Applebee's International Honors Batrus Hollweg International with its Prestigious Partnership Excellence Award

Catherine Conner (left) and Lou Kaucic (right) present Linda Pharr with the Applebee's Partnership Excellence Award during the 2004 People Summit.

This is the fourth consecutive year Batrus Hollweg International has received this prestigious award.

DALLAS, TX (October 4, 2004) – Applebee's International, Inc., presented Batrus Hollweg International with its prestigious Partnership Excellence Award during the 2004 People Summit held in Cape Cod, Mass., in September. The award recognizes outstanding companies who work in tandem with Applebee's to achieve its strategic business goals. Input is sought from throughout company and franchise operations to determine recipients of the award. Some of the comments included in the feedback on Batrus Hollweg include:

The insight and assistance that the Batrus Hollweg team provides has had a great impact on our results.

From selection, to training, to new hire retention, their work has touched every process developed to assist in the growth and development of our people.

The Batrus Hollweg team is very knowledgeable about our business and what it takes to be a successful manager at Applebee's.

The partnership with Batrus Hollweg has been great. They are always available and provide perspective on how we can get the most out of the selection tools.

"We're delighted to be recognized by Applebee's with this award. Our passion is to truly partner with our clients and demonstrate the powerful business results possible with integrated HR systems for selecting, developing, and retaining the best talent. Working together, Applebee's and Batrus Hollweg have created best practices for talent management in the restaurant industry," said Linda Pharr, President and COO of Batrus Hollweg International.

About Batrus Hollweg International

Founded in 1969, Batrus Hollweg International is a leading resource of assessment and development experts who partner with organizations to achieve growth and increase profitability through customized, cost-effective systems to select and develop the best talent, tap organizational energy, and focus teams on business results. Having assessed more than two million hourly restaurant employees and more than half a million restaurant managers and manager candidates, Batrus Hollweg has the largest data base of assessment profiles for the restaurant industry categorized by industry segment and by job. The firm has also conducted extensive research on restaurant jobs and the competencies necessary for success. Batrus Hollweg has conducted groundbreaking research for the restaurant industry, including "Tackling the Multi-Unit Manager Leadership Challenge: A Road map for Identifying & Developing Top Performers" (2004) and the "Employee Productivity Crimes: Realities, Risks & Profit Potential" (2003) as well as the "Industry of Choice Study" (1997) for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.