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Applebee’s Celebrates Excellence in Restaurant Performance, Innovation, and Community Engagement at Annual Franchise Conference

By: Applebee's Neighborhood Grill + Bar |  1 Shares     166 Reads

Brand raised more than $100,000 for Bill Palmer Legacy Scholarship Fund benefiting Restaurant Team Members and Their Children

October 22, 2024 // Franchising.com // PASADENA, Calif.– Applebee’s recently hosted its 2024 Franchise Conference in Nashville, focusing on future growth strategies, collaboration with franchisee and supplier partners, and recognizing outstanding restaurant performance, community involvement, and partnerships. The event also featured a live and silent auction, raising more than $100,000 for the Bill Palmer Legacy Scholarship Fund.

“At Applebee’s, our team and talented franchisees are committed to being the good in both our guests’ and team members’ day, every day,” said Tony Moralejo, Applebee’s President. “Each year at our annual conference, we come together to discuss brand strategy, fundraise for the Bill Palmer Legacy Scholarship Fund, and celebrate each other’s wins. I can’t wait to share all that’s in store as Applebee’s celebrates 45 years of Eatin’ Good in the Neighborhood in 2025.”

Established in 2021 by Applebee’s and its franchisee, Neighborhood Restaurant Partners, to honor Applebee’s late Founder, Bill Palmer, the Bill Palmer Legacy Scholarship Fund provides scholarships for both Applebee’s Team Members and their children. Since its founding, the Fund has awarded nearly $1.2M to more than 200 students throughout the United States. Applications for the 2025 scholarship will be available to current Applebee’s Team Members and their children in December. For more information, visit LearnMore.ScholarsApply.org/BillPalmer.

In addition to fundraising for its scholarship program, Applebee’s recognized this year’s franchisees who are committed to brand success, guest service, operational excellence, and community involvement.

The 2024 top award winners included:

Abe Gustin Franchisee of the Year: The Rose Group

This award is in honor of the man who helped Applebee’s become one of the nation’s most iconic brands in casual dining and recognizes a franchisee that embodies what it means to be Eatin’ Good and Doin’ Good in the Neighborhood. This year’s Franchisee of the Year is The Rose Group for its people-first culture driving results and operational excellence as well as stewardship among the Applebee’s franchisee community in business, marketing, technology, and more. The Rose Group celebrated its 30th anniversary as an Applebee’s franchisee at this year’s conference and first won this award in 1997.

Restaurant General Manager of the Year: Somer Whitehead, SSCP Management  

Applebee’s acknowledges that the most important people in its organization are the General Managers who lead the more than 1,500 restaurant teams across the country. At this year’s conference, Applebee’s recognized the top 16 restaurant General Managers in its system: awarding Somer Whitehead as 2024 General Manager of the Year. An Executive Training General Manager for franchisee, SSCP Management for more than 24 years, Whitehead oversees multiple restaurants, including the Canton, TX. Applebee’s.

Lloyd Hill Neighbor of the Year: Doherty Enterprises

This award, named after one of the brand’s historic leaders, celebrates an Applebee’s franchisee that has displayed a tremendous amount of love, compassion, and care for their neighbors through a variety of causes, activities, and initiatives. This year’s recipient is Doherty Enterprises for its steadfast commitment to Doin’ Good in the Neighborhood in partnership with local organizations. This year, Doherty Enterprises donated more than $3 million to various community and philanthropic organizations including Toys for Tots, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, American Cancer Society, Angela’s House, and more.

Bill Palmer Heart of Applebee’s: SSCP Management

This award is named after the founder of the Applebee’s brand and recognizes a franchisee that has shown the greatest commitment to an individual cause or organization over this past year. The 2024 recipient of this award is SSCP Management for their outstanding work with local schools through their Stuff the Bus programs in California, Texas, and Virginia. Since beginning its Stuff the Bus initiative in 2022, SSCP Management has donated more than $100,000 and countless school supplies to schools in need.

Hometown Hero of the Year: Sonya Kataura, Flynn Group

This award recognizes an hourly restaurant Team Member who provides great service to guests and goes above and beyond to make a lasting impact in their local community. This year’s recipient is Sonya Kataura from Beaverton, OR. A server for Applebee’s franchisee Flynn Group for the past six years, Sonya’s ability to make personal connections with guests is unparalleled. Her giving nature led her to adopt two children from the foster care system, as well as participate with Habitat for Humanity in building her own home as well as houses for others.

About Applebee's®

As one of the world’s largest casual dining brands, Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar serves as America’s kitchen table, offering guests a lively dining experience that combines simple, craveable American fare with classic drinks and local drafts. Applebee’s makes it easy for family and friends to connect with one another, whether it’s in a dining room or in the comfort of a living room, Eatin’ Good in the Neighborhood™ is a familiar and affordable escape from the everyday. Applebee's restaurants are owned and operated by entrepreneurs dedicated to more than serving great food, but also building up the communities that we call home. From raising money for local charities to hosting community fundraisers, Applebee’s is always Doin’ Good in the Neighborhood®. Applebee’s franchise operations consisted of 1,625 Applebee’s restaurants in the United States, two U.S. territories and 12 countries outside the United States as of June 30, 2024. This number does not include one domestic Applebee’s ghost kitchens (small kitchens with no store-front presence, used to fill off-premise orders) and eight Applebee’s international ghost kitchens. Applebee's is franchised by subsidiaries of Dine Brands Global Inc. [NYSE: DIN], which is one of the world's largest full-service restaurant companies.

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