Applebee's International, Inc., as won for the fourth consecutive year the Grand Prix Award for the best overall investor relations (IR) team of any small-cap company in America. It has also been confirmed, that Carol DiRaimo, the honorable Vice President of Investor Relations for Applebee's has been conferred as the best investor relations officer for any small- to mid-cap U.S. company.

The last night at the annual IR Magazine where the awards were presented in the New York City became witness to this historic achievement. The event was held in collaboration with the Wall Street Journal and Barron's and earned laurels through the celebration of the awards for the best performing companies in the field of shareholder communications. The partakers and spectators included more than 2,900 portfolio managers, buy-side and sell-side analysts, and retail investors vote for the top companies and best IR teams.

Applebee’s International, Inc., is renowned in the international arena for its development and escalation of vast network principles of high excellence in business, franchises and operation of restaurants under the Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar brand, the largest casual dining concept in the world. It functions from its headquarter in Overland Park, Kan. It has been estimated that by February 2007, there were 1,942 restaurants operating system-wide in 49 states, 16 international countries, and one U.S. territory.

 While this fellow Journalist was present on the occasion he became witness to the writing of one analyst on the survey ballot depicting "Applebee's International is in tune with what shareholders are looking for and asking about". While another wrote in praise of DiRaimo that he was held for the position for his ingenuity and is "all over the industry and is accessible 24/7".

Apart from DiRaimo, Applebee's investor relations team also include the Chief Executive Officer Dave Goebel, the Chief Financial and Strategy Officer Steve Lumpkin, and the Investor Relations Specialist Mindy Jack.

While speaking to the Press& Media Goebel said, "Our investor relations program is built on candor and trust”. He also continued, "When we talk with our shareholders, our goal is to listen carefully and then to address our successes and challenges with equal amounts of candor. We know that in the short- and long-run, the best investor relations program is one built on trust."

It is to be noted, that Applebee's has a well-earned reputation for its excellence in investor relations. On the very last year, the company was voted as the "Most Shareholder Friendly" restaurant company by Institutional Investor Magazine. In addition, it was the same magazine named Lumpkin one of America's Best CFOs in 2006 and named former CEO Lloyd Hill one of America's Best CEOs in 2005.