New York, NY, September 27 — On the heels of IHOP’s acquisition of Applebee’s International, Apple-Metro, one of the top Applebee’s franchisees in the country, has announced plans to open several new locations and the addition of new management personnel including Miguel Fernandez, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
Miguel Fernandez joins Apple-Metro after working as Applebee’s International Senior Vice President, Company Operations for the past 13 years. In his prior position he was responsible for 520 Domestic Units, 3 Regional Vice Presidents, 15 Directors of Operations, 90 Area Directors and over 2500 managers in areas of operations, marketing, training and staffing. In his new role at Apple-Metro, Mr. Fernandez will focus on operations as well as potential growth. In addition, Hal Pyke has been promoted to the position of Vice President-People and Information Technology. Pyke who has been with the company for 3 1/2 years, most recently in the capacity of Director of Operations, is an important part of the Apple-Metro team. With his exceptional operations knowledge and human resource skills, he will be responsible for ensuring that Apple-Metro has the very best benefits, incentives and growth opportunities, contributing to the highly motivated team of outstanding operators.
“Over the past year, we have been diligently working on positioning ourselves to enter the next phase of growth. Our performance in the last few months has exceeded that of our competitors, as well as our neighboring franchisees.
These are exciting times for our company and these positive changes allow us to move onward and upwards towards our goal of becoming the Best restaurant company in the World,” explains CEO Zane Tankel.
Apple-Metro has also recently been awarded a line of credit with Bank of America which will aid in the company’s overall expansion. This expansion will include the opening of several new locations with signed leases in Astoria, Queens and the Bronx Terminal Market. Plans for other locations are currently being evaluated by Apple-Metro’s new management.
Apple-Metro will also undergo a 50% increase in office space to accommodate a move of the company’s headquarters to the second floor of the same building in Harrison, NY. This larger space is planned for November 2007 and will afford Apple-Metro the ability to support the restaurants, train managers, equip Information Technology functions. The larger space will be built to Apple-Metro’s specifications as they enter a new phase of growth.
About Apple-Metro, Inc.
Apple-Metro, Inc. is the exclusive New York Metropolitan Area franchisee for Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, Chevys Fresh Mex and their own concept Zanaro’s Italian Restaurants. Apple-Metro’s portfolio includes (25) Applebee’s servicing the Five Boroughs, Westchester and Rockland Counties including the newest addition to the portfolio at Outer Bridge Crossing in Staten Island. Also included in the portfolio are two Chevys Fresh Mex Restaurants; one in Staten Island and one in Downtown Manhattan as well as the flagship Zanaro’s Italian Restaurant in White Plains City Center. In their 13th year of operation, Apple-Metro continues to focus on creating the ultimate casual dining experience through extraordinary service and exceptional food and drink in a fun-filled, friendly atmosphere.
