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Chili’s offers a busman’s dinner holidayChili’s offers a busman’s dinner holiday

School bus promotion highlights daypart in Detroit as well as a giveaway

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

September 26, 2019

1 Min Read
Chili's Detroit Bus
Brinker International Inc.

Chili’s Grill & Bar deployed a tricked-out branded school bus and a crew Wednesday to treat some loyal Detroit customers to a family dinner.

“We understand the stresses families face every day,” said Ellie Doty, who recently was named Chili’s chief marketing officer, in a statement.

Chilis Bus Photo2_1569416674375-HR_0.jpg“What we're about at Chili's is celebrating all of those imperfect moments in life because all that matters at the end of the day is that the gang is together,” Doty said. “And some Southwestern Eggrolls always make it better.”

The company said 82% of Detroit families don’t sit down for a dinner together, so on Wednesday it picked up some members of its loyalty program — parents, relatives and students —in the school bus and treated them to dinner as well as Chili’s-branded school supplies.

The casual-dining division of Dallas-based Brinker International Inc. is also promoting its dinner daypart with a special giveaway to one family of weekly dinners for a year. To enter, contestants can visit Chili’s Facebook page on Friday.

Chili’s has more than 1,600 restaurants systemwide.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]

Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless

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Brinker

About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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