Uber Eats will handle deliveries; the food must be ordered through Olive Garden’s website or app|Olive Garden|Keizers|CC BY-SA 4.0
Olive Garden owner Darden Restaurants announced a food delivery partnership with Uber yesterday. The exclusive multi-year deal will begin later this year at select locations and, if successful, could expand to all 900+ restaurants by May 2025.
However, Uber Eats will only handle deliveries. Food orders will be made via the Olive Garden website or app.
The company has long avoided third-party delivery apps and services, citing concerns about profit margins and quality. However, following a less-than-favorable quarterly report, Darden decided to have Uber Eats drivers take over delivery duties from Olive Garden employees, marking a shift in how the chain manages its takeout service.
Currently, the restaurant only provides a $100 minimum catering delivery handled by in-house staff.
The company reported a 2.9% decline in same-store sales, which surpassed analysts’ expectations. Darden also missed its revenue estimates. Despite that, the stock surged 9% after the partnership announcement.