Consumer
Olive Garden-Owner Tests Smaller Portions as Diners Seek Cheaper Options
Spaghetti, traditional meat sauce and meatballs at an Olive Garden in Hyattsville, Maryland.
Photographer: Deb Lindsey/The Washington Post/Getty ImagesDarden Restaurants Inc. rolled out smaller-portioned, lower-priced entrées at select Olive Garden locations during the quarter, part of its strategy to make menus more affordable and boost sales, Chief Executive Officer Rick Cardenas said on an earnings call.
The shift reflects broader changes in dining habits. Millions of Americans are now taking weight-loss drugs that control appetites, and consumers more broadly are cutting back on dining out to save money.