The Bistro Group today announced that it has signed an agreement for Olive Garden, an American-Italian casual dining restaurant, to open its first ever restaurant in the Philippines. Targeted to be launched in the first quarter of 2020, the restaurant will be located at Ayala Mall Manila Bay.
Olive Garden is one of the eight differentiated brands of Darden Restaurants, Inc, and the largest casual dining brand in the US in terms of revenue (US$4.5 billion). Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, the company operates more than 850 locations in the USA and Canada, with franchised restaurants in Brazil, Kuwait, UAE, Panama and US territories, Guam and Puerto Rico.
“We are excited to partner with The Bistro Group,” said Brad Smith, Senior Vice-President, Franchising, of Darden International. “Their extensive portfolio of brands and exceptional performance in the local dining industry for over two decades speaks to their success. We are very selective in the franchisees we choose and The Bistro Group shares the same philosophy – good food, service and great value.” Smith was in the country recently to sign the franchising contract with The Bistro Group’s Chairman, William Stelton and President and COO, Jean Paul Manuud.
The Bistro Group’s Manuud likewise commented, “Olive Garden is a perfect fit for our business. It’s a casual dining place which puts a premium on quality and service gained from 37 years of operation, understanding and expertise in the food industry. They also align with our strategy to provide the market with the best that restaurant chains have to offer. The taste profile of their dishes is what Filipinos love – hearty, flavorful and great for sharing. We are enthusiastic that this concept will succeed in the local market.”
Olive Garden serves American-style Italian food targeted towards families in a Tuscan farmhouse setting. A first-timer in the restaurant must try the signature soup, salad and breadsticks as well as the bestselling, “Tour of Italy”, a platter made up of three classic dishes Chicken Parmigiana, Lasagna Classico and Fettuccine Alfredo. It is a good representation of their cuisine.
Photo shows Jean Paul Manuud, The Bistro Group’s COO and President (left) and Brad Smith, Senior Vice-President, Franchising, of Darden International signing the agreement.
ABOUT OLIVE GARDEN
At Olive Garden, we know that life is better together and everyone is happiest when they’re with family. As the leader in the Italian dining segment, Olive Garden has more than 850 restaurants and employs more than 96,000 team members. Olive Garden is a division of Darden Restaurants. At Darden, our people equal our success, and we are proud to employ more than 175,000 team members in nearly 1,700 restaurants. Olive Garden is committed to making a difference in the lives of others in the local community. As part of this commitment, Olive Garden restaurants have donated more than 40 million pounds of food to local community food banks across the country. For more information, visit www.olivegarden.com.
About The Bistro Group
The Bistro Group is the Philippines’ leading casual dining restaurant chain with 25 international hospitality brands and home-grown concepts. Its founding in 1994 blazed a trail in the industry, spurring growth and generating vibrancy in the market segment. Today, it operates 104 restaurants nationwide.
We do everything with passion and commitment – in every restaurant concept launched and every international chain brought to local shores and behind every innovative dish prepared. The unrelenting dedication of our management and staff contributes significantly to our progress for 25 years.
The Bistro Group is driven by its dictum – exceptional customer experience, great food and outstanding service. https://www.bistro.com.ph/
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