casual_dining

Leadership

Chili's sales are booming. Why Applebee's CEO says that's a good thing

Dine Brands CEO John Peyton gives archrival Chili's kudos for bringing Gen Z back to casual dining. But in the bar-and-grill horse race, Peyton is betting on Applebee's to nose ahead.

Financing

Viral secret menu item gives BJ's Restaurants a boost

Sales of the off-menu Pizookie Platter spiked 17x after the shareable dish went viral on TikTok. It contributed to a 2.7% traffic increase at the casual-dining chain last quarter.

Same-store sales soared 31.6% at the casual-dining chain as it continued to ride the success of its value meals, Triple Dipper platters and operational improvements. Now the question is how it will top its recent hot streak.

Despite a nationwide slump in wine sales, wine-centric casual-dining chains like Sixty Vines and Postino are booming. Here’s their recipe for success.

The Italian casual-dining chain has been shrinking for years. It plans to refocus its efforts on a new fast-casual format, Bertucci's Pronto.

Hart is stepping down as head of the casual-dining chain after more than two years at the helm. Pace has been chairman of the board since 2019.

The Italian polished-casual chain has upgraded everything from its croutons to its tablecloths as it looks to offer a more upscale experience. But prices are staying more or less the same.

The Bottom Line: The casual-dining chain’s owners loaded the company up with too much debt coming out of the pandemic. The result was a predictable bankruptcy.

America’s first breastaurant chain started as a joke and then became a juggernaut. Now, forced into bankruptcy by debt, inflation and some questionable decisions, it is hoping for a second chance, back where it all began.

Check out our video highlighting the traits that made the CEO of Chili's owner Brinker International the most talked-about executive in the restaurant business.

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