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Darden Restaurants Inc. finds consumer demand exceeds limited COVID-19 capacityDarden Restaurants Inc. finds consumer demand exceeds limited COVID-19 capacity

COVID-19 restrictions continue to limit possible in-restaurant seating at Olive Garden, other casual-dining restaurants, CEO Gene Lee says

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

September 24, 2020

4 Min Read
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Darden Restaurants Inc. found it generally had more customers than available seats as the company began to emerge from COVID-19 capacity restrictions in the second quarter, executives said Thursday.

Gene Lee, CEO of the Orlando, Fla.-based Darden, said on an analyst call that a streamlined menu, curbside pickup with digital order-pay and improved margins because of less waste helped the company’s performance in the second quarter.

“We see a pretty resilient consumer out there,” Lee said, adding that local and state capacity restrictions to slow the spread of coronavirus were more limiting than consumer sentiment.

At the end of most recent quarter Aug. 30, 68% of Darden’s more than 1,800 restaurants had at least partial dining-room capacity ...

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About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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