Long known the past 35 years for eclectic artwork hanging on the walls and a menu filled with standard entrees and cocktails, Applebee’s parent company DineEquity has spent the past year reimagining the brand. The executive team has torn up the Applebee’s playbook, sprucing up the chain’s ambience, decor, menu items, and the actual look of the menu and the bar. For instance, Applebee’s is now out their marketing its shareable and pub plate bar snacks, which includes chef inspired dished like sriracha shrimp and churros with chocolate dipping sauce. At the bar, there is every young adult’s favorite – a cocktail with Fireball whiskey coined the fireball whiskey lemonade. The setting in which all of the revamped food is being dished out is also receiving a facelift. A sleeker-looking bar and dining section are in for Applebee’s, on the way out art the cluttered walls and the overly patterned seats. And, DineEquity is poised to take Applebee’s new show on the road, opening up several new international locations this year and next. As of December 31, 2014, there were 26 franchisees that owned a total of only 147 international Applebee’s franchise restaurants. TheStreet sat down with DineEquity’s Chairman and CEO Julia Stewart to discuss the major transformation underway at Applebee’s, and whether hot fast casual restaurants like Shake Shack were just a fad.
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