Brinker International Recognizes 2007 Outstanding Supplier Partners

By: Brinker International | 1,014 Shares 147 Reads

DALLAS, Oct 04, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT) recently honored 11 companies with its annual Outstanding Supplier Partner Awards. The honorees were selected from a pool of more than 1,000 supplier partners who provide services to Brinker International and its four restaurant brands: Chili's Grill & Bar(R), Romano's Macaroni Grill(R), On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina(R), and Maggiano's Little Italy(R).

Winners were selected based on exceptional performance against a number of metrics, including product innovation and savings, performance in third-party audits, compliance with product specifications, order fulfillment and on-time deliveries, quality assurance and customer service.



Brinker International's 2007 Outstanding Supplier Partner Award recipients: 





     -- Ben E. Keith, Fort Worth, TX (http://www.benekeith.com) -- Ben E.

        Keith is considered by many to be the gold standard broadline

        distributor in the industry, and the company has been a Brinker

        supplier partner for more than 15 years. BEK is one of Brinker's

        largest distributors serving more than 400 restaurants out of four

        provider locations.



     -- CH Robinson Worldwide, Inc., Plano, TX (http://www.chrobinson.com)

        -- CH Robinson is the Brinker frozen freight consolidator for many

        regions including Houston, Dallas-Ft. Worth and Oklahoma. CHR has been

        a Brinker supplier partner for more than five years and continues to

        support Brinker for weekly deliveries and emergencies.



     -- Constellation Wines US, Metaire, LA (http://www.cwinesus.com) -- A

        four-year Brinker supplier partner, Constellation currently has 24

        wine placements in Brinker brands, including the Macaroni Grill House

        Wine collection.



     -- Enodis Corporation, New Port Richey, FL (http://www.enodis.com)

        -- Enodis is the parent company for many of the top equipment

        manufacturers in the industry. Enodis has provided extensive support

        service for several Brinker projects, including new equipment

        development.



     -- E-Source Equipment Hospitality, Irving, TX (http://www.esequip.com)

        -- E-source is an equipment manufacturers' group representing many

        Brinker vendors. The company works to address everything from price

        quote requests to warranty service claims and modifying plans for

        openings. E-Source provides Brinker with a support team that interacts

        with restaurants, designers, buyers and purchasing agents.



     -- Freeland & Kauffman, Inc., Greenville, SC (http://www.fk-inc.com)

        -- Freeland & Kauffman is a civil engineering firm that provides

        efficient delivery of civil construction documents. It has completed

        more than 200 projects for Brinker during its 12 year relationship.



     -- Freedman Meats, Dallas, TX -- Freedman Meats has been a Brinker

        supplier partner for more than 12 years. Freedman currently provides

        quality beef products to all Brinker brands. Brinker also works

        closely with Freedman on new product development.



     -- Jerry Kachel Builders, Inc., Spring, TX -- Jerry Kachel Builders

        consistently fulfill the high standards that are expected from Brinker

        contractors. As exemplified by the award, Kachel Builders ranked at

        the top of other general contractors who constructed new Brinker

        restaurants within the past year.



     -- Lennox Industries, Richardson, TX (http://www.lennox.com) -- Lennox

        has worked with Brinker for the last 11 years, and in that time, it

        has provided outstanding products and services including equipment

        research forums and development of the first demand ventilation system

        in casual dining.



     -- Manzo Food Sales, Inc. (http://www.manzofood.com) -- Manzo Foods

        provides Brinker restaurants with Italian products including olive

        oil, buffalo mozzarella, pasta, balsamic vinegar and biscotti. Manzo

        also sponsors trips to Italy for Brinker general managers and other

        team members so they can experience the culture and understand how

        their products are made.



     -- The Wasserstrom Company, Columbus, OH (http://www.wasserstrom.com)

        -- Wasserstrom provides nationwide and international small wares

        distribution service for all Brinker brands. A valued Brinker supplier

        partner for more than 10 years, Wasserstrom offers re-supply service,

        along with new restaurant opening packages and product roll-outs.

"Our award winning supplier partners continue to meet and exceed the high standards our guests have come to expect from Brinker," said Happy Webberman, Executive Vice President of Brand Solutions. "These awards serve as a meaningful 'thank you' for all the great work they do."

Brinker International, Inc. is one of the world's leading casual dining restaurant companies, serving more than 1 million guests daily. Founded in 1975 and based in Dallas, Texas, Brinker owns or franchises more than 1,800 restaurants in 24 countries and employs more than 120,000. Brinker restaurant brands include Chili's Grill & Bar, Romano's Macaroni Grill, On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina and Maggiano's Little Italy. The company was named one of FORTUNE Magazine's Most Admired Companies in 2006 and was honored by the magazine as one of the Top 50 Employers for Minorities and the Top 50 Employers for Women. For more information visit http://www.brinker.com.

CONTACT: Media Relations

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