2004 Consumers' Choice in Chains | Italian: Olive Garden

By Staff -- Restaurants & Institutions, 9/1/2004

2004 Consumers’ Choice in Chains
ITALIAN > OLIVE GARDEN

Olive Garden’s top category scores for food quality and menu variety are testaments to its continuous efforts to offer guests an authentic Italian dining experience that is both satisfying and surprising enough to merit repeat visits.

That requires refreshing the food and wine menus with new choices while always honoring the concept’s “tastes of Tuscany” theme. Culinary directors train at Olive Garden’s Culinary Institute of Tuscany and Riserva di Fizzano restaurant in Italy and managers study at its Wine Institute of Napa Valley in California. This is important not only for maintaining authenticity and quality in food and beverages but also for signaling to unit-level staff the seriousness of the chain’s commitment to dining excellence. That dedication in turn is communicated to customers.

44 Number of choices on Olive Garden's core wine list, 36 of them available by the glass.

“We are thrilled our guests made Olive Garden the 2004 Consumers’ Choice in Chains winner in the Italian dining category,” says Drew Madsen, Olive Garden president. “Everything we do is guided by our passion to delight our guests with a genuine Italian dining experience. It directs us in the creation and preparation of our fresh, simple, delicious Italian food; the selection of wines on our award-winning wine list; in the design and construction of our Tuscan Farmhouse restaurants; and especially in the way we welcome our guests into our restaurants and make them feel like family.”

Last year, the chain introduced its Caffé la Toscana program, ensuring that even the coffees served at the close of the meal are truly Italian from the blend and roast of beans to the china used for service. Such details define the Olive Garden experience.

Headquarters Orlando CEO Drew Madsen Units 543 Check average $13.50 Respondents aware of chain1 93% Respondents who visited in previous 12 months1 41% Guests who would go back2 91% Average loyalty (would go back) for chains in this segment 86% Key region South Widest attribute lead Good reputation (1) Base is all respondents; (2) base is 12-month patrons.

 

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