Olive Garden Boosts Darden

ORLANDO-Darden Restaurants posted strong income and sales increases during its Q2, fueled in part by its Olive Garden chain. Net earnings were $55 million for the quarter, which ended Nov. 27, were up 35% from the same year-ago period, while sales rose 7.8% to just over $1.3 billion.

Olive Garden same-store sales soared 6.4%, on total sales of $618.4 million. It was the 45th consecutive quarter that Olive Garden posted positive comps, according to executives. The 568-restaurant chain opened 21 units since last year’s second quarter.

Company executives say that they are testing two smaller Olive Garden prototypes that they will try out in urban markets in the fourth quarter. They plan to open between 25 and 30 new Olive Gardens next year.