Winner HIGH
2026 CHART Training
Using Games to Enhance Knowledge, Retention, and Engagement Sylvia Cruz, Franchise Training Manager Whataburger
As Whataburger rapidly expanded from 850 restaurants in 10 states to more than 1,165 restaurants across 17 states, generating employee engagement in new markets became a significant challenge. Many new employees were unfamiliar with the brand, and traditional training methods weren’t enough to spark energy and connection. Objective
How it Works
Sylvia Cruz Whataburger
Drawing inspiration from Jeopardy-style games previously used in ServSafe classes, they
introduced simple, low-tech gamification into new restaurant opening training. Using accessible materials—poster board, post-it notes, markers, and
training manuals—new restaurant opening trainers created customized Jeopardy boards with categories such as Food Safety, Burgers, Chicken, and Hospitality. Questions were assigned point values, and teams competed while reinforcing key operational knowledge. A Whataburger-themed Lotería card activity models how playful competition can drive retention and participation. An unexpected benefit emerged during development: as trainers created questions for the game, they deepened their own understanding of the material and became more intentional about how they presented it during training sessions.
Results
The Jeopardy-style approach increased engagement, strengthened knowledge retention, and elevated overall training quality. By using simple tools and a creative mindset, Whataburger successfully built brand excitement in new markets while strengthening both trainer and learner effectiveness.
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