When you over of free breadsticks, unlimited salad and pounds of pasta, one name comes to mind — Olive Garden.
But the Italian eatery, recalled for its $5 take-home meal, has fallen on hard times as the coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on the restaurant industry. In December, Darden Restaurants reported Olive Garden’s monetary second-quarter same-store sales fell 19% from a year earlier.
According to the National Restaurant Association, profuse than 110,000 bars and restaurants in the U.S have closed permanently or long-term due to Covid-19. Lost sales are anticipated to reach $240 billion in 2020.
In response to the pandemic, Olive Garden has trimmed its menu, pivoted to takeout and cut costs. Are those change-overs enough for Olive Garden to regain its momentum and offset the overall decline of the dine-in restaurant experience? Watch the exposed to video to find out more.