IHOP is now serving Buttermilk Crispy Chicken

Dine Brands that owns restaurant chain IHOP and Applebee is closing about 99 IHOP family restaurants and 15 Applebee’s Neighbourhood Grill during the fourth quarter.

The announcement follows the closure of 16 IHOPs domestic and 20 Applebee’s outlets in the U.S. during the third quarter, reported Restaurant Business Online.

However, Dine Brands did not specify exactly how many “greatly underperforming” IHOPs it is expecting to close for good.

Also Read: Dine Brands To Rev Up Expansion Of IHOP Pancake Indian Unit

It also reported a same-store sales decrease of 30% for the three-month period, but Dine Brands reported that the decline had narrowed to 23.5% for the week ended Sept. 27.

Applebee’s finished the quarter with a 13.3% decline, with comps turning positive, at 0.4%, during the last week of the period.

However, Dine Brands reported a net income for the quarter of $10 million, a decline of 58.2%, on revenues of $176.6 million, down 18.7%.

Dine Brands International has opened the first IHOP restaurant in Lima, Peru, through an agreement with Percapitals S.A.C.

The company is planning to unveil 25 IHOP restaurants in Peru through 2028. These launches are projected to bring over 600 new jobs to the regional economy.

Steve Joyce, CEO and President, International, Dine Brands Global, Inc, said, “South America is an important growth market for Dine Brands and we’ve seen great success there so far this year.”

The new launch in Peru marks the 62nd restaurant in the Latin America region. Dine Brands International is continuing to place emphasis on growth in markets like Central America, Colombia and Chile.

“IHOP’s friendly, come as you are philosophy expands borders and cultures. It’s the place where people can simply come together to enjoy world-famous pancakes and a wide variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner items at affordable prices, any time of day,” Joyce added.

Eyeing expansion across the US

IHOP Restaurants has entered into a franchise development agreement with TravelCenters of America Inc. Both companies plan to launch up to 94 IHOP restaurants over the next five years in TA and Petro branded locations across the United States.

At present, there are four IHOP restaurants already in TA’s travel center network. TA Restaurant Group, a division of TravelCenters of America, will operate IHOP restaurants in the portfolio.

Jay Johns, President of IHOP, said, “We’re thrilled to be partnering with TravelCenters of America to open up to almost 100 new IHOP restaurants over the next five years in TA and Petro travel centers across the US.”

“The TA brand, a trusted hospitality leader in the industry and with consumers, shares the same values as IHOP when it comes to delivering an outstanding experience to guests on-the-go. We’re looking forward to serving the great-tasting, freshly made menu items we’re known for at breakfast, lunch and dinner, to the millions of guests who stop at TA and Petro locations each year,” he added.

The new agreement is the single largest IHOP development deal in the brand’s 61-year history.

Barry Richards, President and Chief Operating Officer, TravelCenters of America, stated, “When it comes to serving our customers, IHOP and TA's missions and cultures align. Adding such a highly regarded brand like IHOP to our restaurant group shows our commitment to bringing the best possible dining options to both professional drivers while they're away from home and to local families living in the communities we serve. An important part of our restaurant strategy is focusing on growing our partnerships with trusted brands like IHOP that appeal to broader audiences, and today’s agreement will enable us to accelerate that process.”

Presently, there are over 1,700 IHOP restaurants in the US and another 100+ restaurants globally.

IHOP Restaurants, an arm of Dine Brands Global, Inc, has entered into a franchise development agreement with TravelCenters of America Inc. Both companies plan to launch up to 94 IHOP restaurants over the next five years in TA and Petro branded locations across the United States.

At present, there are four IHOP restaurants already in TA’s travel center network. TA Restaurant Group, a division of TravelCenters of America, will operate IHOP restaurants in the portfolio.

Jay Johns, President of IHOP, said, “We’re thrilled to be partnering with TravelCenters of America to open up to almost 100 new IHOP restaurants over the next five years in TA and Petro travel centers across the US.”

“The TA brand, a trusted hospitality leader in the industry and with consumers, shares the same values as IHOP when it comes to delivering an outstanding experience to guests on-the-go. We’re looking forward to serving the great-tasting, freshly made menu items we’re known for at breakfast, lunch and dinner, to the millions of guests who stop at TA and Petro locations each year,” he added.

Also Read: 6 Keys to Running a Global Restaurant Chain in India

The new agreement is the single largest IHOP development deal in the brand’s 61-year history.

Barry Richards, President and Chief Operating Officer, TravelCenters of America, stated, “When it comes to serving our customers, IHOP and TA's missions and cultures align. Adding such a highly regarded brand like IHOP to our restaurant group shows our commitment to bringing the best possible dining options to both professional drivers while they're away from home and to local families living in the communities we serve. An important part of our restaurant strategy is focusing on growing our partnerships with trusted brands like IHOP that appeal to broader audiences, and today’s agreement will enable us to accelerate that process.”

Presently, there are over 1,700 IHOP restaurants in the US and another 100+ restaurants globally.

Dine Brands International has signed an agreement with Minhas Holdings’ Saeed Minhas to launch the IHOP brand to exclusive locations in the Greater Toronto Area. With this agreement, the company will develop 15 new IHOP locations over seven years.

The first location is likely to launch mid-year 2020. The new locations will create approximately 900 jobs and contribute up to $15 million to the construction industry in the Greater Toronto Area.

Saeed Minhas, CEO of Minhas Holdings, said, “IHOP is a strong brand with a huge fan base around the world, and we are excited to expand its presence in Canada. We can’t wait for guests in the Greater Toronto Area to experience the brand’s warm hospitality and commitment to quality in its breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu offerings.”

Steve Joyce, Chief Executive Officer, Dine Brands Global, stated, “Canada was the first international market we opened for IHOP back in 1969, making this year our 50th anniversary in the country. Canada continues to be a key market in our international development and growth strategy.”

“The opportunity to partner with Saeed Minhas as a franchisee was also a major factor in our decision. In addition to his work as a real-estate developer, Saeed has valuable experience in the hospitality industry as a franchisee for Marriott and IHG as well as local market knowledge and presence,” Joyce added.

William Urrego, Vice President of International Operations, Dine Brands Global, said, “Canada is a great strategic business choice for expansion outside of the U.S. for many reasons including geographic proximity and great brand awareness. We are interested in further expanding our presence in Canada and we are looking for great partners to take that step with us.”

IHOP has added gluten-friendly Buttermilk pancakes to its menu at restaurants across the US.

These gluten-friendly pancakes are freshly made from a signature batter that blends rice flour, sugar, milk, eggs and other gluten-friendly ingredients in order to give guests the same great pancake experience without compromising on taste or fluffiness.

IHOP’s new gluten-friendly pancakes are one of several new gluten-friendly options, including gluten-friendly waffles and gluten-friendly Ultimate Steakburgers. The entire new menu will now be available at IHOP restaurants nationwide.

Alisa Gmelich, Vice President, Marketing at IHOP, said, “Gluten-friendly pancakes are one of the most requested menu items from our guests and it was really important to us that we got the recipe just right. Our culinary team outdid themselves coming up with a gluten-friendly batter that addresses this growing lifestyle trend without trading off on the hot, fluffy, deliciousness that only IHOP pancakes deliver.”

“We’re proud to be the first national restaurant chain to put a gluten-friendly pancake on the menu, further demonstrating how we’re innovating to meet changing guest food preferences. When the craving hits for gluten-friendly pancakes, waffles or an Ultimate Steakburger, we’ve now got you covered,” Gmelich added.

Want to invest in a pancake franchise? Visit Franchise India 2019, Asia’s Biggest Franchise & Retail Show, and give wings to your entrepreneurial dreams.

Dine Brands International has launched three IHOP restaurants in Ecuador continuing its expansion in Latin America. While two IHOP restaurants are located in the port city of Guayaquil, one is situated in the city of Ambato.

Through an agreement with new franchisee Corporación El Rosado, 12 IHOP restaurants are likely to open throughout Ecuador by 2024.

Dine Brands International eyes to introduce American restaurant brand to Peru later this year through an agreement with Percapitals S.A.C. Peru’s first IHOP restaurant is expected to unveil in Lima, which will be followed by an additional 24 restaurants throughout Peru in the next ten years.

Steve Joyce, CEO of Dine Brands Global Inc and President of Dine Brands International, said, “International expansion is a growth engine for Dine Brands. Latin America continues to welcome the IHOP brand because of the great value it provides, its menu variety of American breakfast, lunch, and dinner favorites, and its ability to create memorable dining experiences.”

IHOP first ventured into Latin America in 2007 in Mexico, which is now the brand’s largest market outside of the United States.

 Want to invest in a pancake restaurant franchise? Visit Franchise India 2019, Asia’s Biggest Franchise & Retail Show, and give wings to your entrepreneurial dreams.

The International House of Pancakes brand (IHOP), a famous American multinational pancake house restaurant chain, has launched its third outlet in Pacific Mall, Subhash Nagar, franchised to the Kwals Catering Pvt Ltd. With this launch, IHOP has expanded its presence in Delhi after witnessing the success of this brand in DLF Cyber Hub and Saket.

Spread across an area of 1063 square ft with a seating capacity of 50 people, the new restaurant with its bright and lively interiors gives its guests the feeling of California.

IHOP specializes in breakfast, serving their fresh and made to order pancakes, delicious waffles and legendary crepes alongside a variety of lunch and dinner options in India.

Sameer Lamba, Managing Director of Kwals Group, said, “IHOP is the perfect place to head to if you are looking forward to grab a satiating breakfast. The never-ending variety of pancakes, eggs and waffles along with fresh juice, fried chicken, toasty breads and coffee to the mix will have our guests hooked from day one. It is our constant endeavor to provide our guests with the best services and facilities along with the great American food.”

“We hope that the new IHOP in Pacific Mall will completely charm our patrons and bring them an amazing culinary experience,” he further stated.

International House of Pancakes (IHOP) is planning to launch as many as 19 outlets in Pakistan in the coming years. This expansion into the Pakistani market is part of the popular American pancake house chain’s efforts to seek new revenue abroad.

The first branch of IHOP will open in Karachi by the end of 2019, and will be followed by 18 more across the country over the course of nine years

Dine Brands Global Inc, the parent company of IHOP, said that nine of its franchises in Pakistan will be operated by Pakistan-based Gerry’s Group, while the rest will be sub-franchised.

Steve Joyce, Chief Executive Officer of Dine Brands, said, “Key to our international strategy is identifying and entering new markets, such as Pakistan, that have a rapidly growing economy, are contiguous to existing markets to offer an economy of scale, and above all, have an appetite for IHOP’s unique guest experience of warm hospitality with world famous pancakes, breakfast and other menu items. The opportunity to partner with principals from Gerry’s Group as franchisees was also a major factor in our decision,” 

Akram Wali Muhammad, Managing Director for Gerry’s Group, added, “We are delighted to be bringing the world famous American IHOP experience to our country and to our portfolio of successful companies. While IHOP will be a new brand in Pakistan, there is already significant awareness of and excitement about IHOP and we look forward to the opening of our first location later this year.”

Dine Brands Group owned restaurant chain Applebee is planning to rev up the opening of its IHOP pancake outlets in India, following a strong response to its first restaurant in the northern Indian city of Gurugram opened last year.

Chief Executive Officer Steve Joyce confirmed the expansion to be the part of a strategy to expand in markets seeing more people go out for breakfast.

"We think IHOP has unique opportunities here because breakfast is an important meal in India," Joyce said during a visit to inaugurate the second IHOP store in India in a mall in the country's capital New Delhi.

Joyce, who previously laid out plans to open 20 IHOPs in India by 2025, now expects to open 15 IHOP outlets in the next three to four years and grow it to a hundred within at least seven years. The first IHOP outlet in India had "exceeded" the company's expectations and was already running a profit eight months after opening, said a source close to the company, who asked not to be named because the details are confidential.

In India, breakfast is a meal traditionally prepared and consumed at home, but trends are changing as the country, with more than half its population below 30 years, preferring to dine out as disposable incomes rise.This shift has helped breakfast emerge as one of the fastest-growing meal categories in the Indian dining industry.

According to a survey by market research firm Euromonitor international's global consumer trends unit, fourteen percent of Indians have had breakfast outside home at least three to four times a week in 2016, compared with 9.6 percent in 2015

The growing market has seen companies including McDonald's introduce items such as the masala dosa brioche - an all-day offering that combines a staple south Indian breakfast dish called masala dosa in a burger-style serving.

Analysts covering Dine Brands said tapping India could be a growth vehicle for the company at a time when IHOP's North American sales have plateaued with comparable sales ranging from down low-single digits to up low-single digits over the past few years.But configuring its dishes to an Indian palate that usually prefers savoury dishes over sweet would be IHOP's biggest challenge.

"India is a huge potential market but getting the menu mix right could prove to be tricky," said research firm Retail Metrics founder Ken Perkins.