Welcome to Fast Bites, I’m your host. Today, we’re asking: can mozzarella sticks save America’s fast-casual restaurants? Across the sector, chains from Red Lobster to BurgerFi have felt the pinch of inflation and rising menu prices, with some filing for bankruptcy and others reporting lackluster results. But Chili’s has bucked the trend, posting a 31 percent sales jump and nearly 20 percent traffic growth in Q2 2025. CEO Kevin Hochman credits a social-media blitz around its Triple Dipper and those cult-favorite mozzarella sticks. As he told investors, interest “doubled year-over-year,” climbing from 7 to 14 percent of total sales. Now TGI Friday’s is betting it can do the same. Under CEO Ray Blanchette, Friday’s will overhaul 85 percent of its menu, spotlight new cocktails, and roll out sauced sticks in Buffalo, Garlic Parmesan, and Whiskey Glaze. “For us, mozzarella sticks are not a trend,” Blanchette says. The question now: will these cheesy finger foods bring diners back? Thanks for listening to Fast Bites.
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