Sonic Corp., owner and franchisor of more than 3,500 drive-in restaurants, reported Tuesday a swing to profitability in its second quarter, driven by positive same-store sales and a one-time gain from the early payment of debt.

As voters went to the polls on Election Day, many restaurant marketers were following one issue more closely than the congressional contests: an effort by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to override Mayor Gavin Newsom’s promised veto of a proposed ban on restaurant toys.


Called the Healthy Meal Incentive legislation, which closely resembles a ban already in place in unincorporated Santa Clara County, Calif., the law would restrict restaurants from using toys to market meals to children, unless those offerings met stringent nutritional requirements.