Casual dining restaurant brands, including Applebee's, experienced declines in 2024, according to Franchise Times' Top 400 data.
Of the four concepts in the subcategory, three faced declines in sales and units, with Applebee's sales falling by more than 5 percent and its unit count shrinking.
John Peyton, CEO of Dine Brands, said evolving guest expectations and economic shifts resulted in a challenging year.
Author's summary: Casual dining brands struggled in 2024 due to changing guest expectations and economic shifts.