But Olive Garden is holding out. In the quarter ending on May 26, sales at Olive Garden restaurants open at least 16 months dropped 1.5%. Olive Garden has tried to avoid such pushback by keeping its price increases low. “While Olive Garden same restaurant sales were below the industry, same-restaurant guest counts outperformed the industry,” Vennam said. “The way we do it is more sustainable.”Rather than vie for customers with steep discounts, Olive Garden is planning to bring people in by highlighting its regular offerings.

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