With Profits Sizzling, Chili’s Gives Employees a Taste With Record Bonuses

The national restaurant chain says it is doubling its normal bonuses for corporate employees.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
A Chili's restaurant at Rohnert Park, California on December 13, 2024. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Chili’s is spreading the wealth after a record-breaking year in sales, dishing out bonuses as thick as its famous baby back ribs to employees.

The national chain hit new highs in both profit and sales for the fiscal year, and it’s making sure employees get a taste of that success, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal.

The company says its corporate employees will receive bonuses of twice as much as they might normally have expected.

“This year’s bonus is our biggest yet, and it’s a direct result of everything you did to make FY25 one for the history books,” the company said in a message to its employees.

Chili’s, an anomaly in a struggling restaurant industry, has appealed to diners with lower prices and an aggressive marketing campaign that puts the chain’s lighthearted vibe on full display on social media.

The restaurant hit its stride with a popular $10.99 meal deal — complete with endless chips, salsa, and a drink — while showcasing what some consider better quality and larger portions than fast food rivals. Younger customers have embraced its fried menu items, creating popular TikTok videos of themselves slowly stretching apart gooey mozzarella sticks.

“Doesn’t matter where you go in the country, even in higher-wage states like a California, you’re always able to get a $10.99 meal from Chili’s,” CEO Kevin Hochman of Brinker International, which owns the restaurant chain, said during a recent interview on CNBC.

“And it’s always something good, you know, it’s one of our burgers or one of our other options that, quite frankly, add a ton of value to that guest.”

“And they don’t need a coupon. They don’t need an app.”

Its rivals are trying to replicate the success. Applebee’s has recently launched its own burger deal for $10 and increased its social media presence.

The financial turnaround for Chili’s and its parent company has led to a doubling of its share price over the past 12 months.

While Chili’s is intent on spreading the wealth to its employees, other national chains are tightening their belts.

The industry overall is facing a downturn, with traffic down 1.8 percent, while fast-food restaurants are particularly feeling the sting of frugal consumers spending less. Their traffic is down nearly 3 percent.


The New York Sun

© 2025 The New York Sun Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The material on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used.

The New York Sun

Sign in or  create a free account

or
By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use