America is obsessed with Chili’s
CNN
People apparently can’t get enough of the Big Smasher burger, $6 margaritas and Triple Dipper combination platters at Chili’s.
People apparently can’t get enough of the Big Smasher burger, $6 margaritas and Triple Dipper combination platters at Chili’s. Brinker International, Chili’s parent company, reported a 14% in jump in same-store sales and 6.5% increase in traffic as the chain continues to perform strongly with promotions that target its fast food rivals and menu items that are going viral on TikTok. Rising prices of fast food sparked an advertising campaign for Chili’s promoting its $10.99 Big Smasher, a rival to McDonald’s Big Mac, that “continues to win with guests” and is a “significant” traffic driver, Brinker CEO Kevin Hochman said on the company’s earnings call on Wednesday. Brinker (EAT) shares soared 9% in midday trading and are up a whopping 150% for the year. Chili’s launched the $10.99 Big Smasher meal deal in April, describing it as having “twice the beef of a Big Mac and flavors fast food lovers will recognize.” The meal also includes unlimited refills of a non-alcoholic drink, bottomless chips with salsa and french fries. The deal has been so successful that it has been extended again will continue through next year as “consumers seek out value coming off their holiday spend,” he said, noting that the customers are telling employees that the “burger looks just like the ad.”
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