Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

By Joe Guszkowski on Apr. 10, 2023

Six years after it was acquired by Darden, the 179-unit chain is living up to its billing as a growth brand.

Olive Garden’s parent is in the market for another brand

By Joe Guszkowski on Jan. 10, 2023

Darden Restaurants signaled its interest in adding a 10th concept. It most recently acquired Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen in 2017.

Financing

Darden's Q4 margins outstrip pre-COVID levels despite below-inflation pricing

By Peter Romeo on Jun. 23, 2022

The parent of Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse said its ongoing effort to simplify operations lowered labor costs.

Premium

Consumer Trends

Can casual chains hold onto their off-premise gains?

By Peter Romeo on Jun. 28, 2021

Darden Restaurants, the segment's biggest player, doesn’t have the answer, but CEO Gene Lee admits his first assessment was off-target.

Workforce

Olive Garden's parent company raises pay as sales rebound

By Peter Romeo on Mar. 25, 2021

Darden Restaurants says it will reward hourly employees with $17 million in bonuses while raising its pay scale to $12 an hour.

Topics

12 reveals from this week’s big restaurant event

By Peter Romeo on Jan. 16, 2020

The three dozen chains participating in the ICR Conference provided plenty of aha moments. Here’s a sampling of the surprising tidbits that were aired.

Workforce

LongHorn's labor approach yields 6.7% comp rise, Darden says

By Peter Romeo on Dec. 19, 2019

The casual steak chain outperformed all of its sister operations, largely because of how it handled personnel, its parent company said. Olive Garden's comps rose 1.5%.

Financing

Darden tries a new remedy for Cheddar’s

By Peter Romeo on Sep. 19, 2019

After data revealed an unexpected marketing issue for the chain, management pulled back on advertising and started working on an adjusted plan.

Operations

Olive Garden tries new off-premise moves

By Peter Romeo on Jun. 20, 2019

The Darden Restaurants holding is still a no-go on small-order delivery, but its catering program is moving within reach of couples.

Top 500 Chains