Awarding Soulman’s Excellence and Igniting the Future: The 2026 Soulman’s Annual Kickoff Meeting

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At Soulman’s Bar-B-Que, we believe that great ribs and brisket are only as good as the people serving them. On January 19th and 20th, our entire Soulman’s management family gathered for our 2026 Annual Awards and Kickoff event. It was a high-energy two days filled with reflection, celebration, and a bold look at where we are headed next.

Looking Back: A Year of Grit and Growth

2025 was a year of “breaking records under pressure.” While the industry faced skyrocketing beef prices and economic shifts, the Soulman’s team didn’t just survive—we thrived.

Brett’s Year in Review highlighted some staggering achievements:

  • Record-Breaking Performance: Our team broke 10 All-Time records for Soulman’s in 2025.
  • Consistent Growth: Comparative sales were up , marking growth in 16 out of the last 17 years.
  • Expansion: We officially welcomed North Richland Hills to the family and completed major facility improvements across the board.
  • Innovation: From a beautiful new menu board to listening to customer feedback for menu innovation, we stayed focused on the guest experience.

Honoring Our All-Stars

The heart of the event was recognizing the individuals who go above and beyond. From those celebrating two decades of service to our “Road Warriors” in the field, we are proud to have such a dedicated crew.

Major Milestone Highlights:

  • 20 Years of Excellence: Robert Cardona
  • 10 & 15 Year Milestones: Steve Young, Justin Parker, Jackie Polk, and Luis Rico.
  • The “Originals”: Recognition for the 16 team members who launched our NRH location.
  • Operational Excellence: A massive shout-out to Mesquite (Omar, Cinthya, Martin, Gloria, and Frida) for sweeping awards in Food Cost, Profit, and Operational Excellence.
  • Championship Belts: These heavy-duty honors went to
    • Terrell for Best Food
    • Allen for Best Customer Service
    • Forney for Cleanest Location
    • Mansfield for Culture

The Vision for 2026: The Power of “FIVE”

The most exciting moment of the kickoff was the unveiling of our 2026 focus: FIVE.

What is FIVE? It’s more than just a number; it’s a multi-year leadership platform designed to build leaders, not just managers. It is built on five core pillars:

  1. Aspiration: We strive to be #1 in everything we do.
  2. Faith: We recognize we are always second to God.
  3. The Big 3: Unwavering focus on Great Food, Great Service, and Cleanliness.
  4. People First: Focusing on our most important asset—our team.
  5. 5-Star Leadership: Developing a self-sustaining leadership ecosystem in every restaurant.

What’s New on the Horizon?

The coming year is packed with growth! We are thrilled to announce:

  • New Locations: Keep an eye out for Soulman’s coming to Gun Barrel City and Waxahachie!
  • Flavor Innovations: Be on the lookout for hearty, mouth-watering limited time offers.
  • Enhanced Partnerships: We are officially launching with Uber Eats to bring BBQ to even more front doors.

A Note of Gratitude

As we look toward 2026, we acknowledge the challenges of inflation and consistency, but as Brett reminded us, “We serve a BIG God and we have a great team.” We aren’t aiming for perfection—we are aiming to get better together, every single day.

Thank you to our guests for your continued loyalty and to our team for making Soulman’s the best BBQ family in Texas. Let’s make 2026 our best year yet!

 

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