Applebee's Launches Nationwide Delivery

Applebee’s Delivery is now available at participating restaurants nationwide. Customers can order online at Applebees.com or through the mobile app and Applebee’s Delivery, powered by DoorDash.

This is the first time Applebee’s has offered delivery through its mobile app and online ordering via its website, explains Scott Gladstone, vice president of strategy, off-premise and development at Applebee’s, in an interview with HT. The casual dining brand will continue to be listed on other major third-party delivery platforms.

For Applebee’s, delivery has been a missing piece in its online ordering platform. For years the casual restaurant has offered online ordering for customer pickup and car-side pickup, known as Applebee’s To Go, explains Gladstone.

Off-premise dining shows no signs of slowing down. "For several years in casual dining there has been a shift in traffic from dine-in to off premise that has driven by several factors” -- third-party delivery, food costs. Plus, “People prefer to eat at home,” he adds. 

To drive awareness, Applebee’s is offering free delivery now through Sunday, September 1 when ordering Applebee’s Delivery. And to commemorate Applebee’s new partnership with NBC Sports’ Football Night in America, free delivery will continue every Sunday throughout the football season (September 8 – December 29).

Free delivery will be offered for a limited time. Applebee’s is among the restaurants “trying to find ways to make delivery more profitable for franchisees,” and has been forthright about “passing along delivery costs to guests in transparent way,” Gladstone says.

“This latest Applebee’s Delivery innovation allows our neighbors to enjoy their favorite Applebee’s dishes wherever they are,” said Gladstone. “Within the casual dining category, we continue to be at the forefront of innovation in off-premise offerings, and will continue to look for ways to make enjoying our food available to our guests for any occasion.”

If customers want to make a visit to one of Applebee’s restaurants but don’t have time to dine-in, there's Applebee’s To Go at www.applebees.com.