Back off on the breadsticks
People leave an Olive Garden restaurant at sunset in Foxborough, Mass., on March 20. File photo.
NEW YORK (AP) — Maybe there is such a thing as too many breadsticks.
In a nearly 300-page treatise on what’s wrong with Olive Garden and its management, investor Starboard Value suggests the Italian restaurant chain is being reckless with its unlimited breadsticks. The hedge fund notes the chain’s official policy is to bring out one breadstick per customer at a time, plus an extra for the table.
But Starboard says servers bring out more than that, leading to waste — and cold breadsticks. Starboard notes that it isn’t pushing for an end to unlimited breadsticks, just more control in how they’re doled out.
“Darden management readily admits that after sitting just 7 minutes, the breadsticks deteriorate in quality,” Starboard said in its presentation. Full story.
Unlimited breadsticks are important when you've got four hungry boys! Do you eat at Olive Garden?