in Live Más Scholarships, including $2 million exclusively to team members! Apply today for a chance to receive some of these funds and pursue your educational goals!
Apply for a 2024 Live Más Scholarship
To be eligible, candidates must be current employees of Taco Bell (employed in a restaurant position), ages 16 to 26, with a minimum of 30 days of continuous employment
How to enter:
- Submit a video (2 minutes or less in length) that addresses your passion and how
- education will enable you to pursue it. More information about the video
- requirements can be found here.
- The deadline to apply is January 3rd, 2024.
Previous winners of the Live Más Scholarship can apply again! Details about the Live Más Renewal Program can be found here – https://www.tacobellfoundation.org/renewal-program/
Need Some Inspiration?
Inspiration: Watch this video to get inspired by Andrew German, a KC Bell team member who recently received a $25,000 Live Más Scholarship.
Set your goals for 2024!
Earn a spot in DRG’s most prestigious group
– The Champions’ Club!
As the new year approaches, we are thrilled to provide you with a guide outlining qualifications to earn a spot in the most prestigious club in our organization – The DRG Champions’ Club. DRG’s best of the best and top performers are inducted into this exclusive group with several membership benefits received in the induction year and years that follow.
To get your golden ticket to Champions Club, you must meet the following qualifications:
- Top 20% in 5 STAR/Scorecard: Champions Club eligibility begins with being among the top 20% in our 5 STAR and Scorecard performance evaluation. Consistent exceptional performance in your role is key criteria for consideration.
- Supported/Nominated by Immediate Supervisor: You need the endorsement and support of your immediate supervisor, who believes in your excellence and contributions. Their nomination is a testament to your outstanding performance and leadership qualities.
- Personal Results: Champions Club members are known for their impressive personal results, often exceeding performance targets and delivering outstanding outcomes. Your track record of excellence is a major factor.
- DRG Contributions / Living Out the DRG Values and Mission: Show your dedication to our organization’s purpose, vision, and mission. Your commitment to advancing our shared goals is a distinguishing feature of a Champions Club member. Champions uphold and exemplify our organizational values in all they do.
- Leadership Behaviors: True champions exhibit exemplary leadership behaviors. Your ability to guide, inspire, and empower others is a vital component of Champions Club consideration.
Exclusive Benefits of Champions Club Membership:
In addition to the honor of membership, Champions Club offers these exclusive benefits:
- Leadership Summit Recognition: Your award will be presented at the annual Leadership Summit, providing you with an opportunity to interact with our organization’s top leadership and executives.
- Champs Club Recognition Trip: The year you win an “of the year” award will include a memorable adventure with a ticket to the Champs Club Recognition Trip, which is often held in Cabo, Mexico. Past winners can attend the trip more than once if they receive another award within a different year.
- Annual Exclusive Gathering: As a Champions Club member, you’ll receive an exclusive invitation to a Champions Club event every year. This is a chance to reconnect with fellow club members, share experiences, and celebrate ongoing success.
We believe in recognizing and rewarding excellence consistently, and we encourage you to aim for the Champions Club every year. Don’t let this unique opportunity pass you by. To view last year’s award winners and a recap of the recognition trip, visit https://drgfood.com/reward-trip-rewind-the-best-of-the-best/.
This is your time to shine, and we look forward to
celebrating your remarkable achievements!
GM and AM promotions
Alfredo Lugo Lopez, GM
Alma De La Torre Castaneda, AM
Ana Pope, GM
Arcadia Mariles, GM
Ashley Fishbeck, AM
Ashley Lee, AM
Ashley Moran, AM
Austin Natividad, AM
Autumn Hemenway, AM
Autumn Stanley , GM
Autumn West, AM
Brandon Davis, GM
Brenda Zamora, GM
Carina Vallejo, AM
Carla Wright, AM
Cassidy Gilb, AM
Catherine Nottingham, GM
Cesar Gomez, AM
Christen Massey, GM
Concepcion Rosas, AM
Daniel Mojica, GM
Darzell Morris, AM
David Cortez, GM
Denise Mcadow, AM
Edwin Santizo, AM
Ester Morado, AM
Ethan Cook, AM
Fabiola Estrado, AM
Freddy Lopez, Arby’s GM
Griselda Zamora Frayre, GM
Jeffery Regnell, Arby’s GM
Joe Corral, AM
Jolene Byrnes, Arby’s GM
Jose M Galeana Molina, AM
Joselyn Lagunas, AM
Joshua Torres, GM
Joyce Quiroz, AM
Kayla Dynes, Arby’s GM
Kaylee Hardin, GM
Kelly Arquembourg, AM
Kelly Dunfee, AM
Layla Burrus, AM
Leesa Riches, GM
Leslie Ahumada, GM
Liset Costello, GM
Luis Barcenas, AM
Luis Roman, GM
Maria Rosas, AM
Marilena Krummel, AM
Marina Hernandez, AM
Max Williams, GM
Meghan Sanford, GM
Miriam Huerta, AM
Mulexis Hankins, AM
Pablo Gomez, GM
Patricia Rapalo, AM
Paulina Matias Calmo, AM
Ramirez Maynor, AM
Ricardo Pacheco, GM
Rosa Lopez, GM
Samantha Roberts, GM
Saul Piedra, AM
Seth Rice, AM
Steven Crist, AM
Tracy Gutowski, Arby’s GM
Victoria Gomez, AM
Yuridia Woodward, AM
Don’t miss a beat from HR!
Year-end Checklist
Please ensure your personal information, such as your phone, email, and mailing address, is updated in Workday. We use this information to mail 1095s and W2s and contact you about your eligibility for benefits.
Cheers to an Amazing 2023 Together!
