ORLANDO Fla. Two casual-dining giants, Red Lobster and Olive Garden parent Darden Restaurants Inc. and Outback Steakhouse parent OSI Restaurants Inc., reported mixed same-store sales results for April.
Darden, based here, said same-store sales for the four weeks ended April 29 increased between 5 percent and 6 percent at Olive Garden, but fell between 1 percent and 2 percent at Red Lobster. Average checks increased from the same period of a year earlier at both chains, mainly because of increased pricing, the company said. Guest traffic rose about 3 percent at Olive Garden in April, but declined between 3 percent and 4 percent at Red Lobster, Darden reported.
Darden operates more than 1,450 restaurants under five brands. It reports monthly same-store sales results only for its flagship chains.
Tampa, Fla.-based OSI, which operates or franchises about 1,451 restaurants under eight brands, reported slight same-store sales gains for the four weeks ended April 28 at its five largest chains. Systemwide same-store sales increased 1 percent at Outback Steakhouse, 1.1 percent at Carrabba's Italian Grill, 0.7 percent at Bonefish Grill, 1.9 percent at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar and 0.8 percent at Roy's.
