Is Chili’s a Casual-Dining Casualty

Don’t throw in the towel on Chili’s just yet while Chili's company-owned same-store sales declined 1.4 percent and even more important traffic at Chili’s company-owned locations fell 4.1 percent in the most recent quarter. Chili’s is not Ruby Tuesday’s according to Foodservice Solutions® Grocerant Guru®.

Wyman Roberts, Brinker president and CEO, in a prepared statement “We remain optimistic about our growth plans despite a choppy first quarter, and are seeing traction with stronger comparable-restaurant sales for Chili's in October,” “In the first quarter, the casual-dining category was more challenging than we anticipated” Our own Grocerant Guru® said “that statement is simple bogus bloviating; you can forget about fast casual sector and simply focus on the evolving retail foodservice customer”.

Here is why Chili’s is not Ruby Tuesday’s, Roberts went on to explain that Chili’s is “rolling out multiple growth platforms — craft beer taps, happy hour, To Go, Plenti points for My Chili's Rewards loyalty program”. Today foodservice / restaurant consumers are not one one-dimensional; they are dynamic on static the mix and match meal components from multiple legacy food sectors into a perfect family meal according to Foodservice Solutions® Steven Johnson.

Foodservice Solutions® team believes that Chili’s understands that in an Omni-Channel retail world brands must be Omni-present to capture and satisfy customer’s demands for branded flavors, experiences, and sales. 

Our team believes that differentiation does not mean different it means familiar yet it requires simultaneously being optimally distinct.  Our team believes that Chili’s can break the mindset of casual-dining recapturing market share lost to new non-traditional retailers simply by becoming optimally distinct. 

Are your top line sales up? Are you garnering new customers driving up customer counts?  If not contact or visit www.FoodserviceSolutions.us Email: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us Outside Eyes can help deliver top line sales and bottom line profits for your company. 253-759-7869 Since 1991 Foodservice Solutions® has been the leader in the Grocerant Niche.