And it's working: Applebee's US same-store sales increased 7.7% in the third quarter of this year, setting a 14-year record. While fast food brands are ditching artificial ingredients and offering healthier alternatives, Applebee's has embraced comfort food for a banner year. "Americans are stressed," Cywinski told CNN Business. "When stressed, they tend to go to comfort food ... and we're pretty darn good at comfort food," he said. The brand struggled because it "took its eye off its core guest and lost sight of who Applebee's is, and what Applebee's stands for," Cywinski said.

Source: CNN November 03, 2018 18:11 UTC