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Olive Garden

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.

Topics

This highlight reel of restaurant fights would make Mike Tyson wince

 By Peter Romeo on Mar. 29, 2022

Restaurant Rewind: Carl Icahn's battle with McDonald's brings to mind these all-time classic bouts between investors and restaurant companies.

Operations

Why Darden CEO Gene Lee isn’t worried about consumers’ spending power

By Joe Guszkowski on Mar. 24, 2022

On his final earnings call as chief executive, Lee provided some parting wisdom about the state of restaurants in an unusual moment for the economy.

Financing

Olive Garden owner’s record sales overshadowed by omicron

By Joe Guszkowski on Mar. 24, 2022

A historic December gave way to a difficult January for Darden Restaurants, but it had bounced back again by February.

Financing

Olive Garden hints at end of Never-Ending Pasta Bowl

By Joe Guszkowski on Dec. 17, 2021

Executives said the popular promotion had negative impacts—and it did just fine without it this year.

Leadership

A look back at Gene Lee's sometimes contrarian approach to leading Darden

By Peter Romeo on Dec. 17, 2021

The longtime restaurant leader intends to retire in May. Here's how his thinking has influenced a casual-dining giant—if not the industry itself, according to RB's Reality Check.

Leadership

Once a busser for Darden, Rick Cardenas is set to become its CEO

By Joe Guszkowski on Dec. 17, 2021

The industry lifer has spent virtually his entire career with the company, rising from a 16-year-old Red Lobster employee to the top post.

Financing

Amid pandemic uncertainty, Darden finds less is more

By Joe Guszkowski on Sep. 23, 2021

Olive Garden’s parent has hit on a more streamlined business model that it intends to take beyond the COVID era.

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.

Financing

LongHorn Steakhouse sales soar as Darden moves closer to recovery

By Jonathan Maze on Jun. 24, 2021

Olive Garden’s sales increased relative to 2019, while the casual dining operator’s fine dining concepts see improvements.

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