Brinker International

Brinker International is an American multinational hospitality company headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Its principal restaurant businesses are Chili's Grill & Bar, a large casual-dining chain centered on burgers, steaks, fajitas, Tex-Mex-inspired dishes, beverages, and social dining, and Maggiano's Little Italy, an Italian-American full-service restaurant concept. Brinker operates a mix of company-owned and franchised restaurants, with its business concentrated in the United States and additional locations in international markets. The company traces its origins to the first Chili's Grill & Bar opened by Larry Lavine in Dallas in 1975. The business adopted the name Chili's Inc. in 1976 and was sold to restaurant executive Norman E. Brinker in 1983. Under Brinker ownership, the company expanded Chili's, entered the public markets in 1984, and developed a broader multi-brand restaurant portfolio. The corporate name became Brinker International in 1991, reflecting its wider operating and franchising ambitions. Brinker's portfolio expanded through acquisitions and divestitures. It acquired Maggiano's from Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises in 1995, adding an Italian-American dining concept with a different service model and customer occasion from Chili's. The company also developed or owned other chains, including Romano's Macaroni Grill, Corner Bakery Cafe, and On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, but later sold or separated those businesses. Romano's Macaroni Grill was sold to an affiliate of Golden Gate Capital in 2008, and On the Border was sold to another Golden Gate Capital affiliate in 2010. Corner Bakery Cafe had been divested in 2005. In the 2010s and early 2020s, Brinker emphasized the Chili's and Maggiano's brands while increasing its control of the Chili's system through acquisitions of franchised restaurants. It purchased 103 franchised Chili's restaurants in 2015, 116 additional Midwestern Chili's restaurants in 2019, and 23 more in 2021. These transactions increased the proportion of the network directly operated by the company and gave Brinker greater control over execution, technology, pricing, marketing, and restaurant-level initiatives. Leadership has included Norman Brinker, who stepped down as chairman in 2000, and Wyman Roberts, who served as Brinker president and chief executive officer from 2013 until his retirement in June 2022. Kevin Hochman succeeded Roberts as president and CEO. The company also changed chief financial officers in 2024 when Joe Taylor retired and Mika Ware became CFO. Brinker remains focused on restaurant operations, franchising, brand marketing, menu development, digital ordering, and the management of company-owned locations. Its public identity is primarily associated with Chili's, while Maggiano's provides a more occasion-oriented Italian-American dining proposition. The company has also participated in workforce-development initiatives, including joining the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation's SkillBridge program in 2022 to support service members transitioning into restaurant-management careers.

Brinker International developed from the Chili's restaurant business founded by Larry Lavine in Dallas in 1975. The first Chili's Grill & Bar established the informal, full-service restaurant format that became the foundation of the company. In 1976, the business changed its name to Chili's Inc. It was sold to Norman E. Brinker in 1983, and the company entered the public markets the following year. The company broadened its restaurant portfolio during the late 1980s and 1990s. Romano's Macaroni Grill opened its first restaurant in Leon Springs, Texas, in 1988. Chili's Inc. changed its corporate name to Brinker International in 1991. In 1992, it entered an agreement with Pac-Am Food Concepts to support expansion of the Chili's brand in Far Eastern markets. Brinker acquired Maggiano's Little Italy from Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises in August 1995, adding a more formal Italian-American dining concept to its portfolio. Norman Brinker stepped down as company chairman in 2000. During the following decade, Brinker simplified its holdings through a series of divestitures. Corner Bakery Cafe was sold in 2005. In December 2008, Mac Acquisition LLC, an affiliate of Golden Gate Capital, acquired a majority interest in Romano's Macaroni Grill for $131.5 million. In June 2010, Brinker sold On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina to OTB Acquisition LLC, another Golden Gate Capital affiliate. These transactions left Chili's and Maggiano's as the company's central restaurant brands. Brinker later increased its direct ownership of Chili's locations. In 2015, it bought 103 franchised Chili's restaurants. It acquired 116 Midwestern Chili's restaurants in 2019 and purchased another 23 in 2021. The acquisitions expanded the company-operated network and gave Brinker more direct influence over restaurant standards, labor practices, menu implementation, guest experience, technology, and marketing. Wyman Roberts became president and chief executive officer of Brinker International in January 2013 after serving in senior leadership roles connected with Chili's and Maggiano's. He retired in June 2022 and was succeeded by Kevin Hochman. In 2022, Brinker also joined the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation's SkillBridge program, a partnership with the Department of Defense designed to help transitioning service members prepare for restaurant-management apprenticeships. In 2024, chief financial officer Joe Taylor retired and Mika Ware succeeded him. The company has also faced litigation. A California lawsuit filed in 2004 alleged that a Brinker subsidiary violated meal- and rest-break laws by failing to provide employees with legally compliant periods. The case became a certified class action in 2006. In 2012, the California Supreme Court held that employers must provide uninterrupted 30-minute meal breaks but are not required to police employees to ensure that no work occurs during those breaks. The matter was settled in 2014. Separately, in 2024, the Beastie Boys sued Brinker over alleged unauthorized use of the song “Sabotage” in Chili's social-media advertising. Today, Brinker is principally a restaurant operator and franchisor built around Chili's Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy. Its strategy combines company-owned restaurants, franchised locations, brand-level marketing, menu and service development, and off-premises channels such as takeout and delivery. The company remains publicly traded under the ticker EAT.

1. 2024Chief financial officer changes

   Mika Ware succeeded Joe Taylor as chief financial officer following Taylor's retirement.

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2. 2022SkillBridge workforce partnership begins

   Brinker joined the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation's SkillBridge program.

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3. 2022Kevin Hochman becomes chief executive

   Kevin Hochman succeeded Wyman Roberts as president and chief executive officer after Roberts retired.

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4. 2021Additional Chili's locations acquired

   Brinker purchased 23 additional Chili's restaurants.

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5. 2019Midwestern Chili's acquisition

   Brinker acquired 116 Midwestern Chili's restaurants.

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6. 2015Brinker buys 103 franchised Chili's restaurants

   The company acquired 103 franchised Chili's locations, increasing its company-operated restaurant base.

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7. 2010On the Border is sold

   Brinker sold On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina to an affiliate of Golden Gate Capital.

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8. 2008Romano's Macaroni Grill majority interest is sold

   An affiliate of Golden Gate Capital purchased a majority interest in Romano's Macaroni Grill.

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9. 2005Corner Bakery Cafe is divested

   Brinker sold the Corner Bakery Cafe brand.

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10. 1995Maggiano's is acquired

    Brinker acquired Maggiano's from Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises.

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11. 1992Chili's international expansion agreement

    Brinker entered an agreement with Pac-Am Food Concepts to expand Chili's in the Far East.

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12. 1991Corporate name becomes Brinker International

    Chili's Inc. adopted the Brinker International name as its restaurant portfolio and international ambitions expanded.

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13. 1988Romano's Macaroni Grill launches

    The first Romano's Macaroni Grill opened in Leon Springs, Texas.

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14. 1984Company goes public

    Chili's Inc. became a publicly traded company one year after Norman Brinker acquired it.

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15. 1983Norman Brinker acquires Chili's

    Restaurant executive Norman E. Brinker acquired Chili's Inc.

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16. 1976Business adopts the Chili's Inc. name

    The company changed its name to Chili's Inc.

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17. 1975First Chili's restaurant opens

    Larry Lavine opened the first Chili's Grill & Bar in Dallas, Texas, establishing the business that became Brinker International.

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Multi-brand casual dining and full-service restaurant hospitality

• Chili's Grill & BarCasual dining restaurant chain1975

  Chili's is Brinker’s flagship casual-dining brand. Its restaurants generally combine full table service with a social bar-and-grill atmosphere. The menu is associated with burgers, steaks, fajitas, Tex-Mex-inspired dishes, appetizers, desserts, alcoholic beverages, and other American-style restaurant fare. The brand operates through company-owned and franchised restaurants and also serves guests through takeout and delivery channels.

• Maggiano's Little ItalyItalian-American full-service restaurant chain

  Maggiano's Little Italy is Brinker’s Italian-American restaurant concept. It offers full-service dining oriented toward family meals, celebrations, group occasions, and traditional Italian-American dishes. The concept complements Chili's by targeting a more occasion-driven dining experience and a menu centered on pasta, Italian-American entrees, shared dishes, desserts, and beverages.

• Romano's Macaroni GrillItalian-American restaurant chain1988

  Romano's Macaroni Grill was a former Brinker restaurant brand focused on Italian-American full-service dining. Its first restaurant opened in Leon Springs, Texas, in 1988. Brinker sold a majority interest in the chain to an affiliate of Golden Gate Capital in 2008, so it is no longer a core Brinker-owned offering.

• On the Border Mexican Grill & CantinaMexican-inspired restaurant chain

  On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina was a former Brinker-owned restaurant chain offering Mexican-inspired food and a cantina-style dining experience. Brinker sold the business to OTB Acquisition LLC, an affiliate of Golden Gate Capital, in 2010.

• Corner Bakery CafeBakery-cafe chain

  Corner Bakery Cafe was a former Brinker brand in the bakery-cafe segment. Brinker divested the brand in 2005 and it is not part of the company's current principal portfolio.

• 2022SkillBridge workforce-development partnership

  United States

  Brinker joined the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation's SkillBridge program, developed with the Department of Defense to help transitioning service members prepare for restaurant-management apprenticeships approved by the Department of Labor.

  Outcome. The company became a participating employer in the workforce-development initiative.

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• 2021Purchase 23 additional Chili's restaurantsM&A

  Brinker continued its approach of selectively bringing franchised Chili's locations into the company-operated network.

  What changed. The company purchased 23 additional Chili's restaurants.

  Aftermath. The acquisition further increased direct control of Chili's locations.

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• 2019Acquire 116 Midwestern Chili's restaurantsM&A

  Brinker continued consolidating selected franchised Chili's locations.

  What changed. The company acquired 116 Chili's restaurants in the Midwest.

  Aftermath. The transaction increased Brinker’s direct operating presence in the region.

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• 2015Acquire 103 franchised Chili's restaurantsM&A

  Brinker sought greater direct control over Chili's restaurant operations and execution.

  What changed. The company purchased 103 franchised Chili's restaurants.

  Aftermath. The transaction expanded the company-operated portion of the Chili's system.

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• 2010Sell On the Border Mexican Grill & CantinaM&A

  Brinker continued concentrating its portfolio on Chili's and Maggiano's.

  What changed. Brinker sold On the Border to OTB Acquisition LLC, an affiliate of Golden Gate Capital.

  Aftermath. The divestiture further narrowed Brinker’s principal brand portfolio.

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• 2008Sell majority interest in Romano's Macaroni GrillM&A

  Brinker was reducing and restructuring its multi-brand restaurant holdings.

  What changed. Mac Acquisition LLC, an affiliate of Golden Gate Capital, purchased a majority interest in Romano's Macaroni Grill for $131.5 million.

  Aftermath. Romano's Macaroni Grill ceased to be controlled in the same way as Brinker’s core brands.

  Purchase price for majority interest. $131.5 million (December 2008)

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• 1995Acquire Maggiano's Little ItalyM&A

  Brinker sought to broaden its restaurant portfolio beyond the Chili's casual-dining format.

  What changed. The company acquired Maggiano's from Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises.

  Aftermath. Maggiano's became Brinker’s second principal restaurant brand and added an Italian-American full-service concept.

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• 1991Adopt the Brinker International corporate identityStrategy

  The business had expanded beyond the original Chili's identity and was developing a broader restaurant portfolio and international franchising activity.

  What changed. Chili's Inc. changed its corporate name to Brinker International, Inc.

  Aftermath. The Brinker name became the corporate umbrella for Chili's and subsequent restaurant concepts.

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• 2024Beastie Boys copyright lawsuit over Chili's advertisingControversy

  The Beastie Boys filed a copyright-infringement lawsuit against Brinker alleging that Chili's social-media advertising used the group's 1994 song “Sabotage” without authorization. The allegation concerned promotional activity for a Brinker-owned restaurant brand.

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• 2004California meal- and rest-break litigationControversy

  A lawsuit against Brinker Restaurant Corp., a Brinker International subsidiary, alleged that employees were not provided meal and rest periods required under California law. The case was certified as a class action in 2006. In 2012, the California Supreme Court clarified employers' obligations regarding uninterrupted meal breaks, and the litigation was resolved through a settlement in 2014.

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• 2024Mika Ware succeeds Joe Taylor as chief financial officer

  Joe Taylor retired as chief financial officer and Mika Ware succeeded him in the role.

  Leadership change
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• 2022Brinker joins the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation SkillBridge program

  The company joined a Department of Defense-linked workforce initiative intended to help transitioning service members prepare for restaurant-management apprenticeships.

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• 2022Kevin Hochman succeeds Wyman Roberts as Brinker chief executive

  Wyman Roberts retired in June 2022 and was succeeded by Kevin Hochman as Brinker president and chief executive officer.

  Leadership change
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• 2012Brinker appoints Wyman Roberts as president and chief executive officer

  Brinker announced that Wyman Roberts would become president and chief executive officer effective January 1, 2013, while also continuing his association with the Chili's brand.

  Leadership change
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1. Brinker International