Bloomin' Brands (BLMN) risk factors, FY2024 10-K

Risks Related to the Restaurant Industry

1. 01Food safety and food-borne illness concerns in our restaurants or throughout the industry or supply chain may have an adverse effect on our business by reducing demand and increasing costs
2. 02The restaurant industry is highly competitive and consumer options for other prepared food offerings continue to expand. Our inability to compete effectively could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations
3. 03Failure to recruit, train and retain high-quality leadership, restaurant-level management and hourly team members may inhibit our ability to operate and grow successfully
4. 04Further, the tight labor market in the United States has further strained and could continue to strain our ability to keep our restaurants fully staffed. If we are unable to attract and retain sufficiently experienced and capable management personnel, our business and financial results may suffer
5. 05The food service industry is affected by consumer preferences and perceptions. Changes in these preferences and perceptions may lessen the demand for our products, which would reduce sales and harm our business
6. 06If our suppliers or distributors are unable to fulfill their obligations under their contracts or we are unable to develop or maintain relationships with these or new suppliers or distributors, if needed, we could encounter supply shortages and incur higher costs
7. 07Our inability or failure to recognize, respond to and effectively manage the accelerated impact of social media could have a material adverse impact on our business

Risks Related to Government Regulation

1. 08We are subject to various federal and state employment and labor laws and regulations
2. 09Our failure to comply with government regulation related to our restaurant operations, and the costs of compliance or non-compliance, could adversely affect our business
3. 10Changes in tax laws, uncertainty in the judicial interpretation of those laws and unanticipated tax liabilities could adversely affect the taxes we pay and our profitability
4. 11If we fail to adequately address corporate citizenship and sustainability matters, it could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and operating results and may damage our reputation

Risks Related to Inflation and Macroeconomic Disruption

1. 12Challenging economic, political and social conditions may have a negative effect on our business and financial results
2. 13Increased commodity, energy and other costs could decrease our profit margins or cause us to limit or otherwise modify our menus or increase prices, which could adversely affect our business

Risks Related to Information Technology, Privacy and Intellectual Property

1. 14Cybersecurity breaches of confidential consumer, personal employee and other material information and other threats to our technological systems may adversely affect our business
2. 15Our failure or inability to enforce our trademarks or other proprietary rights could adversely affect our competitive position or the value of our brand

Risks Related to Our Business Model and Strategy

1. 16We have limited control with respect to the operations of our franchisees, which could have a negative impact on our business
2. 17Risks associated with our remodeling, relocation and expansion plans may have adverse effects on our operating results
3. 18Failure to achieve projected cost savings from our efficiency initiatives could adversely affect our results of operations and eliminate potential funding for growth opportunities
4. 19Our success depends substantially on the value of our brands and our ability to execute innovative marketing and consumer relationship initiatives to maintain brand relevance and drive profitable sales growth
5. 20There are risks and uncertainties associated with strategic actions and initiatives that we may implement, including not realizing the intended benefits of the Brazil Sale Transaction
6. 21We face a variety of risks associated with doing business in foreign markets that could have a negative impact on our financial performance

Risks Related to Our Indebtedness

1. 22Our leverage could adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations or limit our ability to react to changes in the economy or our industry
2. 23We may incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future, subject to the restrictions contained in our credit agreement. If new indebtedness is added to our current debt levels, the related risks that we now face could increase
3. 24Our debt agreements contain restrictions that limit our flexibility in operating our business

Risks Related to Our Common Stock

1. 25Our ability to raise capital in the future may be limited, which could make us unable to fund our capital requirements
2. 26Our stock price is subject to volatility
3. 27Provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Delaware law may discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of our Company or changes in our management and, therefore, may depress the trading price of our stock
4. 28Litigation could have a material adverse impact on our business and our financial performance
5. 29Our insurance policies may not provide adequate levels of coverage against all claims, and fluctuating insurance requirements and costs could negatively impact our profitability
6. 30An impairment in the carrying value of our goodwill or other intangible or long-lived assets could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations
7. 31Failure to maintain effective systems of internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures could adversely affect our business and financial results