Olive Garden

James Beard award finalists announced

By Peter Romeo on Mar. 15, 2016

The year’s best chefs and restaurants, a designation that usually translates into found business, will be chosen from this list of standouts. The roster includes a number of places outside the usual fine-dining destinations.

Marketing

Top 5 marketing moments of 2017

By Benita Gingerella on Dec. 18, 2017

These marketing mishaps and wins left a mark on operators and consumers.

Judge denies class action for employees suing Florida’s Darden Restaurants

Sep. 09, 2014

A class action suit could have involved as many as 218,000 current and former employees.

Labor group targets Olive Garden's pay schedule

By Peter Romeo on May 12, 2016

Restaurant Opportunities Centers United said it plans to hold protests at branches of the chain in six major cities.

Olive Garden investor: Back off on the breadsticks

Sep. 12, 2014

A dissident shareholder in the chain’s parent company is demanding some very specific operational changes, including the switch to a one-stick-at-a-time bread service.

Pumpkin LTOs are coming out early—but are the pumpkins?

By Sara Rush Wirth on Aug. 19, 2016

Will the looming pumpkin shortage pose a problem for the many chains that bank on autumn LTOs?

Leadership

Dave George named Darden COO

By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 22, 2018

The casual-dining chain operator also named Dan Kiernan president of Olive Garden.

Gene Lee named interim CEO of Darden

Oct. 14, 2014

The casual dining giant also has a new non-executive chairman, the CEO of the investment company that won control of Darden last week.

This week’s 4 head-spinning moments: No mercy

By Peter Romeo on Oct. 07, 2016

Can't the places struggling to stay afloat get some relief from regulators and the over-achievers?

Operations

Delivery backlash and 4 other head-spinning moments

By Peter Romeo on Feb. 23, 2018

The dash for off-premise business is taking a detour around third-party delivery. Meanwhile, Amy Poehler isn't making restaurateurs laugh, R&D kitchens are cooking up some unusual new products, and the drug epidemic is prompting some controversial changes in operations.

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