netrashetty
Netra Shetty
Applebee’s International, Inc. is an American company which develops, franchises, and operates the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar restaurant chain. As of November 2010, there were 2,000 restaurants operating system-wide in the United States, one U.S. territory and 16 other countries.[2] The company's headquarters are in Lenexa, Kansas.
The Applebee's concept focuses on casual dining with mainstream American dishes such as salads, shrimp, chicken, pasta, and "riblets" (which is considered Applebee's signature dish). All Applebee's restaurants feature a bar area and serve alcoholic beverages (except where prohibited by law).
In November 2007, IHOP announced that it had completed a $1.9 billion purchase of the Applebee's chain.[3]
The Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers (CHART) today announced the recipient of the 2005 Commitment to People Award as Julia Stewart, president and chief executive officer of IHOP Corp.
Stewart will be honored at the Commitment to People Awards Gala on Monday evening, July 25, 2005, during CHART’s 70h semi-annual hospitality training conference, to be held at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers in Boston, Massachusetts.
“Beyond personal and professional development, Julia places a tremendous emphasis on the happiness and well being of IHOP’s employees,” said Joleen Flory-Lundgren, SPHR, FMP, vice president of human resources and training for Famous Dave’s of America and CHART president. “Julia’s management style is one of collaboration and inclusion, and she extends her employee commitment to include the franchisees and vendor partners of IHOP. She clearly recognizes that the combined efforts of these three groups are re-energizing the company.”
After joining IHOP in 2001, 34-year restaurant industry veteran Stewart proceeded systematically to create a culture based on individual accountability, core values, regular and timely communication and demonstrating appreciation. “Employees have the need to be developed and coached on an ongoing basis. The employees in the IHOP system have a strong desire to excel and deliver the best in guest service. It is our responsibility to provide them with the tools they need for success. This is why I have challenged our training and development department to reach all 70,000 employees in our system every 60 days with best in class training,” said Stewart.
“Under Julia’s leadership, the training team is challenged to provide world class programs that support the development of people and the performance of the company,” said John Isbell, director of training and development. “From accountability training to non-traditional learning opportunities like stress management and financial planning; from new franchisee training and product promotion training with a hospitality focus to the establishment of IHOP University, the development needs of employees are met at every state of their career.”
The Commitment to People Award spotlights the head of an industry organization who clearly and consistently demonstrates a commitment to the development of people. The award selection committee reviewed and ranked the Commitment to People nominees in four categories: •Effective communication of the organization’s culture; •Programs that demonstrate a commitment to people; •Efforts to be involved in the development of people; and •Ability to break down barriers to create opportunities.
Applebee's prexy shatters the glass ceiling, breaks down barriers for women
Julia Stewart didn't just tap against the glass ceiling; she shattered it with a frying pan.
In an industry where top-level female executives are about as common as an IRS agent with a sense of humor, she has the distinction of heading Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar, the largest casual-dining brand in the world. Stewart's charge is a chain that encompasses nearly 1,200 restaurants and generates annual sales in excess of $2 billion.
In her post at Applebee's, she also claims membership to a small roster of women in upper management who oversee large restaurant brands -- a conspicuously short list that includes Jackie Trujillo of Harman Management, Leslie Christon of On The Border, Hala Moddelimog of Churchs and Nancy Parker of Sportservice.
"There aren't many of us," she admits. "But [the status of women executives] has come a long way since I first began in this business. Fortunately, for most of my career, there weren't what I would call intolerable situations when men reported to me, but believe me, I have had my moments."
Throughout her 20-year career she has tried to ease future barriers of entry for female executives in the industry as a founding member and past president of the Women's Foodservice Forum.
As a 16-year-old high-schooler waiting tables at IHOP, Julia Stewart never thought that one day she would run the chain of restaurants. In a few decades' time, she would be doing exactly that.
As the CEO, Stewart breathed new life into the beleaguered chain. One strategy she employed was selling IHOP restaurants to franchisees, which upped the company's free cash flow.
Other, smaller changes she instituted include selling orange juice not made from concentrate, introducing new menu items like cream-cheese stuffed French toast, and introducing better coffee. As a result, the Glendale, Calif.-based company reported $45 million in profits in 2006, and its stock price has as much as doubled since Stewart took the reins.
In 2001, IHOP announced its acquisition of Applebee's International Inc. The product of the buyout is DineEquity Inc., which runs over 3,300 Applebee's and IHOP restaurants. Since the deal, Stewart has focused on resuscitating the grill-and-bar brand.
Stewart earned her bachelor's degree in communications at San Diego State University. After stints at restaurant chains Carl's Jr., Burger King, Taco Bell, Stuart Anderson's Black Angus and Applebee's, the San Diego native joined IHOP in 2001 and became its CEO in 2002.
The Applebee's concept focuses on casual dining with mainstream American dishes such as salads, shrimp, chicken, pasta, and "riblets" (which is considered Applebee's signature dish). All Applebee's restaurants feature a bar area and serve alcoholic beverages (except where prohibited by law).
In November 2007, IHOP announced that it had completed a $1.9 billion purchase of the Applebee's chain.[3]
The Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers (CHART) today announced the recipient of the 2005 Commitment to People Award as Julia Stewart, president and chief executive officer of IHOP Corp.
Stewart will be honored at the Commitment to People Awards Gala on Monday evening, July 25, 2005, during CHART’s 70h semi-annual hospitality training conference, to be held at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers in Boston, Massachusetts.
“Beyond personal and professional development, Julia places a tremendous emphasis on the happiness and well being of IHOP’s employees,” said Joleen Flory-Lundgren, SPHR, FMP, vice president of human resources and training for Famous Dave’s of America and CHART president. “Julia’s management style is one of collaboration and inclusion, and she extends her employee commitment to include the franchisees and vendor partners of IHOP. She clearly recognizes that the combined efforts of these three groups are re-energizing the company.”
After joining IHOP in 2001, 34-year restaurant industry veteran Stewart proceeded systematically to create a culture based on individual accountability, core values, regular and timely communication and demonstrating appreciation. “Employees have the need to be developed and coached on an ongoing basis. The employees in the IHOP system have a strong desire to excel and deliver the best in guest service. It is our responsibility to provide them with the tools they need for success. This is why I have challenged our training and development department to reach all 70,000 employees in our system every 60 days with best in class training,” said Stewart.
“Under Julia’s leadership, the training team is challenged to provide world class programs that support the development of people and the performance of the company,” said John Isbell, director of training and development. “From accountability training to non-traditional learning opportunities like stress management and financial planning; from new franchisee training and product promotion training with a hospitality focus to the establishment of IHOP University, the development needs of employees are met at every state of their career.”
The Commitment to People Award spotlights the head of an industry organization who clearly and consistently demonstrates a commitment to the development of people. The award selection committee reviewed and ranked the Commitment to People nominees in four categories: •Effective communication of the organization’s culture; •Programs that demonstrate a commitment to people; •Efforts to be involved in the development of people; and •Ability to break down barriers to create opportunities.
Applebee's prexy shatters the glass ceiling, breaks down barriers for women
Julia Stewart didn't just tap against the glass ceiling; she shattered it with a frying pan.
In an industry where top-level female executives are about as common as an IRS agent with a sense of humor, she has the distinction of heading Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar, the largest casual-dining brand in the world. Stewart's charge is a chain that encompasses nearly 1,200 restaurants and generates annual sales in excess of $2 billion.
In her post at Applebee's, she also claims membership to a small roster of women in upper management who oversee large restaurant brands -- a conspicuously short list that includes Jackie Trujillo of Harman Management, Leslie Christon of On The Border, Hala Moddelimog of Churchs and Nancy Parker of Sportservice.
"There aren't many of us," she admits. "But [the status of women executives] has come a long way since I first began in this business. Fortunately, for most of my career, there weren't what I would call intolerable situations when men reported to me, but believe me, I have had my moments."
Throughout her 20-year career she has tried to ease future barriers of entry for female executives in the industry as a founding member and past president of the Women's Foodservice Forum.
As a 16-year-old high-schooler waiting tables at IHOP, Julia Stewart never thought that one day she would run the chain of restaurants. In a few decades' time, she would be doing exactly that.
As the CEO, Stewart breathed new life into the beleaguered chain. One strategy she employed was selling IHOP restaurants to franchisees, which upped the company's free cash flow.
Other, smaller changes she instituted include selling orange juice not made from concentrate, introducing new menu items like cream-cheese stuffed French toast, and introducing better coffee. As a result, the Glendale, Calif.-based company reported $45 million in profits in 2006, and its stock price has as much as doubled since Stewart took the reins.
In 2001, IHOP announced its acquisition of Applebee's International Inc. The product of the buyout is DineEquity Inc., which runs over 3,300 Applebee's and IHOP restaurants. Since the deal, Stewart has focused on resuscitating the grill-and-bar brand.
Stewart earned her bachelor's degree in communications at San Diego State University. After stints at restaurant chains Carl's Jr., Burger King, Taco Bell, Stuart Anderson's Black Angus and Applebee's, the San Diego native joined IHOP in 2001 and became its CEO in 2002.