Casual-dining company to introduce on-demand program later this year, companies say
Darden Restaurants Inc. has signed a multi-year delivery partnership with Uber Direct to begin with Olive Garden in late 2024, the companies said Thursday.
The Orlando, Fla.-based casual-dining company, which had been slow to enter the outside-party delivery market, said the initial delivery pilot would start from a limited number of Olive Garden locations.
“Upon the completion of a successful pilot, national expansion at Olive Garden is expected to be complete by May 2025,” the company said in a statement.
Once live, customers will be able to order delivery through Olive Garden’s website and smartphone app at more than 900 company-owned locations across the United States, Darden said.
“Guests have been asking us for home delivery options and they continue to show they are willing to pay for the convenience,” Rick Cardenas, Darden president and CEO, said in a statement.
“As we continued to evaluate delivery, it was important for us to find a way to address this guest need state without disrupting the team member or guest experience and without compromising our competitive advantages and simple operating model,” Cardenas said. “Uber is a partner we believe shares that vision and can meet our expectations. Their investment in a custom-integration, commitment to Olive Garden’s first-party delivery growth, and efficiency and speed at a national scale, made this exclusive partnership a clear choice,” he said.
Sarfraz Maredia, Uber Eats’ vice president of delivery and head of Americas, added: “On-demand delivery is increasingly a core expectation for consumers. People also expect a great experience, especially when it's from a brand they love like Olive Garden, and that doesn’t change whether it's at the restaurant or at home. We’re confident our teams can deliver on that promise together and continue to grow first-party delivery as a channel.”
Uber Direct Is based in San Francisco.
Darden’s portfolio of brands includes Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Yard House, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Eddie V's and Bahama Breeze. As of Aug. 25, Darden had 2,040 restaurants.
Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]
Follow him on X/Twitter: @RonRuggless
