As traffic data and intra-quarter commentary indicated, U.S. comp-sales deteriorated QoQ by -110bps for a -1.4% decline for Q4. Advan Research data showed a -136bps deterioration in traffic and -115bps in spend*. However, since the E. coli scare in October , the traffic and sales trend has improved as shown in the chart above. CEO Kris Kempczinski stated, “The U.S. food safety issue is now largely behind us, and we expect to have fully recovered by the beginning of Q2.

The casual dining scene in the U.S. has been a rollercoaster over the past two years, with some brands struggling to keep pace while others have found ways to thrive. Chili’s, Texas Roadhouse, and The Cheesecake Factory have all experienced their ups and downs, but Chili’s recent turnaround stands out the most. At the start of 2023, things weren’t looking great for Chili’s. Foot traffic according to Advan’s intelligence was down, with year-over-year restaurant visits slipping into negative territory for much of the year.