DALLAS, Oct. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT) recently honored eight companies at its annual Hospitality Award for Partnership Excellence Banquet. 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(R) Grill & Bar, Romano's Macaroni Grill(R), On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina(R) and Maggiano's Little Italy(R).

Brinker International's 2008 Hospitality Award for Partnership Excellence recipients:

    Iowa Pacific Processors, Inc. - Des Moines, Iowa

    Syracuse's Italian Sausage Company - Ponder, Texas

    Shamrock Foods Company - Phoenix, Ariz.

    Performance Award Center - Carrollton, Texas

    Volunteer Maintenance Company LLC - Knoxville, Tenn.

    Gerdes, Hendrichson & Associates - Dallas, Texas

    TIBCO Software Inc. - Palo Alto, Calif.

    PartnerSource, Inc. - Dallas, Texas

"Each of these award-winning partners has exemplified the true meaning of hospitality in an industry that relies on delivering a first-class guest experience," said Happy Webberman, executive vice president of brand solutions for Brinker International. "These companies have demonstrated they will go above and beyond expectations to improve our restaurants worldwide."

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 1,900 restaurants in 25 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.

SOURCE Brinker International, Inc.