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American casual dining chain Chili's is preparing to enter the UK for the first time as the US restaurant giant looks to expand its global footprint.

The Dallas-based brand, which operates more than 1,600 restaurants across 30 countries, is seeking franchise partners to launch sites across Britain, signalling its intent to break into the competitive UK dining market.

Founded in 1975, the Tex-Mex-inspired chain serves more than one million customers every day worldwide with a menu centred around Southwestern and Texas-style comfort food.

Signature dishes include Sizzling Fajitas, Big Mouth Burgers and Baby Back Ribs, alongside fried chicken, seafood and shareable appetisers.

The restaurants are known for their lively, American diner-style atmosphere, described in franchise materials as an "immersive, energetic environment" designed to appeal to a broad range of diners.

According to information published by The Franchising Centre, Chili's is now actively looking for UK partners to bring the brand to British high streets and retail parks.

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The company says its franchise model allows investors to tailor menus and service formats to suit local markets, while benefiting from the brand's established systems and international support network.

Potential franchisees would gain access to a proven business model, global operational support, flexible restaurant designs and a technology platform designed to streamline operations, alongside ongoing menu development and branding innovation.

An announcement on Which Franchise also highlighted the chain's strong performance in recent years.

It said: "Despite COVID challenges, Chili's results exceeded expectations. Chili's outperformed the casual dining industry in both sales (+8.8%) and customer counts (+15.5%).

"We opened 17 new restaurants, 10 in the US and two internationally, alongside more than 1,000 owned and operated It's Just Wings virtual brand locations."