Applebee's, IHOP parent weighing joint restaurants for US market

The company said there are eight IHOP-Applebee's dual-branded restaurants outside the US

Ever crave Applebee’s and IHOP at the same time? U.S. consumers could potentially get their fix of both at dual-branded restaurants in the future.

Dine Brands Global, the corporate parent of the two chains, is "contemplat[ing] introducing this concept" of joint IHOP-Applebee’s restaurants in America, CEO John Peyton told analysts and investors last week.

The concept for the dual-branded IHOP-Applebee’s locations features "a shared back of house and a combined and blended front of house for the two brands," he said. 

Applebee's restaurant Idaho

Dine Brands Global is considering joint IHOP-Applebee's restaurants in the U.S. market. (Don & Melinda Crawford/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Dine Brands most recently launched one in Leon, Mexico, in January, which Peyton said "represents a compelling opportunity for further growth since Mexico is one of our largest international markets." It also has seven others in international markets.

APPLEBEE'S CUSTOMERS COMPLAIN AFTER DATE NIGHT PASS SELLS OUT IMMEDIATELY

Ticker Security Last Change Change %
DIN DINE BRANDS GLOBAL INC. 32.73 +0.21 +0.65%

The Dine Brands CEO said in a statement to FOX Business that the company "will continue to monitor the success of this test concept and will consider options for further expansion in the U.S. in select locations if and when it makes sense to do so."

Applebee's and IHOP

An IHOP and an Applebee's are neighbors in Elgin Illinois. (Scott Olson / Getty Images)

The eight existing joint IHOP-Applebee’s locations have performed well in their international markets, according to Dine Brands.

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On last week’s earnings call, Peyton said the company had observed "on average… that the revenues for the same size box as one brand or the other is two times or more what it was before, what you would expect, because with the two brands, we can address all four day parts."

The IHOP brand consisted of nearly 1,800 restaurants worldwide at the end of 2023, according to Dine Brands. Meanwhile, Applebee’s had over 1,600. 

An IHOP sign

A hiring sign is up at an IHOP in Hallandale, Florida, on Sept. 21, 2021. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images)

The former chain saw its comparable same-restaurant sales rise 1.6% year over year in the fourth quarter, while the latter posted a 0.5% drop, Dine Brands said last week.

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The company, which Peyton has helmed for about three years, also operates Fuzzy’s Taco Shop. 

Dine Brands Global