Summary of Dine Brands Global's Q4 and Fiscal 2024 Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Dine Brands Global - **Brands**: Applebee's, IHOP, Fuzzy's Taco Shop Key Financial Metrics - **Adjusted Free Cash Flow**: $106.4 million, up from $103.3 million year-over-year [2][13] - **Adjusted EBITDA**: $239.8 million for the full year, down from $256.4 million in 2023 [3][12] - **Total Revenues**: $812.3 million for the full year, a decrease of 2.3% compared to the previous year [11][12] - **Q4 Revenues**: $204.8 million, down 0.7% from $206.3 million in Q4 2023 [11][12] - **Comp Sales**: - IHOP: -2% for the full year, -2.8% in Q4 [3][14] - Applebee's: -4.2% for the full year, -4.7% in Q4 [3][14] Strategic Changes and Leadership - **Leadership Transition**: Tony Moralejo stepped down as Applebee's president; John Payton assumes interim role [2] - **New Leadership at IHOP**: Lawrence Kim appointed as president, focusing on brand fundamentals and marketing strategies [7][29] Brand-Specific Updates Applebee's - **Marketing Focus**: Emphasis on value-driven promotions and a new everyday value platform to attract cost-sensitive consumers [5][19] - **Menu Innovation**: Plans to roll out new core menu items and enhance the Club Applebee's loyalty program [5][26] - **Take-Back Strategy**: Dine Brands took back 47 Applebee's restaurants to remodel and re-franchise, aiming for a three-year turnaround [4][27] IHOP - **Value Offerings**: Focus on refining value offerings and enhancing the breakfast menu, with breakfast items representing 72% of total food sales [7][14] - **Loyalty Program Growth**: Membership increased by over 30% to over 10 million members [7] - **House Faves Menu**: Successful launch driving traffic, with plans to expand its availability [7][8] Fuzzy's Taco Shop - **Brand Strategy Reset**: Focus on improving beverage promotions and ingredient quality to compete in the taco category [8][9] Market Conditions and Consumer Trends - **Macro Headwinds**: Consumer spending impacted by economic conditions, particularly affecting households with incomes under $75,000 [3][14] - **Cost Pressures**: Commodity costs stabilized, with specific increases in egg prices due to avian influenza [14][24] 2025 Guidance and Expectations - **Comp Sales Forecast**: - Applebee's: Expected to range from -2% to +1% [15] - IHOP: Expected to range from -1% to +2% [15] - **G&A Expenses**: Projected between $200 million and $205 million [15][16] - **EBITDA Guidance**: Expected range of $235 million to $245 million [16] Additional Insights - **Dual Brand Concept**: Successful international expansion with 18 dual brand restaurants, including a new U.S. location in Sagin, Texas, showing promising initial sales [9][10] - **Franchisee Engagement**: Strong commitment from franchisees to invest in renovations and support growth initiatives [20][21] Conclusion - **Outlook for 2025**: Dine Brands aims to enhance performance through strategic investments, marketing optimization, and menu innovation, with a focus on improving guest experience and operational efficiency [22][29]