In June, Outback Steakhouse did something it had not done since before the pandemic.
It hosted a conference for the managers of its some 600 restaurants.
For the first time since 2019, Outback field leaders gathered en masse to talk shop, be recognized, and hear from executives. By all accounts, the highlight was a keynote from an Outback legend, co-founder Tim Gannon, creator of the famed Bloomin’ Onion.
The meeting came at a pivotal time for Outback, which is in the midst of a turnaround plan aimed at reversing a streak of sales and traffic declines. On Wednesday, parent company Bloomin’ Brands shared an encouraging update: Outback’s same-store sales rose 1.4% last quarter, their best mark in over three years. Customers gave the chain better marks on everything from food quality to atmosphere. And they are increasingly opting to order pricier steaks, sides, and dessert. Bloomin' stock soared more than 30% after the news was announced.
For Gannon, the vibe at the conference echoed those results. The excitement, he said, was “over the top.”
“I was able to see the hunger in so many of these people that want to bring the brand back to where it was,” he said.
Tim Gannon. | Photo courtesy of Tim Gannon
Gannon, who cut his teeth under Norman Brinker at Steak & Ale, founded Outback Steakhouse in 1988 in Tampa along with Chris Sullivan, Robert Basham, and Trudy Cooper. He developed the signature Bloomin’ Onion appetizer along with much of the core menu and stayed with the chain as it grew from a single location to a global brand.
He left Outback in 2011, but said he never really wanted to leave. The manager conference was a homecoming of sorts for him.
“I was shocked when I heard that they weren't doing them anymore,” he said. “And then I'm very happy that they revived it because it's where people come and they get recognized.”
He said he was thrilled to be invited back to give the keynote. He also presented the Tim Gannon Serious Food Award, an existing award for quality that now bears his name. (The award went to Billy Gregory, Outback’s director of back-of-house operations.)
One of Gannon’s messages to attendees: “I think there’s a lot of magic to the brand that just needs to be uncovered,” he said.
He believes Bloomin’ CEO Mike Spanos, who was hired in 2024, and brand President Pat Hafner, an “Outbacker” since 1996, are on their way to reviving some of that magic.
Their turnaround strategy has included a focus on better steak execution and a new service model that gives servers fewer tables so they can give more attention to each group. Outback also developed a low-priced combo meal, the Aussie 3-Course, as an entry point for price-sensitive customers, while also adding more premium cuts to the menu. Marketing, meanwhile, will highlight the chain’s steak and its irreverent ethos.
“[They’re] really reaching down into the history books of how Outback was founded and carving out from that a path that embraces all the things that made us successful in the past,” Gannon said.
He added that investments in things like steak and service quality have been key. “I think they’re trying to bring back the glory of the steak experience,” he said.
During an earnings call Wednesday, Spanos shared his own recap of the conference, noting the energy and engagement among managers as well as the importance of Gannon’s presence.
“He was very clear that we're doing the right things,” Spanos said. “It was just great to have him there.”
Since leaving his day-to-day job with the brand, Gannon has become what he called a “spiritual advisor” to Outback. He has kept his finger on the pulse of how Outbackers feel about the company. The feelings right now are good.
“You're going to succeed or fail based on people's emotional commitment to the brand,” Gannon said. “And so, if that's the barometer, I think they're set for success, because of that emotional vibe that I got.”
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