Movies

Big Changes Coming to Chili’s — Here’s What We Know

BBG News

Due to financial constraints, American households have significantly decreased their frequency of eating out over the past few years.

Even though many other chain restaurants are struggling, I can’t help but marvel at how Chili’s continues to shine, doing exceptionally well in the dining scene.

Based on Nation’s Restaurant News reports, Brinker International Inc., the company behind Chili’s, saw a significant surge of 31.4% in their sales from the same stores during the quarter that ended on December 25, 2024.

Given this enormous jump in profits, they will have the unique opportunity to modernize and enhance every one of their outlets!

Rather than keeping the earnings for themselves, Chili’s will reinvest the funds directly into the company by purchasing advanced kitchen equipment. This new equipment is expected to enhance the flavor of the meals and speed up preparation time as well.

Kevin Hochman, CEO of Brinker International, announced they will speed up the process of transforming their remaining restaurants into ones equipped with Turbo Chef ovens, which employ advanced cooking techniques for faster cooking compared to traditional ovens.

Beyond this, Chili’s isn’t just planning on enhancing the experience for their customers, but they aim to improve the working conditions for their staff as well.

As a cinephile, I must say, those modern cooking appliances aren’t merely speeding up and enhancing the culinary process; they also generate less heat, ensuring our kitchen stays cool and comfy for everyone working in it.

As a devoted follower, I can’t help but feel a surge of excitement as our same-store profits soar, enabling us to plow these earnings back into our business strategy. This growth trajectory is undeniably going to ramp up the competition for chains like Applebee’s. It’s an exhilarating time to be part of this culinary revolution!

Snacks from the ’90s That Have Disappeared

Fruitopia

In 1994, Coca-Cola introduced Fruitopia as a response to the Snapple craze sweeping through companies. It remained on shelves until 2003 when it started being gradually discontinued, but certain flavors can still be found under the Minute Maid brand.

Orbitz Drink

Introduced in 1997, Orbitz didn’t have a long lifespan. Numerous consumers found the drink visually reminiscent of a Lava Lamp and sales remained low. The product was pulled from stores in 1998, but sealed bottles are now sought after as collector’s items.

Pepsi Blue

Although Berry Flavored Soda debuted in 2002 instead of the ’90s, its name and association with popular culture during that era make it incredibly reminiscent of the ’90s. Despite a significant marketing campaign by celebrities like Britney Spears, the drink was discontinued in the U.S. in 2004. However, it continues to be available on Philippine shelves today.

Ecto Cooler Hi-C

Initially, when Hi-C decided to produce a beverage to publicize the 1984 film Ghostbusters, it wasn’t anticipated to become a long-term product. However, high demand and a multitude of thirsty children kept this item in stock until 2001, at which point it was rebranded with a new flavor name.

It resurfaced for a short period in 2016 when another Ghostbusters movie came out, but it didn’t make it through the entire year.

Jolt Cola

Introduced in 1985, Jolt Cola served as an early version of energy drinks. Its marketing slogan, “Packing double the caffeine and twice the sugar,” indicates its aim to energize even the most exhausted individuals. In the 1995 film “Hackers”, a mock advertisement labeled it as the preferred beverage for the elite hacker community. Today, you can still find it under the name Jolt Energy.

Surge Soda

Maintain the caffeine buzz! Introduced in 1997, this citrus-flavored soda was designed as a rival for Mountain Dew. However, it was discontinued in 2003 in many markets. Since then, fans have been asking Coca-Cola to reintroduce it. In response, they briefly brought it back in collaboration with Amazon.

Shark Bites Fruit Snacks

1988 saw the arrival of my lunch box level-up with the iconic Shark Bites. Available in various shark shapes and vibrant colors such as red, orange, yellow, purple, and white, the Great White, in its all-white glory, was my most coveted snack at the table. The hammerhead ones weren’t too shabby either!

However, I must disagree with Betty Crocker on their assertion that the modern Shark Bites taste just like the originals. As a father who has occasionally dipped into my children’s stash, I can confidently say that they have lost some of their original charm and flavor.

Pop-Tarts Crunch Cereal

Starting your day back then with 45 Pop-Tarts might have seemed fantastic when I was just 7 years old. Introduced in 1994 following instances where people were crushing their Pop-Tarts and adding them to milk, this product failed to capture consumer’s hearts. Available in Strawberry and Brown Sugar flavors, it was discontinued from the market in 1995.

3D Doritos

1998 saw the debut of the 3D Doritos, which resembled Bugles but remained true to their identity as Doritos. Additionally, Doritos introduced the “WOW!” version in the late ’90s, advertising them as a “fat-free” chip. However, these chips were manufactured with Olestra, leading to stomach problems for many customers. On a positive note, the 3D Doritos made a comeback in 2020 and now come in several flavors.

First introduced in 1998, the 3D Dorito looked much like a Bugle but was still distinctly a Dorito. In the late ’90s, Doritos launched a “fat-free” version known as the WOW! Dorito. Unfortunately, these chips were made with Olestra, causing issues for many consumers with various stomach problems. However, the 3D Dorito reappeared in 2020 and is now available in multiple flavors.

Creme Savers Candy

In 1996, a derivative of Life Savers called Creme Savers made its debut on store shelves. It offered various flavors such as Apple Pie, Strawberry, Orange and Creme, Pina Colada, and more. However, unlike its predecessor, it didn’t achieve the same level of popularity and was removed from stores in 2011. Yet, it returned to store shelves in 2021 and continues to be available today.

Butterfinger BB’s

Back in 1992, there was nothing more ’90s than Butterfingers and Bart & Homer Simpson. These treats were essentially tiny Butterfingers wrapped with Bart Simpson on them.

They stayed popular for quite some time, but eventually, they stopped production in 2006. To everyone’s disappointment, when Butterfinger reintroduced the miniature version in 2009, they didn’t come with any Simpsons characters.

Altoid Sours

In 2001, I, a creator of robustly minty treats, ventured into the realm of sweetness with a tangy line. For almost a decade, these metallic tin candies remained popular until they were removed from stores in 2010, owing to dwindling sales.

The Best ’80s Happy Meal Toys

Fast Macs (1985)

As a child from the ’80s, merely gazing at these vehicles could spark a memory rush. The “Fast Macs” were pullback cars, each featuring one of four McDonald’s character drivers: The Hamburglar in his roadster, Big Mac patrolling in a squad car, Birdie the Early Bird cruising in a sun cruiser, and last but not least, Ronald McDonald driving his runabout. The packaging boasted they would perform “crazy zany zooms, silly spins, wild wheelies, and loony loops” when pulled back. I don’t recall any of them living up to the hype in terms of zaniness, but I still enjoyed gathering them all the same.

An American Tail (1986)

80’s children, being naturally wary of non-toy prizes in Happy Meals, found these small storybooks particularly appealing at a time when they were captivated by the animated movie “An American Tail”. This movie, featuring a mouse named Fievel who gets separated from his family during their emigration from Russia to America, was extremely popular in 1986 and even inspired the famous ’80s pop song “Somewhere Out There”. Unfortunately, merchandise related to “An American Tail” was not easy to find. However, these Happy Meal books filled that gap perfectly.

Stomper Trucks (1986)

In the early 1980s, battery-operated toy cars known as Stompers were introduced. Despite becoming largely obsolete by the end of the decade, they remained quite popular in 1986, when they collaborated with McDonald’s for a promotion involving eight distinct “push-along trucks.” Unlike the regular Stompers, these toys from the Happy Meal were powered not by batteries, but by children pushing them.

LEGO (1986)

Undeniably, those four LEGO sets from the past appear quite basic compared to today’s standards. However, in 1986, these were an exciting addition to a Happy Meal toy. It wasn’t just about building and reassembling them, but also due to the fact that the pieces could be mixed and matched in countless ways or simply added to your personal collection of various LEGO bricks. (A quick reminder: Most kids from the 80s didn’t have completed LEGO structures on display; instead, they had a box filled with random blocks that they occasionally built with and then left scattered on the floor for their parents to accidentally step on.)

The Real Ghostbusters (1987)

For many years, I had a Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man pencil sharpener as part of my school supplies. It was a beloved item that, like a hero, sharpened countless pencils for me without ever causing harm to any church. When its service came to an end, the blue and red paint on it had faded and flaked off, leaving dark stains from years of graphite exposure. It wasn’t until I was researching for this piece that I discovered this particular pencil sharpener was actually a prize from a Happy Meal assortment themed around The Real Ghostbusters. Most kids would have been disappointed to receive a pencil or notepad instead of a toy Ecto-1 back then, and rightfully so. But that Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man pencil sharpener sure does bring back memories for me.

Muppet Babies (1987)

Many Happy Meal toys from the 1980s were designed with two parts, typically a figurine and a vehicle. This design choice was likely driven by a tactical reason: The interchangeable components gave children an added incentive to revisit McDonald’s to accumulate more toys. One of the earliest sets in this style were based on the popular animated series “Muppet Babies“, offering four distinct characters (Kermit, Gonzo, Piggy, and Fozzie) along with four interchangeable ride-on accessories. Just how many ’80s children developed a lasting interest in toy collecting due to social pressure to own every single “Muppet Babies” Happy Meal figure?

The Berenstain Bears (1987)

In that same year, McDonald’s presented a comparable line of toys and vehicles for the beloved television show “The Berenstain Bears,” which was airing on CBS at the time. Children were thrilled to collect figures of Papa, Mama, Brother, and Sister, often sparking debates over whether the family’s last name was spelled Berenstain or Berenstein.

That year saw McDonald’s unveiling a similar collection of toys and vehicles for “The Berenstain Bears,” which was enjoying popularity as an animated series on CBS. The figures included Papa, Mama, Brother, and Sister, causing kids to frequently dispute the correct spelling of their last name, whether it was Berenstain or Berenstein.

Boats ’N Floats (1987)

In the 1980s, McDonald’s occasionally swapped out the conventional Happy Meal packaging for the prize itself. For instance, the “Boats ‘N Floats” of 1987 replaced the standard Happy Meal box with a hollow, two-piece plastic pool toy decorated with popular McDonald’s characters. Although it might seem funny to use a Happy Meal in a large body of water, these toys were quite popular. If you lived during the ’80s, chances are you had one or two of these lying around, ready to add some fun to your bath time.

Halloween Pails (Various)

Without a doubt, nothing embodies the essence of a Happy Meal prize quite like their Halloween-themed buckets. Introduced in 1986, they quickly became an essential part of the Happy Meal for many years, even if they took a short break in the mid-2010s before reappearing again. Over the years, these buckets have donned numerous designs, but it’s the classic trio – an orange pumpkin, a green witch, and a white ghost – that is most fondly remembered. Just looking at them brings back a whiff of nostalgia, reminiscent of old Halloween candies and cheap plastic toys.

New Food Changeables (1987)

In the 1980s, Transformers and Go-Bots sparked a craze for transforming toys. McDonald’s joined the trend by launching their line of “Changeables” in Happy Meals. These miniature replicas of McDonald’s food items could transform into robots, although they may seem primitive now. However, in 1989, these toys were incredibly popular among kids. They were fiercely collected, traded, and coveted by children who hoped to amass the entire set. Unfortunately, achieving this goal was challenging due to the random nature of the toy inclusions in Happy Meals. The Changeables were first introduced in 1987, reappeared with new characters in 1989, and returned again in 1990, featuring dinosaurs instead of robots.

Oliver & Company (1988)

Nowadays, parents often voice concerns about the Disney marketing juggernaut being all-pervasive. It seems that every movie is accompanied by an array of dolls, toys, clothing, bedsheets, toothbrushes, pesticides, floor cleaners, and countless other licensed items. In contrast, the 1980s were a more straightforward era, and sometimes, the only place children could find toys for the latest Disney movie was in a McDonald’s Happy Meal. Items like these Oliver & Company finger puppets, which might have otherwise been considered cheap trinkets, became cherished childhood mementos. (Come on, who wouldn’t want a Billy Joel finger puppet? That thing is invaluable!)

Fraggle Rock (1988)

As time went by, I noticed a change in the Happy Meal toys – instead of receiving separate vehicle and figurine sets, I started getting combined items, usually a themed vehicle with a tiny, stationary figure inside. These weren’t as collectible or versatile for play since they could only move around or stay parked, but they were still thoughtfully designed, like the Fraggle Rock cars where each miniature Muppet character seemed to be driving a different vegetable-shaped car. Although I don’t remember the Fraggles spending much time cruising in veggie vehicles on the show, it has been quite some time since I last watched it.

McNugget Buddies (1988)

In the ’80s, one of the iconic Happy Meal toys was the McNugget Buddies – small, stationary plastic McNuggets that came with various changeable outfits. The initial selection included a policeman, firefighter, cowboy, and rock star, serving as a marketing strategy to introduce Happy Meals featuring Chicken McNuggets instead of cheeseburgers.

The appeal of these toys was immense, compelling McDonald’s to reintroduce them in new forms periodically. The concept was revived once again in 2023, this time as a collectible item for adults, in collaboration with artist Kerwin Frost.

Mickey’s Birthdayland (1989)

The strategic alliance between Disney and McDonald’s reached new levels when they introduced a Happy Meal featuring beloved Disney characters like Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Pluto. This promotion coincided with the debut of the new Mickey’s Birthdayland area at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. Although I used to spend hours playing with my Mickey in his red car as a child, I find myself asking: What connection do these generic cars have to “Birthdayland”? Additionally, it seems questionable that a dog is driving a car in this setting, given the safety concerns involved.

Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers (1989)

In the same year, McDonald’s introduced cars modeled after the famous Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers TV series. The characters were permanently attached to these vehicles, which resembled creatively transformed household items. However, children could change the parts such as propellers and rotors on these cars. This feature encouraged kids to repeatedly persuade their parents to return to the restaurant for more visits. And in my home, it proved quite effective.

Read More

2025-01-31 22:25

Previous post Sundance’s top prizes go to ‘Atropia’ and ‘Seeds’
Next post Christina Haack Spotted Kissing New Beau After Emotional Split from Josh Hall!