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Applebee's to serve Weight Watchers
Restaurant chain will work with weight reduction company to develop health-conscious items for menu.
July 25, 2003: 6:27 AM EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Applebee's International, which owns the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar chain, said Friday it will add a Weight Watchers section to its menus.

It will work with Weight Watchers International, which gives members nutrition and exercise advice, to develop health-conscious menu items, listing them in a separate part of the menu so customers can spot them easily.

New appetizers, entrees and desserts will be tested in some markets later this year and then offered next year in every Applebee's restaurant in the United States and Canada, the Overland Park, Kan.-based chain said.

Rising obesity rates in the United States have drawn waves of publicity, and recent lawsuits have targeted the food industry, criticizing its role in the trend.

Kraft Foods (KFT: Research, Estimates) said early this month it would reduce its portion sizes and improve the overall nutritional content of its foods, beginning in 2004.

Shares of Applebee's (APPB: Research, Estimates) fell 43 cents Thursday to close at $31.05 and Weight Watchers (WTW: Research, Estimates) rose $1.05 to $44.16.  


Copyright 2003 Reuters All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.



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