UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
Current Report
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) January 26, 2004
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Commission File Number: 000-17962
Applebee's International, Inc.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 43-1461763
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(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
4551 W. 107th Street, Suite 100, Overland Park, Kansas 66207
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(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
(913) 967-4000
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(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
None
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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Item 5. Other Events
On January 26, 2004, Applebee's International, Inc. (the "Company") issued
a press release entitled "Applebee's International Reports January Comparable
Sales; Fourth Quarter 2003 Earnings Conference Call to be Broadcast over the
Internet." The release contained the following information.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carol DiRaimo,
Executive Director of Investor Relations
(913) 967-4109
Applebee's International Reports January Comparable Sales;
Fourth Quarter 2003 Earnings Conference Call to be Broadcast over the Internet
Overland Park, Kan., January 26, 2004 -- Applebee's International, Inc.
(Nasdaq:APPB) today reported comparable sales for the four-week period ended
January 25, 2004.
Comparable sales for company restaurants increased 8.4 percent, reflecting an
increase in guest traffic of approximately 7.0 to 7.5 percent, combined with a
higher average check, which includes the impact of a menu price increase of
approximately 1.5% taken in early January. System-wide comparable sales
increased 8.4 percent for the January period, and comparable sales for franchise
restaurants also increased 8.4 percent.
January comparable sales were positively impacted by approximately 1.0 percent
due to a shift in the timing of the Super Bowl from the January fiscal period in
2003 to the February fiscal period in 2004. February 2004 comparable sales will
be negatively impacted by this calendar shift.
Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure
Applebee's International, Inc. (the "Company") also included information
regarding its fourth quarter earnings conference call in the press release.
These comments are included below.
The company will release complete fourth quarter and fiscal year 2003 results
after the market closes on February 11, 2004, and a conference call will be held
on Thursday morning, February 12, 2004, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time (11:00 a.m.
Eastern Time). The conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet and
a replay will be available shortly after the call on the Investor Relations
section of the company's website (www.applebees.com).
Applebee's International, Inc., headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., develops,
franchises and operates restaurants under the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill &
Bar brand, the largest casual dining concept in the world. As of January 25,
2004, there were 1,590 Applebee's restaurants operating system-wide in 49 states
and nine international countries. Additional information on Applebee's
International can be found at the company's website (www.applebees.com).
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
APPLEBEE'S INTERNATIONAL, INC.
(Registrant)
Date: January 26, 2004 By: /s/ Steven K. Lumpkin
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Steven K. Lumpkin
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
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