Darden will raise prices, increase promotions in tough economy

Darden Restaurants will ramp up promotions, raise prices and keep a tight lid on costs to offset slowing sales and rising expenses in a weak economy, top executives said Wednesday.

[beach bum]

Darden has done a great job keeping prices low .If the price of oil comes down maybe things will return to normal.

[Historian]

Big mistake. Higher prices equals lower customer counts. Learn from history, Darden. The same issues existed in the mid-1970's. The answer was Joe Lee's "Plentiful Platter." Lowered prices brought the customers back in droves.

[Tonya]

WellI hate to say it but darden reported a 31% decrease in profits last quarter. Judging from the shotgun death of one of the execs in NM, I am starting to wonder whats going on with those folks. God bless his soul. I also hope it gets worked out cause the jobs it supplies puts food on peoples tables at home as well as puts a ton of people through college!

[Tonya]

Well I hate to say it but Darden reported a 31% decrease in profits last quarter. Judging from the shotgun death of one of the execs in NM, I am starting to wonder whats going on with those folks. God bless his soul. I also hope it gets worked out cause the jobs it supplies puts food on peoples tables at home as well as puts a ton of people through college!

[Tonya]

weird I can t post......or we are about to see my post 3-5times!

[Joe]

We recently went to Red Lobster because we got a gift card, and it was the first time in a LONG time we had gone. I usually get the Pick 3 plate with 3 types of shrimp. that USED to be $15-16. imagine my shock when I saw it was over $20!!! Its not like we hadn't been there in over a yr..

We ended up getting some meals for $17 each, but at those prices and the gift card, we still shelled out about $30 ($25 gift card) on no appetizers or alcohol, just a lemonade and a dessert.

Only good thing is that I forced myself to split my order in half so I'd have lunch the following day.

[Conservative Republican]

Darden will RAISE prices? What a*holes. LOWER prices to attract more customers. Who is the jackass running that company?

[Joe]

At the new raised prices, I think it will be even LONGER til the next time we visit..

[Phil]

Crap food at higher prices? PASS!

[Next Casualty]

With times the way they are and the tremendous overhead the company has they may go the way of steak and ale. They bought a steak chain last year. Why? In June of 2007 everyone knew we had major problems credit. They cater to a clientele that is very sensitive to inflation.

[Gloom and Doom]

Not going to do you any good at all Mr. Darden. Belly up soon. We will all be eating beans, taters and cornbread at home. Sorry.

[Long Time Floridian]

Next Casualty wrote:

With times the way they are and the tremendous overhead the company has they may go the way of steak and ale. They bought a steak chain last year. Why? In June of 2007 everyone knew we had major problems credit. They cater to a clientele that is very sensitive to inflation.

I agree. Olive Garden is the best concept they have, move in that direction I think. I do not understand why they bought a steak chain. Just shows how top executives are out of touch.But will see,I could be wrong.

[Conservative Republican]

Whitey the Brain wrote:

<quoted text>
Hey Conservative
It's not the food or the prices.
It's the greedy, lazy, dirty, stupid servers that are keeping the customers away.
They all suck.
It's almost impossible to get any kind of service, let alone good service from the slugs that work in the eateries around here.
Hire a couple good servers, and I eat out five times a week.
I'm to lazy to feed myself, but I would rather not eat than to have some dirty nit-wit throw a plate of food in front of me.

Indeed, by and large waiters and waitresses today don't have a clue how to provide good service. Moreover, I've walked out of restaurants when I've seen waiters and waitresses donning visible tatoos, body piercing armor, and overall looking like scuz-buckets. I can just imagine the potential for hepatitis-B or worse. No thank you. I'll cook at home.