Outback Steakhouse
| File:Outback Steakhouse logo.svg Logo used since 2006 redesign | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Casual dining restaurant |
| Founded | March 15, 1988 in Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
| Founder | Bob Basham, Chris T. Sullivan, Trudy Cooper, Tim Gannon |
| Headquarters | Tampa, Florida , United States |
Area served | North America, South America, Asia, Australia |
| Products | American-style dishes with Australian theme |
| Owner | Bloomin' Brands |
| Parent | Bloomin' Brands |
| Website | www |
Outback Steakhouse is a U.S.-based casual dining restaurant chain with an Australian theme, specializing in American-style dishes and headquartered in Tampa, Florida. Established on March 15, 1988, by founders Bob Basham, Chris T. Sullivan, Trudy Cooper, and Tim Gannon, the brand operates more than 1,300 outlets spanning 23 countries across North America, South America, Asia, and Australia. Initially under the ownership of OSI Restaurant Partners in the United States, it currently functions as a subsidiary of Bloomin' Brands.
History
The inaugural Outback Steakhouse location launched in Tampa, Florida, in 1988. Canadian operations began in 1996 but encountered difficulties; by 2024, only two outlets remained open in Niagara Falls following closures driven by economic challenges. The chain expanded into Hawaii during the mid-1990s but had closed all three Hawaiian restaurants by February 2024 amid a larger financial restructuring that involved shutting down over 41 underperforming establishments.
Outback also ventured into the United Kingdom with several restaurants but withdrew completely by September 2011 after shuttering its final locations in Basildon and Romford.
In 2006, the brand underwent a refresh with a redesigned logo and initiated a comprehensive renovation program starting in 2008 to modernize its venues and enhance energy efficiency.
On June 14, 2007, OSI Restaurant Partners privatized the company through a stock buyback initiative. Later, in April 2012, Bloomin' Brands filed for an initial public offering aiming to raise up to $300 million and subsequently debuted on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol "BLMN."
The majority of Outback Steakhouse restaurants are owned and operated by Bloomin' Brands directly; however, locations within California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico are managed by the franchisee Out West Restaurant Group.
By October 2021, Outback Steakhouse maintained over 1,300 restaurants globally, including 694 across the United States. The company’s strategy emphasizes steady international growth alongside targeted remodeling efforts to sustain its competitive position within the casual dining sector.
Bloomin' Onion
The Bloomin' Onion stands as Outback’s hallmark appetizer, despite lacking genuine Australian origins and being seldom available outside this chain in Australia. It features an onion sliced to fan out like a flower, coated with breading, deep-fried until crispy, and served accompanied by a mayonnaise-horseradish dipping sauce. Comparable offerings exist at rival chains such as Chili's (Awesome Blossom), Texas Roadhouse (Cactus Blossom), and Lone Star Steakhouse (Texas Rose). The Bloomin' Onion has attracted criticism due to its substantial calorie content, frequently surpassing 1,500 calories.
Community
Outback Steakhouse actively engages with local communities through initiatives like GroupRaise that allow nonprofit organizations to conduct fundraising events at its restaurants. On a national scale, it partners with Heineken USA’s Heineken with a Heart campaign to support various charitable causes.
Political
The corporation and its founders have been notable contributors to the Republican Party through the Outback Steakhouse Political Action Committee (PAC), donating $303,015 in 2000 and $334,197 in 2004. This PAC ranks among the largest donors within the food and beverage industry sector—second only to the National Restaurant Association representing approximately 300,000 dining establishments.
Cage-free eggs
Bloomin' Brands, the parent organization of Outback Steakhouse, pledged in 2022 to transition to exclusively using cage-free eggs in all its outlets by 2030. This objective was successfully met in their U.S. establishments by 2024.
Advertising
- The brand utilizes two blimps, named Bloomin' Onions I and II, which pay homage to their iconic appetizer.
- Outback previously launched an Australian-inspired advertising campaign that incorporated a rendition of the song "Wraith Pinned to the Mist (And Other Games)" by Of Montreal.
- General (Ret) Tommy Franks holds a position on the Board of Directors for OSI Restaurant Partners, Inc., the company that owns Outback Steakhouse.
Sports
Outback Steakhouse served as a sponsor for the Outback Champions Series tennis tournaments and the NCAA football event known as the Outback Bowl until 2020. Additionally, the brand collaborates with the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team, operating a concession stand within Amalie Arena.
Motorsports
Outback began its NASCAR sponsorship in 2012 with driver Ryan Newman and the No. 39 Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing. Newman secured victory in the 2012 Goody's Fast Relief 500 during their initial sponsored race. Promotional offers included a complimentary Bloomin' Onion if Newman finished within the top ten. In 2014, Kevin Harvick took over sponsorship for two races driving the No. 4 car, continuing through his championship-winning season and remaining involved until 2018. Outback stayed as Harvick’s personal sponsor through 2020 and maintained the Blooming Monday promotion until it was discontinued due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier, Outback also sponsored Jeff Gordon’s No. 67 car in the 1990 NASCAR Busch Series.
In September 2023, Outback re-entered NASCAR sponsorship by supporting Stephen Mallozzi, a former restaurant employee, in a Craftsman Truck Series race held at Bristol Motor Speedway.