UNVEILING THE FULL-SERVICE TITANS OLIVE GARDEN 30 30

FSR TEAMED UP WITH DATA PARTNER CIRCANA ON THIS REPORT OF THE TOP-GROSSING SIT-DOWN RESTAURANT BRANDS IN THE U.S.

BY FSR STAFF

Our new report this year highlights the powerhouse brands making legendary status in restaurant chain history. Though varied by cuisine type, these fullservice restaurants all showcase recent growth rooted in culinary and technological innovation, and have not only stood the test of time, but also survived the pandemic and come out stronger on the other side. The below powerhouses have mastered the art of crafting unforgettable dining experiences at affordable, everyday prices, and capturing customers’ attention and loyalty. In this comprehensive report, we delve into the captivating world of these full-serve, casual-dining titans.

1Heading into fiscal 2023, guest satisfaction metrics at Olive Garden were at an alltime high, thanks in large part to improved staffing levels, along with ongoing efforts to streamline operations and reduce complexity in the kitchen. Parent company Darden Restaurants has underpriced inflation by more than 400 basis points and underpriced the full-service segment by more than 600 basis points in the past three years, and consumers have responded by staying put. At the same time, the company has committed to stopping deep discounting. The closest it came to a promotional deal was the return of Olive Garden’s Never-Ending Pasta Bowl in Q2. The item, which is likely to be the chain’s only LTO this year, was priced $3 higher than its previous rollout, but still delivered a sizable lift to traffic and sales during its seven-week run.