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DineEquity CEO Julia Stewart on the state of the economy and raising money for charity through IHOP’s National Pancake day.
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And -- put all my money in this name shares of -- equities soaring in fact the parent company of iconic restaurant brands Applebee's and I -- Up more than 45%.
Over the past year -- now we've -- the woman behind the change booming success.
Joining me now out of Fox Business explosives Julia Stewart DineEquity chairman and CEO welcome back.
By the way everybody was a waitress back in the days -- so this is the great American story we absolutely love it up -- You I have spoken in the past and I'd look at the story and and I think -- really stuck through a very tough time and that was right around the financial crisis.
Obviously you've done very well over the past year and and it's been a very nice story but what what to learn from what happened three years ago four years ago that.
-- changes he was a leader today.
Well I think it was to never give up I don't think we ever had a day where we said to ourselves so you know within.
The financial crisis is gonna ruinous I think we stuck to our plan we had a very very specific plan.
At both Applebee's and I -- of what we were gonna do to be successful.
We couldn't really control the economic environments so we stuck to what we knew how to do best.
Which was delivered great food exceed guest expectations.
And keep building upon the brands and delivered at a price that would be at least -- focused for somebody who might be unemployed and maybe picks one night -- -- to go out to dinner how how different is it today.
Luring people into your restaurant at certain compared to say just about a year ago is it easier.
I think the environment and I've said this a million times is still lumpy and bumpy unemployment is still high consumers still have hesitation.
Certainly with the new tax bracket I think what are really says is you have to deliver the absolute best experience that you can't and that's exactly.
What we're doing an obviously today was national pancake day sort of provides -- unique opportunity because it's the number one day of the year we have more people.
Coming into the I -- restaurants today than any other day of the year or so it's a unique opportunity at.
Show off the best and the brightest of starts that you're giving some free pancakes which is that all night because I'm still work into it it's it starts at the crack -- -- -- goes till 10 PM in every restaurant in the US will raise probably over three million dollars.
Will give over four million pancakes away but the best part it's making a difference in children's lives all the proceeds.
Go to the children's miracle network and other local charity hospital so it's a wonderful.
Opportunity make a difference -- says that having a corporate consciences good business definitely a religious -- John MacKey gets a little boots on yesterday talking about that you've got 2000 Applebee's restaurants.
-- 49 states 14100 I -- restaurants can you talk about your expansion plans that you expect for 2013.
We get -- we're going to announce guidance in February 27 so obviously guide for the year but we have been pretty steady in terms of building and developing both brands in the US and then obviously.
Looking at other countries outside the US so.
We feel pretty much that it will be in line with how -- -- the last couple years in terms of development a lot of these are franchised restaurants is is the country making it easier more typical about the same to be a franchisee.
It's interesting out with the -- selling of the last company operated restaurants last year -- -- 99%.
Franchise so there are no company operating units except.
33 that we used for R&D.
I will tell you in general if they like America.
And -- are favorable to franchising in the economics work we find that we can go to just about any country.
-- they loved both brands which is great news for us free pancakes till 10 o'clock tonight have replaced Ilia thank you but make sure you got sick much it got to get to get because of the great charity thank you so much exactly thank you Julie -- DineEquity chairman and CEO starting years ago they've found as a server up.
All the way to CEO it's America of the prior.
