Yard House

Operations

Olive Garden tries new off-premise moves

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

Yard House

Get Top 500 data: sales, units and YOY change, average unit volume, and company/franchise units, as well as Technomic’s analysis, growth forecast and more.

The Italian chain posted a same-store sales increase of 3.5% for Q2, but Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen continued to underperform for the chains’ parent, Darden Restaurants.

The casual-dining superpower says it will focus as much on recruiting and keeping employees as it will on drawing customers.

The new customer lures range from free delivery to guaranteed group reservations.

The House approved a bill yesterday that would narrow the scope of employees who have to be covered, but President Obama has already promised a veto.

More than half of the restaurant industry’s $491 billion in sales come from the Top 500 chains. And these giants grew at a modestly stronger rate, both in terms of sales and store counts, than the industry overall. Restaurant Business focused on the leading 250 performers to identify trends for our first-ever special report delivering lessons from Technomic’s annual Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report. This special package includes lessons for all operators from the largest chains by segment, menu category and more.

Operators sound off on the tricks to featuring the right tunes.

Darden's upscale brewpub boasts a menu with modern twists in a sleek, contemporary atmosphere

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