Cafe Rio Mexican Grill’s Sunder: Employee events can attract quality staff and bolster crucial retention rates

The Lagoon amusement park in Farmington, Utah, recently was flooded with patrons all wearing the same white T-shirt that read, “Free Meal”—the everyday slogan for Cafe Rio Mexican Grill, a 16-unit fast-casual chain based in Salt Lake City.

Cafe Rio, with 12 restaurants in Utah, has about 900 employees, but nearly 1,500 showed up for companywide celebration at the amusement park last month. Cafe Rio, which offers a free meal after a customer buys 10, offered a free day at