March 22 (Reuters) - Darden Restaurants Inc, owner of the Olive Garden and Red Lobster chains, said it would offer a better selection of lower-priced fare after blaming higher payroll taxes and gasoline prices for a fall in traffic in the third quarter.
The company, which has already introduced lighter lunch items such as calzones and Italian sandwiches at Olive Garden and non-seafood items at Red Lobster, said it would also be more aggressive with promotions.
"We've started (affordable pricing) and we are seeing an improvement in traffic at all three of our large brands," a company executive said on a conference call with analysts.
Chief Executive Clarence Otis said consumers were not prepared for the payroll tax increase and the rapid rise in gasoline prices. "But March indicates that consumers have adjusted," Otis said on the call.
Orlando-based Darden, which also owns LongHorn Steakhouse, reported third-quarter results that were largely in line with analysts' recently lowered estimates.
The company cut its 2013 profit forecast in February when it reported lower-than-expected preliminary results for the quarter ended Feb. 24.
The final results released on Friday were virtually unchanged from those released last month.
Net income fell to $134.4 million, or $1.02 per share, from $164.1 million, or $1.25 per share, a year earlier.
Sales rose 4.6 percent to $2.26 billion.
Analysts on average expected a profit of $1.01 per share on sales of $2.26 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
The company reiterated its full-year profit forecast of $3.06 to $3.22 per share. Analysts expect $3.16 per share.
Combined same-restaurant sales fell 4.6 percent in the third quarter.
Darden shares were up 1.3 percent at $49.62 in mid-morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday.
