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Chilis Grill & Bar turned 50 this year. But as a new generation of diners is learning, its still got it. Thanks to a series of well-timed marketing effortsand at least one viral hit appetizerdiners are flocking to the restaurants, which just posted a same-store sales increase of more than 30 percent in its last fiscal quarter. Traffic is up more than 20 percent. Kevin Hochman, CEO of Chilis parent Brinker International, credits some of this success to operational adjustments: better kitchen technology, better cook training, and a recent dishwasher-listening tour in which the often invisible, but absolutely vital, employees who clean the chains dishes were asked what they needed to make their jobs easier. Marketing is driving guests in, Hochman told analysts and investors on Tuesdays earnings call. Operations is bringing guests back. {"blockType":"creator-network-promo","data":{"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2025\/03\/Expedite-Icon-E-white-background.jpg.jpg","headline":"Expedite","description":"Restaurant technology and the big ideas shaping the future of hospitality, by Kristen Hawley. To learn more visit expedite.news","substackDomain":"https:\/\/www.expedite.news\/","colorTheme":"salmon","redirectUrl":""}} Chilis had some misses on the road to modernization. Hochman assumed the top role at Brinker in 2022. Shortly after, he fired a fleet of rolling robotic servers deployed in 60 locations to help human staff deliver food and bus tables. Less than a year later, Chilis closed its online-only delivery brand It’s Just Wings, which tapped into the fleeting ghost kitchen craze during the pandemic. Turns out diners are responding to comfort and nostalgianot modern bells and whistlesat the decades-old brand. Heres more of whats working, according to Hochman. The food Six months ago, the Chilis Triple Dipper appetizer went viral on TikTok, boosting sales of the pick-three combo. The appetizer now makes up 12% of sales. Chilis also introduced a new burger to compete with fast-food brands that have been forced to raise prices over time, and has spent time coaching its cooks on how to make properly smashed, seasoned, and consistent burgers. Later this year, the chain plans to introduce a revamped version of its once-popular ribs, which now make up only 3% of sales. Hochman also teased a new queso in order to reinvent Chilis nachos. The drinks Margaritas landed on the menu at Chilis more than 30 years ago. This year, Chilis made a 15-minute Lifetime movie titled Ill Be Home for National Margarita Day, which aired in February. The short film combined two reliable sources of comforta cheesy Lifetime movie and a night out at Chilisaccording to Chilis chief marketing officer George Felix. But mostly, Hochman said during Tuesdays call, the move was meant to drive sales and awareness of the cocktail that has been a Chilis staple since 1994. (Its newest margarita campaign features 1990s “it girl” Tiffani Thiessen promoting a 90s-themed, limited-time Radical Rita that changes colors when its stirred.) The vibes In April, Chilis opened its Scranton Branch, a new location outside of Scranton, Pennsylvania, the famous home of The Office, the decades-old hit comedy thats reemerged as a streaming favorite. Its decked out with décor from a 2005 Chilis-themed episode, including a special booth made for social media sharing. And it features a nostalgic menu item, the Awesome Blossom, a deep-fried onion that was dropped from the menu in 2008. Fans are reacting to the one-off location: Hochman said the stores opening generated over 9 billion media impressions. {"blockType":"creator-network-promo","data":{"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2025\/03\/Expedite-Icon-E-white-background.jpg.jpg","headline":"Expedite","description":"Restaurant technology and the big ideas shaping the future of hospitality, by Kristen Hawley. To learn more visit expedite.news","substackDomain":"https:\/\/www.expedite.news\/","colorTheme":"salmon","redirectUrl":""}}
Category:
E-Commerce
Brownies with no chocolate, and cold brew with no coffee beans: With the return of U.S. tariffs still uncertain, reformulated snacks might soon be on the horizon. Whether it’s a global pandemic, looming trade wars, or actual wars, supply chain disruptions and continuity struggles are becoming increasingly common. In response, consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies are turning to Chilean food-tech startup NotCo to help reformulate fan favorites and build resilience to supply chain disruptions. Based in Santiago, Chile, with a U.S.-based hub in San Francisco, NotCo adopted AI early, launching a proprietary AI-powered product development platform called Giuseppe a decade ago. The engine was trained using curated data on everything from industrial food production processes and the molecular composition of over 8,000 ingredients to product reviews and social media insights. The result is an end-to-end service that guides product development from concept generation to exact formulation. NotCo first used its product development platform to create its own line of CPG offerings, including plant-based alternatives like NotMayo and NotMilk. In 2022, the company reached a $1.5 billion valuation, driven by the strength of its AI services. We are a CPG company as well, so all of our algorithms were created for exactly the same problems that these big companies have,” NotCo CEO Matias Muchnick says. “The thing is, we are 10 years ahead of them. [Photo: NotCo] Now operating as a B2B platform, NotCo has partnered with major brands like Kraft and Shake Shack to develop plant-based versions of existing products. For Kraft Heinz JV, Giuseppe helped create cheddar cheese and mac and cheese alternatives that preserved the original flavor while cutting costs. For Shake Shack, NotCo formulated a plant-based version of the chains custard ice cream, maintaining both taste and texture. For both of these projects, the traditional development timeline would have taken 12 to 18 months, but with the AI tool, development time was cut to less than six months. A collaboration between humans and technology AI is not to replace the product developer, it is to accelerate their learnings and to augment the product developer, says NotCo Vice President of R&D Alisia Heath. R&D teams input specific constraintssuch as budget, production requirements, restricted ingredients, desired taste, and textureinto the platform, which helps avoid trial-and-error paths unlikely to meet the products needs. AI allows you to minimize, to put a lot of inputs, a lot of restrictions at the very beginning of a formulation process, so as you don’t get any surprises, Muchnick tells Fast Company. Giuseppe then generates five formulations for developers to test in a sensory analysis. Feedback from those tests is used to fine-tune the ingredient ratios and produce another set of five improved formulations. You change one thing, you change every other thing. So it’s not just by replacing one thing, you’re going to get it right. Everything else will change, Muchnick says. Our technology allows you to understand how the rest of the formulation will change when you change one variable, and that allows you to actually get way more efficient and avoid going into a trial. Beyond efficiency, Giuseppes greatest strength may be its ability to understand flavor at the molecular level, allowing for unconventional ingredient combinations that replicate traditional flavors. For example, the dairy flavor in NotMilk is recreated using a blend of cabbage and pineapple. By removing human bias about how something should taste, the AI explores how it could taste. You’re able to look at the molecular structure of the target ingredient or the target product, and look at ingredients that might have a similar composition as a recommendation to try and use, and an exploration space for the tool to generate experiments, Head says. A relief for external pressures NotCos rapid and cost-effective R&D capabilities are now being applied to address broader challenges such as supply constraints and shifting regulations. The company is working on confidential reformulation projects addressing supply continuity issues, and is in initial discussions with clients regarding tariffs, according to Head. NotCo is currently collaborating with seven of the worlds twenty largest CPG brands, though it declined to name them. But looming tariffs are not the only constraint faced by CPG companies, as policies regarding sustainability and food safety continue to evolve. There’s a lot of external pressures going on, whether it is tariffs, whether it is state sustainability, whether it’s profitability, there’s a lot of pressures out there, Muchnick says. What we can do differently is go outside that traditional landscape and solve those challenges.
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E-Commerce
In a perfect world, workplaces would be environments of mutual respect, open communication, and fair treatment. Unfortunately, thats not always the reality. Whether you’re dealing with a micromanaging boss, a dismissive colleague, or a workplace culture that undervalues your contributions, knowing how to assert yourself is essential to avoiding burnout and developing as a professional. Standing up for yourself doesn’t mean becoming combative or aggressive. Instead, its about cultivating confidence, setting boundaries, and advocating for your worth. Heres how to grow a backbone at work while maintaining professionalism and integrity. Recognize your value This can be easier said than done, but before you can stand up for yourself, you need to believe that you deserve to. Many people struggle with internalized narratives of self-doubt, which can make them hesitate to speak up. Take stock of your accomplishments, skills, and contributions to the organization. If you consistently meet or exceed expectations, remind yourself that your input and boundaries are just as valid as anyone elses. {"blockType":"creator-network-promo","data":{"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2025\/03\/acupofambition_logo.jpg","headline":"A Cup of Ambition","description":"A biweekly newsletter for high-achieving moms who value having a meaningful career and being an involved parent, by Jessica Wilen. To learn more visit acupofambition.substack.com.","substackDomain":"https:\/\/acupofambition.substack.com","colorTheme":"salmon","redirectUrl":""}} Strengthen your communication skills Assertive communication is key to standing up for yourself. This means expressing your thoughts, needs, and concerns clearly and confidently without aggression or apology. Here are some techniques: Use I statements: Instead of saying, You never listen to me, say, I feel unheard when my ideas are interrupted. Be direct and concise: Avoid excessive justification. A simple, Im unable to take on this additional task right now, is often enough. Maintain a calm tone: Emotional responses can undermine your message. Practice neutral and steady delivery. Leverage body language: Maintain eye contact, use open gestures, and stand tall to project confidence. Say no with confidence Saying no signals that you value your time, energy, and prioritiesand it helps others learn to respect them, too. Without the ability to say no, you risk overcommitting, burning out, and diluting the quality of your work. More importantly, saying no doesnt mean being difficult; it means being clear about what aligns with your goals and values. Practicing it thoughtfully builds confidence, earns respect, and creates space for the work that truly matters. Set and maintain boundaries Boundaries protect your time, energy, and mental health. If you consistently allow yourself to be overworked or disrespected, others will continue pushing your limits. Examples of setting workplace boundaries include: Workload: Im happy to help, but Ill need to deprioritize another task. Which should take precedence? Work hours: I do not check emails after 6 p.m., but Ill address this first thing in the morning. Respectful interaction: Id appreciate it if we could keep our conversations professional. Holding firm on your boundaries may initially cause discomfort, but consistency will reinforce them over time. Address issues directly and professionally When you encounter unfair treatment, dont ignore it and hope it will resolve itself. Instead, approach the issue strategically: Talk one-on-one: If a colleague oversteps, have a private conversation before escalating the matter. Be solution-focused: Instead of just pointing out a problem, suggest a constructive resolution. Keep records: Document incidents of mistreatment or unreasonable expectations in case you need evidence for HR or leadership. Know when to escalate: If direct communication fails, involve a manager or HR with a clear, factual account of the issue. Build a support network Having allies in the workplace can make standing up for yourself less intimidating. Seek mentorship from experienced colleagues, build relationships with coworkers who share your values, and leverage professional networks outside of your company. Develop a resilient mindset Standing up for yourself means accepting that not everyone will like your assertiveness. Some people may resist your boundaries, but that doesnt mean you should back down. Strengthening resilience will help you navigate workplace challenges without internalizing negativity. Strategies include: Reframing rejection: If an idea is dismissed, use feedback to refine it rather than feeling personally attacked. Practicing self-care: Prioritize mental and physical well-being to maintain confidence and energy. Reminding yourself of the bigger picture: Workplace conflicts are temporary; your long-term career growth matters more. Know when to walk away If your boss and coworkers consistently disrespect your boundaries, dismiss your concerns, or create a toxic environment, consider whether staying is worth the emotional toll. Sometimes, standing up for yourself means recognizing when its time to move on to a healthier professional setting. Standing up for yourself at work is a skill that takes time and practice. The key is to balance assertiveness with professionalism, ensuring that you advocate for your needs without alienating colleagues or leadership. By recognizing your value, communicating effectively, and setting clear boundaries, you can cultivate confidence and ensure that you are treated with the respect you deserve. So, grow that backbonenot to be rigid or aggressive, but to stand tall in your worth and carve out the fulfilling career you deserve. {"blockType":"creator-network-promo","data":{"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2025\/03\/acupofambition_logo.jpg","headline":"A Cup of Ambition","description":"A biweekly newsletter for high-achieving moms who value having a meaningful career and bein an involved parent, by Jessica Wilen. To learn more visit acupofambition.substack.com.","substackDomain":"https:\/\/acupofambition.substack.com","colorTheme":"salmon","redirectUrl":""}}
Category:
E-Commerce
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