Restaurant chain Shoney's has picked Bohan Advertising|Marketing is the new agency of record, bringing its marketing spending to a Nashville agency for the first time in 30 years.
Shoney's runs about 240 restaurants in 18 states in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Southwest. The chain conducted a national search for the agency to take over from St. John & Partners, a regional agency based in Jacksonville. More than a dozen agencies submitted bids.
“Shoney’s has done excellent work since David Davoudpour bought the company,” said agency founder and CEO David Bohan. “The food is changing, the restaurants are changing and Shoney’s is going to broaden its appeal. It’s our job to help Shoney’s tell its story.”
Bohan will oversee Shoney's brand strategy, creative, digital marketing, promotions, social media, franchise support communication and local restaurant marketing. While Shoney's won't disclose its annual marketing spend, industry reports from 2007 put that number at about $20 million [2].
The agency also works with fellow locals Stoney River Legendary Steaks and Back Yard Burgers and has in the past won an Emmy award for its work with Fazoli’s. Founded in 1990, the firm employs about 50 people and earlier this year moved into the Knoxville market [3].