As of 2012, Olive Garden restaurants
account for 45% of the sales generated by Darden. Olive Garden operates more than
750 locations globally.
The
first Olive Garden was opened by General Mills on December 13, 1982, in
Orlando. By 1989, General Mills had opened 145 restaurants, making it one of
the fastest growing units in the company's restaurant holdings. While not a
critical success, it was popular, and its per-store sales soon matched sister
company Red Lobster. The company eventually became the largest chain of
Italian-themed full-service restaurants in the United States.
General
Mills spun off its restaurant holdings as Darden Restaurants, a stand alone
company, in 1995. Olive Garden is Darden's most value oriented chain with an
average 2009 check per person of $15.00 (USD) versus over $90 (USD) at its
sibling Capital Grille.
Brad
Blum, a former president of Olive Garden, said that sales in existing
restaurants sharply decreased, with a 12% decline occurring at one point, even
though the company was quickly establishing new restaurants. Sandra Pedicini of
the Orlando Sentinel said that "Darden reinvented the Olive Garden in the
1990s, from a floundering chain into an industry star."
As
part of a February 2011 Darden analyst conference, the parent group announced
it intended to add more than 200 Olive Garden locations in the following few
years. The announcement came after a previous announcement that the company
would be expanding into potential new international markets for the chain,
including the Middle East and Asia, due to the maturity of the North American
market. The company also announced it would begin licensing franchising
partnerships, a new direction for the chain and its parent which had
traditionally relied on expansion via company owned locations exclusively.
Parent
company Darden also announced it was going to begin co-locating Olive Garden
and sibling chain Red Lobster locations. The new format stores are designed for
smaller market locations and will have separate entrances and dining areas but
operate a single kitchen and support areas. The dining areas of the new format
will be half the standard area found in more traditional Darden chains, but the
actual building will be larger than stand alone operations of the chain. Menus
will also remain separate, with customers only able to order from the location
they are seated in.
In
2010, Olive Garden generated $3.3 billion in sales. Its closest competitor, Carrabba's
Italian Grill, had generated $650.5 million in sales during the same year. By
2012, sales had decreased at Olive Garden. At the final quarter of 2011, sales
at established Olive Garden locations had decreased by 2.5%. Chris Muller, the
dean of the hospitality school of Boston University and a former restaurant
professor at the University of Florida, said "What does Olive Garden stand
for now? I don't know what it stands for." The Darden president and chief
operating officer, said that Olive Garden at that point was "a beloved,
but somewhat expected brand." The company unveiled a three course meal for
$12.95 offer in an effort to try to stop the decline.
The
original slogan for Olive Garden was "Good Times, Great Salad, Olive
Garden". In March 2012, the chain was part of an Internet sensation when a
review by columnist Marilyn Hagerty in the Grand Forks Herald went viral and spurred numerous national
media appearances by Hagerty, including a televised visit to Olive Garden in Times
Square in New York, N.Y.soup and breadsticks were added onto this menu item,
the saying was changed to "When you're here, you're family."
Olive
Garden was criticized for participating in Coca-Cola's H2NO program which
sought to have customers order more profitable beverages over tap water.
I
love Olive Garden Salad Dressing. It rocks! Sam’s Club carries Olive Garden Salad Dressing now available in a bottle.
Olive Garden Salad Dressing
Ingredients:
1 package dry Italian Dressing
1/2 teaspoon dried Italian Seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 tablespoon mayonnaise
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 1/2 tablespoons water
4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Whisk together all the ingredients.
Pour into container with a lid. Place in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
Pour over salad. Enjoy!
Never eaten at an Olive Garden.... No particular reason, just never have.... But the dressing sounds delicious!
ReplyDeleteWow this is like hitting the jackpot of recipes! I love their dressing thank you!
ReplyDeleteThis looks so yummm......great recipe!
ReplyDeleteFabulous. I love making my own salad dressings.
ReplyDeleteI made it and loved it!
ReplyDeleteGlad you like it. Thank you!
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