#Winning at Whataburger
March 22, 2019 -- If you’re a sports fanatic or just get your thrills from a little competition and a lot of excitement, this one’s for you.
Next week, 22 Whataburger restaurant teams are advancing as WhataGames Finalists and competing for their chance to score $5,000 in cash per person, plus bragging rights for the next two years.
Rewind.
Recently, 132 Whataburger restaurants advanced as Semifinalists in the biennial competition known as WhataGames, but as of today, only 22 remain.
From impromptu restaurant inspections to quizzes about company history and food safety and handling, these 22 advancing teams defeated more than 800 restaurants across Whataburger’s 10-state footprint. You could say these teams know their stuff.
But the competition is far from over. To get to the top, they have to compete like never before.
What’s Next?
For three full days in Houston, March 28-30, these teams will be put to the ultimate test in a variety of events that test company knowledge, leadership skills and behaviors. Only three will be named Champions, and only one will win Gold.
We’ll even temporarily close two restaurants; one to simulate an action-packed lunch rush and the other to showcase maintenance techs repairing restaurant equipment. If you’ve been to a Whataburger at lunch, you know it’s busy! In the past, orders have been dine-in, take-out or drive-thru, but this year, orders will incorporate the Whataburger App and reward redemption. This is no walk in the park, either. Judges are checking order accuracy with an eagle eye, even measuring fry servings down to the last ounce.
Maintenance techs who keep Whataburger restaurants operating year-round will also be competing in various challenges for their chance to win. These hands-on competitions are just as intense, proving their expertise in trouble-shooting all equipment inside the restaurants.
We’re serious about competition and do what it takes to make it right, just like our customers like it.
The overall prize pool totals more than $250,000, with winners taking home $5,000 each in cash. But that’s not all. Members of the Silver team rake in $2,500 and Bronze finalists earn $1,000. Team members who stay home to keep the restaurants up and running also receive cash prizes.
“It’s hard to put into words just how exciting it is to watch our teams put it all on the line for this competition. WhataGames is more than just a contest – it’s truly a way for our teams to come together as a family to challenge and encourage one another, all while having a little fun,” said Rob Rodriguez, SVP of Restaurants.
Be sure to check us out on Instagram using #WhataGames and follow us on Snapchat for real-time, behind-the-scenes footage.
WhataGames Restaurant Finalists 2019
Arizona:
Unit 230 6504 E. 22nd St., Tucson
Arkansas:
Unit 1100 4030 N. College Ave., Fayetteville
Florida:
Unit 931 5648 Woodbine Road, Pace
Mississippi:
Unit 849 11484 Highway 49, Gulfport
Texas:
Unit 30 1900 E. 8th St., Odessa
Unit 404 7430 Louetta Road, Spring
Unit 898 14460 FM 2100 Road, Crosby
Unit 501 17234 Northwest Freeway, Jersey Village
Unit 1079 1110 Silber Road, Houston
Unit 409 2111 E. Main St., Uvalde
Unit 661 8481 N. US Highway 281, San Antonio
Unit 958 130 E. Central Texas Expy, Harker Heights
Unit 992 2800 Guadalupe St., Austin
Unit 1110 540 W. I-30, Royse City
Unit 1036 311 S. Main St., Lindale
Unit 412 5779 Fairbanks Drive, El Paso
Unit 1083 2103 Ruben Torres Blvd., Brownsville
Unit 4 510 S. 14th St., Kingsville
Unit 508 901 E. Seminary Drive, Fort Worth
Unit 926 114 Broadhead Road, Waxahachie
Unit 110 5200 Davis Blvd., North Richland Hills
Unit 984 388 E. Stacy Road, Allen
WhataGames Maintenance Tech Finalists 2019
Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Florida Area: Steve Eckles (Lead Tech), Bill Castanon, Scott Foster, Mike Bradford
Houston Area: Jay Neidhart (Lead Tech), Jeff Mitchell, Cristobal Garcia, Alberto Avila
Central Texas Area: Lee Thompson (Lead Tech), James Nanez, Jordan Flores, Darren Todd
West Texas, New Mexico and Arizona Area: Louie Ribera (Lead Tech), Terry Sonner, Joe Licon, Luis Bocanegra
South Texas Area: Peter Hernandez (Lead Tech), Joe Benavidez, Oscar Chapa, Robert Garza
North Texas and Oklahoma Area: Jaron Barnhill (Lead Tech), John Wilson, Charles Mcgee, Robbie Langston
Dallas/Fort Worth Area: Andy Collier (Lead Tech), Bryan Hicks, Anthony Halter, Greg Edwards
Learn more about WhataGames here, or get an inside look into the competition with this video.
Whataburger has focused on its fresh, made-to-order burgers and friendly customer service since 1950 when Harmon Dobson opened the first Whataburger as a small roadside burger stand in Corpus Christi, Texas. Today, the company is headquartered in San Antonio with more than 900 locations across its 14-state footprint and sales of more than $3 billion annually. Whataburger is a 2022 Top Workplaces winner. The brand has more than 50,000 Family Members (employees) and more than 60 million customers who like to customize their Whataburgers just like they like it. Visit whataburger.com for more information. To apply for Whataburger jobs, visit whataburger.com/careers.