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Olive Garden

Operations

Six questions the pandemic has yet to answer for restaurants

As the crisis enters its fifth month, operators are still looking for insight on these matters keeping them up at night.

Operations

What Olive Garden’s parent has learned during the pandemic

The crisis has provided a unique opportunity to review some practices and approaches, according to Gene Lee, the CEO of Darden Restaurants. Here are some of the insights he says the company has gleaned.

Leadership

Olive Garden’s parent reinstates execs’ pre-COVID salaries

By Peter Romeo on Jun. 01, 2020

Gene Lee went from zero dollars, the pay level he set for himself to help Darden Restaurants and its employees, to $1 million a year.

Financing

Off-premise proves an effective bridge for casual dining

By Peter Romeo on May 21, 2020

Takeout and delivery have helped many of the segment's big brands weather the lockdown of dining rooms. Will that momentum continue?

Top 500 Chains

Olive Garden

Apr. 21, 2020

Olive Garden became the nation's largest casual-dining chain, growing sales 5% in 2019. The Italian

Operations

Surge in Olive Garden’s to-go volume holds unit sales slide to 44.8%

By Peter Romeo on Apr. 20, 2020

The Darden Restaurants chain is now generating takeout and delivery sales at an annualized rate of $2.8 million per store.

Operations

Darden provides a glimpse of COVID’s impact

By Peter Romeo on Mar. 19, 2020

The parent of Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse detailed how it has changed operations to temper the wallop, and warned of the potential damage if the situation worsens.

Marketing

BJ’s finds success with a novel dine-in/takeout combo

By Peter Romeo on Feb. 21, 2020

Customers who spend a certain amount in-restaurant can pick off a special $6 menu of heat-and-eat take-home dishes.

Leadership

Steve Layt succeeds Brad Blum as CEO of Brio, Bravo

By Peter Romeo on Jan. 28, 2020

Blum also resigned his post as chairman, but remains a co-owner of the polished-casual chains.

Marketing

Olive Garden, Applebee’s cut through TV ad clutter

By Peter Romeo on Jan. 24, 2020

The two casual-dining giants accounted for eight of last week’s 10 most effective ads for full-service brands. On the QSR side, chicken and pizza spots dominated.

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