Despite its well-known offerings of pasta and unlimited breadsticks, Olive Garden, a famous Italian restaurant chain, has faced challenges this summer, leading to a decline in sales.
In response to this situation, the company has announced plans to reintroduce some popular dishes that were taken off the menu during the pandemic. The goal is to encourage more customers to return to their restaurants.
Olive Garden Revives Beloved Dishes
The two dishes making a comeback are the Steak Gorgonzola Alfredo and the Stuffed Chicken Marsala. Ricardo Cardenas, the CEO of Darden Restaurants, which owns Olive Garden, confirmed these changes during an earnings call on September 19.
Cardenas explained that bringing back these favorites would give "guests another reason to visit" Olive Garden as the year progresses, according to CBS News.
The company is also expanding its Never Ending Pasta Bowl promotion by adding a new garlic herb sauce. This special deal, which has been a favorite among diners, will remain priced at $13.99, the same amount since 2022.
Darden's Chief Financial Officer, Raj Vennam, mentioned that the decline in sales was due to a "softness" affecting the restaurant industry, especially in July. Many customers have been cautious about dining out because of rising prices.
During the fiscal first quarter, which ended on August 25, Olive Garden reported a 2.9% drop in same-restaurant sales. Cardenas noted that there was a significant decline in the number of customers starting from the Fourth of July holiday.
Although there was a rebound in sales in August, the overall drop in foot traffic was concerning. This decline in customers can be attributed to various factors, including bad weather, an increase in COVID-19 cases, the Olympics, and ongoing political issues.
Supporters of Olive Garden have expressed their disappointment over not being able to enjoy their favorite dishes through delivery. The restaurant chain previously resisted using delivery services, preferring to maintain a direct connection with customers.
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Olive Garden Introduces Delivery Service
However, recent announcements revealed that Olive Garden would finally offer delivery through services like Uber Eats and DoorDash. The chain has partnered with Uber to start a new delivery service, which will be rolled out nationwide if the pilot program proves successful.
As part of its efforts to attract more diners, Olive Garden has announced that the Steak Gorgonzola Alfredo and Stuffed Chicken Marsala will return with "higher-quality ingredients."
This news was met with applause from general managers during an August conference. The company aims to provide customers with more protein-rich options on its menu,sa MailOnline.
Brittany Baron, a representative from Olive Garden, stated that the company has seen an increase in customers during the first three weeks of September, indicating that the changes are positively impacting business.
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