How Covid derailed Olive Garden’s success

When you consider free breadsticks, limitless salad and kilos of pasta, one identify involves thoughts — Olive Garden.

But the Italian eatery, recognized for its $5 take-home meal, has fallen on exhausting instances because the coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on the restaurant business. In December, Darden Restaurants reported Olive Garden’s fiscal second-quarter same-store gross sales fell 19% from a 12 months earlier.

According to the National Restaurant Association, greater than 110,000 bars and eating places in the ushave closed completely or long-term as a consequence of Covid-19. Lost gross sales are anticipated to succeed in $240 billion in 2020.

In response to the pandemic, Olive Garden has trimmed its menu, pivoted to takeout and minimize prices. Are these adjustments sufficient for Olive Garden to regain its momentum and offset the general decline of the dine-in restaurant expertise? Watch the above video to seek out out extra.