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Chili's offers 'Kids Eat Free' e-mail promotionChili's offers 'Kids Eat Free' e-mail promotion

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

February 21, 2012

1 Min Read
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Ron Ruggless

Chili’s Grill & Bar is offering members of its e-mail club a special two-day “Kids Eat Free” promotion that the chain is supporting with social media.

The deal, which was e-mailed to club members Monday, requires a “Febru-Awesome” coupon, a brand spokesperson said Tuesday, and is good only on Feb. 21 and 22 at the 800 company-owned units nationwide.

With the coupon, two children ages 12 or younger can eat a Kid’s Meal free when one adult orders an entrée. Multiple coupons are allowed per table. The “Eat Free” deal is supported on Facebook and Twitter, the spokesperson said. The coupon can be redeemed from a smart phone and doesn’t have to be printed out.

Chili’s, a division of Dallas-based Brinker International, increasingly has been using e-mail and social media to market promotions. The company also has made substantial use of its e-mail club membership at the 45-unit Maggiano’s Little Italy brand.

Chili’s took a three-week network television hiatus in September and relied on social media and local marketing efforts to “augment our marketing strategy with more efficient social media and local marketing elements,” Wyman Roberts, president of Brinker’s Chili’s division, said in a fall call with analysts. He added that the chain would be leveraging social and direct marketing more.

EARLIER: Brinker expands value strategy at Chili’s

Brinker’s system includes 1,529 Chili’s and 45 Maggiano’s restaurants. Brinker also retains a minority investment in Romano's Macaroni Grill.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected].
Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless

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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