RISE - Menu Monitor

Applebee’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill and Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers launched contests that asked customers to
create a new burger that would be available on their menus for a limited time. Other restaurants such as Red Robin and Dairy
Queen are using this contest technique, indicating that this could be the beginning of a marketing trend. (Nation’s Restaurant
News 7/3/07 p1)
Applebee’s added Ultimate Trios to its menu, allowing customers to choose any three appetizers for $10.99. Selections
include Dynamite Shrimp, Tuscan Cheese Spread, Crispy Fiesta Wrappers, Mozzarella Sticks, Mini Bacon Cheeseburgers,
Steak Quesadilla Towers and Boneless Buffalo Wings. (Company Website)
Applebee’s introduced its Bruschetta Burger, made with 100% Angus beef, topped with zesty pesto sauce, bruschetta mix and
wedges of mozzarella, and served on grilled focaccia bread. (Company Website)
International Activities |
Applebee’s International Inc. plans to open its first unit in China on October 26. The restaurant will open in downtown
Shanghai. (Reuters 10/24/07)
Personnel |
Steve Lumpkin, CFO
David Parsley, V.P. of Purchasing
Carin Stutz, E.V.P. of Operations
Phil Crimmins, V.P. of Development
Applebee’s International hired George Williams as chief marketing officer. Previously, Williams served as senior vice president
of marketing for Blockbuster Inc. (Company Release 2/8/07)
Applebee’s franchisee Apple-Metro Inc. hired Miguel Fernandez as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
Previously, Fernandez served as Applebee’s Senior Vice President for Operations. (Nation’s Restaurant News 9/3/07)
IHOP Corp. plans to realign its organizational structure following its pending buyout of Applebee’s. Eight senior officials at
Applebee’s International Inc., including president and chief executive Dave Goebel, will leave the company. In addition,
several Applebee’s executives have not been asked to stay on after the merger, including chief financial officer Steve
Lumpkin. IHOP says the realignments are necessary because Applebee’s will become a franchisor without any restaurant
operations. (Nation’s Restaurant News Daily NewsFax 11/08/07)
News & Other |
Applebee’s International Inc. reported November same-store sales decreased 3.1%. (Company Release 11/27/06)
Applebee’s International institutional investor Breeden Capital Management nominated four candidates for the company’s
board at the 2007 annual shareholders meeting. Breeden Capital, a Greenwich, CT-based investment fund, believes new
board members will be a step toward improving the chain’s financial performance and return to investors. Breeden is
suggesting that Applebee’s cut spending and unit numbers. (Wall Street Journal 12/12/06; Kansas City Business Journal
12/11/06)
Applebee’s International Inc. reported December same-store sales increased 0.2%. (Company Release 1/8/07)
Applebee’s International Inc. reported January same-store sales decreased 5.8%. (Company Release 1/31/07)
Applebee’s International Inc. reported for the fourth quarter ended December 31 net earnings fell 9.7% to $18.5 million from
$20.5 million for the same period last year. Revenues increased 13.9% to $342 million from $300.1 million. Same-store sales
declined 1.1%. For The year ended December 31 net earnings declined 20.5% to $80.9 million from $101.8 million. Revenues
rose 8.3% to $1.3 billion from $1.2 billion. Same-store sales decreased 0.6%. (Company Release 2/14/07)
©Technomic Information Services 2007, CIS profiles may not be copied or distributed in any print or electronic format without a license or written consent.
Technomic believes that its sources of information are reliable, but does not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy of the information
published.
14