After 69-Store Buyout, Applebee's is No Longer Fully Franchised

Applebee's has officially bought back nearly 70 of its franchised locations. According to a recent article in Nation's Restaurant News, the brand’s COO Kevin Carroll will be in charge of the operation of these restaurants, which are located across North and South Carolina. This is the first time the company has owned any locations since 2015.

The brand has also been in the process of settling a dispute with franchisee group, RMH Franchise Holdings Inc. A point of contention in this case is Applebee’s calling for RMH to pay back all past due royalty and advertising fees. A settlement has been reached, including a $12.5 million payment and the agreement that RMH will retain ownership of 135 locations.

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