For DineEquity CEO Julia Stewart, changing the brand loyalty story at Applebee’s is a major priority for 2016.
During Wednesday’s fourth-quarter conference call for DineEquity−which owns and operates IHOP and Applebee’s restaurants−Stewart noted that IHOP finished the year on a strong note, posting a 4.5% increase in comp sales, up from a solid 3.9% increase last year.
Although Applebee’s full-year comp sales were slightly positive and in line with company full-year guidance, “the results were....