Agreement with Alshaya continues successful expansion in the Middle East
Bahrain, 16 March 2014: IHOP® restaurants, the iconic American-style restaurant, world famous for its memorable breakfasts and popular main dishes, has expanded into Bahrain with the opening of its first restaurant at Bahrain City Centre on 17 March 2014. This IHOP restaurant will be operated by Alshaya Trading Co., a leading international retail franchise operator.
IHOP restaurants feature high-quality food and beverage items served in a friendly, warm and comfortable ambience. The popular restaurant, which is designed for individual and family dining, delivers a uniquely iconic American-style dining experience.
The new 138 seat restaurant, located on the first floor of the mall, will introduce Bahrain to a menu that includes an extensive array of signature pancakes, a wide variety of omelettes, French toast and waffles, crepes, sandwiches and burgers, plus chicken, beef and seafood main dishes to be enjoyed at any time of day. The IHOP restaurant will be open Saturday through Wednesday from 8am till 11pm and on Thursday and Friday from 8am till midnight.
Bahrain's first IHOP restaurant follows the brand's success in Dubai, Kuwait and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where the brand already operates restaurants through a multi-market franchise agreement between Alshaya and DineEquity Inc. The agreement will see a significant number of new IHOP restaurants opening across the MENA region over the next few years.
"We are delighted to add Bahrain to the list of countries around the world that can now enjoy the IHOP experience. As the success of our IHOP restaurants in the Gulf has already proven, there is a strong appetite for great food and service with strong value, throughout the region," said Daniel del Olmo, President, International, DineEquity Inc. "Alshaya has done an outstanding job in ensuring that the same excellence in food and service our guests have come to expect at any IHOP restaurant is now delighting our guests in even more countries in the important MENA market."
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ABOUT DINEEQUITY, INC.
Based in Glendale, California, DineEquity, Inc., through its subsidiaries, franchises and operates restaurants under the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar® and IHOP® brands. With more than 3,600 restaurants combined in 19 countries, over 400 franchisees and approximately 200,000 team members (including franchisee  and company-operated restaurant employees), DineEquity is one of the largest full-service restaurant companies in the world. For more information on DineEquity, visit the Company's Web site located at www.dineequity.com.
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PANCAKES, LLC
For over 55 years, International House of Pancakes, LLC has been a leader and expert in all things breakfast and a leader in family dining. The chain is highly competitive in its menu offering, serving 65 different signature, made-to-order breakfast options as well as a range of meals under 600 calories.  Beyond offering "everything you love about breakfast, ®" IHOP® restaurants have a wide selection of popular lunch and dinner items, as well. IHOP restaurants offer guests an affordable, everyday dining experience with warm and friendly service. As of December 31, 2013, there were 1,620 IHOP restaurants in 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as in Canada, Guatemala, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Philippines and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Under the licensed name IHOP at HOME® consumers can also enjoy a line of premium breakfast products available at leading retailers. IHOP restaurants are franchised and operated by Glendale, Calif.-based International House of Pancakes, LLC and its affiliates. International House of Pancakes, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of DineEquity, Inc. (NYSE: DIN).  For more information or to find an IHOP restaurant near you, please visit www.IHOP.com.  Follow IHOP on Facebook and Twitter.
© Press Release 2014



















