Darden Restaurants and Uber Technologies recently announced an exclusive multi-year delivery partnership between the two. Olive Garden is the first operator to pilot the on-demand delivery program.
"Guests have been asking us for home delivery options, and they continue to show they are willing to pay for the convenience," remarked Rick Cardenas, Darden President and Chief Executive Officer. "As we continued to evaluate delivery, it was important for us to find a way to address this guest need state without disrupting the team member or guest experience and without compromising our competitive advantages and simple operating model. Uber is a partner we believe shares that vision and can meet our expectations. Their investment in a custom-integration, commitment to Olive Garden's first-party delivery growth, and efficiency and speed at a national scale, made this exclusive partnership a clear choice."
A press release noted that the agreement will enable restaurant guests to order on-demand delivery via Darden restaurant channels, with delivery handled by Uber Direct.
An initial pilot will begin in late 2024 at a select number of Olive Garden locations.
"We're excited to announce this partnership and look forward to bringing guests the excellent, convenient, and reliable experience that is foundational to both of our brands," said Sarfraz Maredia, Vice President of Delivery, Head of Americas at Uber Eats. "On-demand delivery is increasingly a core expectation for consumers. People also expect a great experience, especially when it's from a brand they love like Olive Garden, and that doesn't change whether it's at the restaurant or at home. We're confident our teams can deliver on that promise together and continue to grow first-party delivery as a channel."
To learn more about the launch, click here.
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