Just last month, Olive Garden released the test for a “lore than melone!” This operational initiative is designed to enhance the customer experience and lead to higher sales growth over time. Darden Restaurants, the parent company of Olive Garden, is testing this experiment at close to 40% of its footprint in the U.S. They’re experimenting with new strategies to improve the in-person dining experience. The smaller portion options are offered during dinner hours and all day on weekends.
The new menu section includes half-sized servings of seven of their most popular entrees. Now, customers can enjoy their signature dishes at an even lower price point! This new initiative is responding to the growing demand for affordable food access. Meanwhile, it will continue the restaurant’s long-standing tradition of super-sized helpings.
This change, described as a “no brainer” in tactical terms by Darden Restaurants CEO and president Rick Cardenas, would prove to be equally crucial. He added that same-restaurant sales at stores that offered the smaller-size servings were up close to 6%. On top of that, traffic in these places grew by almost 3%.
According to their customers’ feedback so far, the response has been one of consternation, with satisfaction levels on portion sizes jumping double-digits in score. Affordability scores were better by 15% at sites enrolled in the trial. Cardenas further touted the flexibility of this new offering, noting, “This measure brings price depth to the buffet. Today, consumers have more real options to choose what’s best for them.”
Even with the introduction of these smaller portions, Olive Garden stays true to its brand guarantee of “always amazing, abundant portion sizes.” We brought in more lighter options to appeal to different appetites. This strategy not only brings in new customers but serves a wider range of remote work needs by meeting varying budget levels.
As Olive Garden has grown to over 900 restaurants and more than 99,000 employees, they have continued to focus on these changing customer preferences and their evolving needs. The company’s philosophy of innovation, while remaining true to its values, shows its commitment to building a better community experience, one delicious meal at a time.
