Coles Myer tastes chili

COLES Myer, Australia's largest retailer, says it has signed a licensing agreement with Texas-based Brinker International Inc to import the successful Chili's Grill & Bar restaurants chain to Australia.

The agreement will allow Coles to open up to 50 of the restaurants in the next seven years, if an initial trial is successful.

''We will be opening the initial test restaurants in Australia early next year and if the format is as successful as we expect, we will roll out this investment across the country,'' said Peter Wilkinson, chief operating officer.

The company is due to report its full-year results tomorrow.