Olive Garden in pilot with Uber for on-demand delivery
Olive Garden fans in select locations will soon be able to have their favorite dishes delivered to them at home.
The restaurant chain's parent company, Darden Restaurants, has entered into a multi-year delivery partnership with Uber, set to begin with Olive Garden in late 2024. The agreement will enable restaurant guests to order on-demand delivery via Darden's restaurant channels, with delivery handled by Uber Direct, through Uber's national delivery network. The partnership is set to begin with Olive Garden later this year.
An initial pilot of first-party delivery from a limited number of Olive Garden locations will begin in the coming months. Upon the completion of a successful pilot, national expansion at Olive Garden is expected to be complete by May 2025.
Once live, guests will be able to order delivery through Olive Garden's website and app at more than 900 company-owned locations across the United States, giving fans of the Italian food chain access to quick delivery via Uber.
"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, VP 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."
Darden’s portfolio of restaurant chains includes Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Yard House, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Eddie V's and Bahama Breeze.
[READ MORE: Darden Restaurants to acquire Chuy’s for $605 million]
"Guests have been asking us for home delivery options and they continue to show they are willing to pay for the convenience," said Rick Cardenas, Darden president and CEO. "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.”
