Financing

Why Chili's is outperforming Applebee's

A Deeper Dive: This week’s podcast features Technomic Managing Principal Joe Pawlak to talk about why some restaurant chains are easily outperforming their top competitors right now.

Why are some chains easily outperforming their biggest competitors? 

This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast A Deeper Dive features Joe Pawlak, the managing principal with RB sister company Technomic, to talk about this topic.

Several restaurant chains are easily outperforming top competitors right now. Chili’s is beating Applebee’s. Dutch Bros is outperforming Starbucks and Texas Roadhouse is outdistancing Outback Steakhouse.

Pawlak uses data from Technomic to help explain a lot of this. Customers clearly prefer some chains over others right now, and amid intense competition they are voting with their feet. 

We discussed what some of these chains are bringing to the table and how much luck plays a role. The discussion offers lessons for some brands as they look to win in a competitive restaurant market. 

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe on Spotify.

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

Multimedia

Exclusive Content

Financing

In the fast-food world, growth is coming from drinks and desserts

The Bottom Line: The highest-growth quick-service chains cannot be found in traditional sectors but among coffee, beverage and dessert brands. What does this say about the restaurant industry?

Emerging Brands

Forget coffee. Salad is rising as the next drive-thru concept

The fast-casual Greenlane is plotting growth across Florida with investor and NFL star Rob Gronkowski working the drive-thru window.

Technology

DoorDash wants to be everywhere

Tech Check: The delivery company is gobbling up more of the restaurant tech ecosystem. Is that a good thing for restaurants?

Trending

More from our partners