NEWTOWN, Pa.– The Rose Group, a leading franchisee of Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar and Corner Bakery Cafe restaurants, has further solidified its position as the most successful of the over 30 Applebee’s franchise organizations by winning three awards at the 2016 Applebee’s Global Franchise Conference. The year-long competition recognizes key business accomplishments such as industry growth and internal teamwork, as well as support for community charities and causes.
Harry Rose, Chairman of The Rose Group, has been awarded the Abe Gustin Franchisee of the Year Award for the second year in a row, and for the fifth time in total. This prize is given to the franchisee who has achieved the highest standards possible for key Applebee’s initiatives like internal committee participation, fundraising and community events and dedication to training and development.
The Rose Group also achieved the highest scores in all measurable areas of guest satisfaction and retention this past year.
Bonnie Lippincott, COO of The Rose Group, brought her second in a row and third overall Operator of the Year award home for her leadership in building a high-performing team. This award recognizes an operator who is passionate about building the Applebee’s brand and who goes above and beyond every day to ensure their restaurants and management exceed guest expectations.
The Heart of Applebee’s Award honors those who have shown the greatest commitment to an individual cause or organization, and was rewarded to a team of 10 franchise organizations this year, including The Rose Group, that have supported the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) since 2007. The 10 franchise groups broke the mold by creating a partnership that raised over $1.2 million for ALSF’s fight against pediatric cancer through various fundraising initiatives this year alone, and has donated over $7 million since the partnership began 11 years ago.
“Our crew works with incredible focus on achieving the highest standards for the Applebee’s brand,” states Harry Rose, Chairman of The Rose Group. “Bonnie Lippincott is an example of the level of leadership we strive for, and is a perfect representation of the employee-base she leads. These three awards are evidence of our staff member’s dedication to the service industry as well as the community, and we’re humbled to be recognized as a leader in fundraising alongside nine other organizations that are also providing so much for their communities.”
About The Rose Group
The Rose Group, headquartered in Newtown, Pennsylvania, is the 55th largest restaurant franchise company in the United States. They currently own and operate 56 Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill and Bar restaurants in Eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and Delaware. The company is the first franchisee for Corner Bakery Cafe, operating seven cafes in Eastern Pennsylvania and two in New Jersey. The Rose Group also co-owns and operates two Shannon Rose restaurants, an independent Irish pub and restaurant in North Jersey. More information on The Rose Group can be found on their website at www.therosegroup.com.
