Applebee’s Honors Franchisees and Restaurant Leader for Excellence, Community Impact, and Brand Leadership

Applebee’s Honors Franchisees and Restaurant Leader for Excellence, Community Impact, and Brand Leadership

Doherty Enterprises, Flynn Group, T.L. Cannon, and The Rose Group receive top honors at the 2026 Applebee’s Franchise Conference

PASADENA, Calif. (October 21, 2026) – Applebee’s celebrated its franchisees and restaurant leaders representing the very best of the brand during its 2026 Franchise Conference, held recently in Austin, Texas. The annual event brought together franchisees, supplier partners, and team members to align around strategies to drive traffic, strengthen restaurant profitability, and give guests more reasons to choose Applebee’s.

The conference culminated in an awards celebration recognizing exceptional leadership, restaurant performance, guest service, team development, innovation, and community impact across the Applebee’s nationwide.

“The real power of Applebee’s has always been in our restaurants and in the people who bring this brand to life every day,” said John Peyton, Applebee’s president and Dine Brands CEO. “Our award recipients have built high-performing teams, strengthened their communities, and created the experiences that keep guests coming back. They show what is possible when our franchisees, restaurant leaders, and Team Members move forward together with a shared commitment to our guests and neighborhoods.”

2026 Applebee’s Award Recipients

Abe Gustin Franchisee of the Year: Doherty Enterprises

Applebee’s presented its highest franchisee honor, the Abe Gustin Franchisee of the Year Award, to Doherty Enterprises. Named in honor of the leader who helped Applebee’s become one of the nation’s most iconic casual dining brands, the award recognizes a franchisee that exemplifies what it means to be Eatin’ Good and Doin’ Good in the Neighborhood.

Doherty Enterprises was recognized for its people-first culture, strong business performance, operational excellence, and leadership across the Applebee’s franchise system. The organization has helped shape important work in operations, marketing, technology, and other areas critical to the brand’s continued growth. An Applebee’s franchisee for more than 30 years, Doherty Enterprises currently owns and operates more than 70 Applebee’s restaurants across New Jersey and New York.

Restaurant General Manager of the Year: Sean McNevin, Flynn Group

Applebee’s named Sean McNevin of Flynn Group its 2026 Restaurant General Manager of the Year, one of the highest honors for restaurant leadership across Applebee’s restaurants nationwide. Applebee’s General Managers lead more than 1,400 restaurant teams across the country and play a critical role in developing team members, delivering operational excellence, and creating memorable guest experiences. McNevin was selected from this year’s 16 Golden Apple Club inductees, representing the top one percent of General Managers in the Applebee’s system.

A Training General Manager with Flynn Group for more than 17 years, McNevin was recognized for exceptional guest service, team member development, and consistent restaurant performance. He has led multiple restaurants across Southern California and currently serves as General Manager of the Applebee’s restaurant in Corona, Calif. Flynn Group owns and operates more than 450 Applebee’s restaurants across 24 states.

Lloyd Hill Neighbor of the Year: T.L. Cannon

Applebee’s presented the Lloyd Hill Neighbor of the Year Award to T.L. Cannon for its longstanding commitment to serving and strengthening the communities in which it operates.

Named in honor of one of Applebee’s most respected franchise leaders, the award celebrates a franchisee that demonstrates exceptional service, compassion, and care for its neighbors through a broad range of community initiatives and partnerships.

T.L. Cannon has built a culture of giving back that inspires team members, guests, and local organizations to work together in support of their communities. This year, T.L. Cannon donated more than $1.2 million to various community and philanthropic organizations including Make-A-Wish Foundation, Special Olympics – New York, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, and more.

The organization received the honor as it celebrated its 35th anniversary as an Applebee’s franchisee. T.L. Cannon owns and operates more than 50 Applebee’s restaurants across New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut.

Bill Palmer Heart of Applebee’s: The Rose Group

Applebee’s presented The Rose Group with the Bill Palmer Heart of Applebee’s Award for their outstanding work with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, the largest independent charity in the U.S. dedicated to childhood cancer research and family support. Named after Applebee’s founder, the award recognizes a franchisee that has shown the greatest commitment to an individual cause or organization over this past year.

Over the past 22 years, The Rose Group has raised more than $6 million for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. The Rose Group also helped bring the partnership to Applebee’s restaurants nationwide. Together, Applebee’s, its franchisees, restaurant teams, and guests have raised more than $22 million to support pediatric cancer research. The Rose Group owns and operates more than 50 Applebee’s restaurants across Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware.

“These honorees remind us that being a neighborhood brand is about more than where we operate,” Peyton added. “It is about how we lead, how we care for our guests and teams, and how we show up for the people and communities around us.”

About Applebee's® 

As one of the world’s largest casual dining brands, Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar serves as America’s kitchen table, offering guests a lively dining experience that combines simple, craveable American fare with classic drinks and local drafts. Applebee’s makes it easy for family and friends to connect with one another, whether it’s in a dining room or in the comfort of a living room, Eatin’ Good in the Neighborhood™ is a familiar and affordable escape from the everyday. Applebee's restaurants are owned and operated by entrepreneurs dedicated to more than serving great food, but also building up the communities that we call home. From raising money for local charities to hosting community fundraisers, Applebee’s is always Doin’ Good in the Neighborhood®. Applebee’s and its franchise operations together consisted of 1,557 Applebee’s restaurants globally as of June 28, 2026.  Applebee's is franchised by subsidiaries of Dine Brands Global Inc. [NYSE: DIN], which is one of the world's largest full-service restaurant companies.

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