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Casual restaurant chains like Olive Garden see declining sales

Mar 26, 2024
Darden Restaurants, which owns chains like Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, had its first same-store sales decline since the pandemic.
Casual chains like Olive Garden don't typically lure in higher-income customers, but also aren't the most affordable option for lower-income households.
Scott Olson/Getty Images

How will restaurants attract people dining out again?

Mar 25, 2021
The challenge for bigger restaurant chains will be how to differentiate themselves from other brands to bring in business.
"I think a lot of restaurant brands, particularly full-service brands, have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reinvent themselves effectively," said R.J. Hottovy, a restaurant analyst at Aaron Allen & Associates.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

Coronavirus is pressuring some companies to offer paid sick leave

Mar 12, 2020
There is no federal mandate for paid sick time, though some states require it.
Walmart announced it would offer paid sick leave to employees diagnosed with COVID-19.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

What unlimited breadsticks tell us about the economy

Sep 19, 2019
The group's diverse set of restaurants tells a story about a wide and equally diverse customer base.
Breadsticks anyone? Above, freshly baked breadsticks seen at Arizmendi Bakery in San Francisco, California.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Demand is on the New Year's Eve menu in Times Square

Dec 30, 2015
$800 per person at Bubba Gump's, anyone?

Darden restaurants went through a lot in one year

Sep 22, 2015
From the sale of the Red Lobster chain to the ouster of the board of directors.

Darden's real estate play

Jun 23, 2015
Olive Garden's owner will spin off part of its business into a REIT.

For public good, not for profit.

Weekend Brunch: The NFL's future, changing the climate and whither Olive Garden?

Sep 26, 2014
Joe Weisenthal from Business Insider and FT’s Shannon Bond chat about the week’s news. Click play above to hear them break down the NFL in pop culture and the market effects of climate change.

Writing a recipe for change at Olive Garden

Sep 12, 2014
The activist hedge fund eyeing Darden's board suggests adding salt to pasta water.

Why Darden ditched biscuits and not breadsticks

May 16, 2014
Darden is giving up Red Lobster and keeping Olive Garden.