Story perspectives

Olive Garden Delays Lunch Campaign Amid Cyclospora Concerns

By Drooid · Sep 24, 2026, 10:35 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Darden Restaurants reported fiscal 2027 Q1 sales rose 5.1% to $3.20 billion.
CEO Rick Cardenas said cyclospora concerns forced Olive Garden to postpone its weekday-lunch campaign.
Olive Garden’s same-restaurant sales increased 1.1% and the lunch offer will launch this quarter.
LongHorn Steakhouse posted 6.2% same-restaurant sales growth, its 22nd straight quarter up.
Darden projects FY2027 revenue of $13.60-$13.75 billion and EPS of $11.10-$11.35.

History

Historical Context

In May 1995 General Mills spun off its restaurant division as Darden Restaurants, listing on the NYSE at $10.75 per share and overseeing 1,250 locations across the U.S. and Canada. The new company quickly expanded Olive Garden and Red Lobster, later selling Red Lobster to Golden Gate Capital in 2014 after activist pressure, shaping Darden’s focus on multi-brand growth.

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Story summary

Darden Restaurants reported fiscal 2027 Q1 sales rose 5.1% to $3.20 billion.
CEO Rick Cardenas said cyclospora concerns forced Olive Garden to postpone its weekday-lunch campaign.
Olive Garden’s same-restaurant sales increased 1.1% and the lunch offer will launch this quarter.
LongHorn Steakhouse posted 6.2% same-restaurant sales growth, its 22nd straight quarter up.
Darden projects FY2027 revenue of $13.60-$13.75 billion and EPS of $11.10-$11.35.

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