Severe winter weather across the U.S. significantly disrupted traffic growth at Olive Garden during the latest quarter, even as the brand continued to post positive same-store sales and maintain its broader growth trajectory.
Parent company Darden Restaurants reported that Olive Garden delivered 3.2 percent same-store sales growth in its fiscal third quarter ended February 2026, marking its sixth consecutive quarter of gains. However, underlying traffic declined by 0.4 percent, reflecting the impact of extreme winter conditions during January and February.
Executives said the weather created significant operational disruptions, at times forcing the temporary closure of up to 40 percent of Olive Garden locations. The adverse conditions reduced same-restaurant sales by roughly 100 basis points, derailing what the company had expected to be a stronger traffic quarter.
The disruption was compounded by a strategic miscalculation. Anticipating milder weather, Darden had scaled back promotional activity during the quarter, expecting improved dine-in traffic. Instead, widespread snowstorms limited mobility across key markets, weakening guest visits and offsetting demand.
Despite the traffic headwinds, Olive Garden’s performance was supported by growth in off-premise channels and menu innovation. Catering orders and delivery, particularly via Uber Eats, continued to expand, while the chain’s lower-priced ‘lighter portions’ menu helped attract value-conscious consumers, albeit at the cost of lower average ticket sizes.
At the group level, Darden reported a 5.9 percent rise in quarterly sales to approximately $3.3 billion, with stronger performance from sister brand LongHorn Steakhouse helping offset Olive Garden’s weather-related softness.
Looking ahead, the company remains focused on driving traffic recovery through promotional adjustments and menu strategies. Olive Garden is expected to extend key value campaigns in the next quarter, as Darden works to stabilise guest counts while continuing its broader expansion plans across brands.
