Olive Garden has managed to pull off a business promotion even after a similar scheme spelled the end for Red Lobster.
The beloved Italian chain has managed to reverse its sales decline by reintroducing its Never-Ending Pasta Bowl promotion earlier this year.
The family dining favorite had suffered four straight quarters of dipping sales until the promo helped the chain to post a 2 percent increase in the three months ending November 24.
The latest results showed that Olive Garden customers ordered a record number of refills during the twelve-week Never-Ending Pasta Bowl promotion.
Many customers also opted to upgrade their meal from the standard $13.99 by adding a protein such as chicken to their dish for an extra $4.99, Restaurant Business reported.
This suggests ‘the more average-income consumer is starting to feel a little bit better,’ Rick Cardenas, CEO of Olive Garden parent Darden Restaurants said.
Cardenas also said the chain had seen an increase in customers who earn between $50,000 and $100,000 a year.
It comes after Red Lobster was forced to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after accumulating $300 million in debt, $21 million of which came as a result of its disastrous endless shrimp deal.
Olive Garden reversed its sales decline by reintroducing its Never-Ending Pasta Bowl
The deal, launched last June, landed the seafood chain in hot water after too many customers opted for the deal, and consumed too many shrimp per serving eating in to its profitability.
Although Red Lobster has now emerged from bankruptcy, it has still lost more than 100 of its restaurants.
At Olive Garden however, the number of customers has also improved in the last quarter, Restaurant Business reported.
The chain recently rolled out the option to have its menu items delivered at home via Uber at 100 of its locations.
Fans of the restaurant chain had long lamented that its delicious pastas dishes were not available for delivery.
The fast casual favorite had resisted joining its competitors on the likes of DoorDash and UberEats, claiming it did not want a third-party coming between the brand and its guests.
However, it relented in the fall and now delivery accounts for around 1.5 percent of sales, according to Restaurant Business.
Olive Garden has also brought back fan favorite dishes in a bid to win back customers put off by price increases in recent years.
Customers are opting to upgrade their meal by adding a protein to their dish for an extra $4.99.
Olive Garden has finally seen an uptick in sales after four quarters of decline
Red Lobster’s Endless Shrimp started at $20 but was too popular and cost millions of dollars
The chain reintroduced Steak Gorgonzola Alfredo and Stuffed Chicken Marsala after both items were removed during the pandemic when menus were simplified.
They are also making a comeback with ‘higher-quality ingredients,’ Cardenas said back in September.
The Steak Gorgonzola Alfredo features six ounces of grilled sirloin steak tips with creamy fettuccine alfredo, blue cheese, and spinach topped with sun-dried tomatoes and a balsamic drizzle.
The Stuffed Chicken Marsala offers a grilled chicken breast stuffed with sun-dried tomatoes and Italian cheese, served with a creamy masala sauce and mashed potatoes.
Both options come with endless breadsticks and unlimited soup or salad.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .