Posted on 09/22/2023 7:08:43 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Retirees have lost their appetite for Cracker Barrel and Olive Garden since the pandemic — and it’s not clear when they’ll come back, according to the chains’ top brass.
No amount of biscuits and gravy or unlimited pasta refills seems to be enough to entice the 65-and-older crowd as they continue to pinch pennies amid high inflation and duck the coronavirus, according to Rick Cardenas, chief executive of Darden Restaurants, which owns Olive Garden.
“I do believe that they were a little bit more spooked on the COVID side,” Cardenas told analysts on a Thursday conference call. “We’d love to see them come back more frequently.” Indeed, seniors are heading to the budget-friendly pasta chain less often than they had before the pandemic, added chief financial officer Raj Vennam on a conference call on Thursday with Wall Street analysts.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Butter isn’t fattening.
Pasta, however, is....and, causes inflammation. As do the flour and potatoes in your Tuscan Zuppa. Not to mention the bread.
Sorry to break the news to you :-(
Not to mention the price of gas to get there.
Why would customers need a gay person to dialog with? Fashion advice?
I've never been to Cracker Barrel, but isn't their core audience people who don't want to be lambasted by LGBT stuff?
All super unhealthy processed garbage. This is why America is fat, folks. Quit eating this shyte.
Eat your bugs and shut up!
My Mom will turn 86 this week and she would LIVE at either Culver’s or Pizza Ranch if she could. ;)
We went to CB last week after I successfully avoided it for a year. The wife likes it. What turned me off was pushing their $3+ drinks to go along with a meal that has already gone up 20 to 40%. Then there was the over loud progressive contryish music pounding my ears. Doesnt matter what you say so long as it is loud, fat and just like the other guy. Ill try to extend my gap to more than a year. Did I mention the drma and show when I questioned an item on the bill? Not necessary , it was a simple question that could have been answered with a nearby menu and not a manager.
Now you’re talking!!!!
Maybe on your planet...
“ the Urbandale Panera, ”
Hah!
I have been there and go past it 5 days a week!
The one on 86th st?
You are correct there my friend!
We are seniors, and we go to Cracker Barrel occasionally. Probably no more or less often than before COVID. Maybe 3-4 times a year, at most. It is always quite busy, from our experience.
We don’t go to Olive Garden, and didn’t before COVID. I have maybe been once or twice in the past 20 years.
Looks like they’ve had repeated cycles of downturns...during 0blama and 0blama2 reigns.....
From 2012....
Olive Garden parent Darden suffers from bad specials, ‘Obamacare’(Failing CEO is Obama groupie...)
NY Times ^ | 12/4/12 | Tiffany Hsu
Posted on 12/4/2012, 12:15:56 PM by jimbo123
Darden Restaurants Inc. won’t be looking as good as expected next week when the restaurant company is set to release its second-quarter earnings, it said Tuesday.
The Olive Garden, Red Lobster and LongHorn Steakhouse parent lowered its profit and revenue projections for the quarter ended Nov. 25, blaming sour promotions in its eateries, Superstorm Sandy, its purchase of the Yard House USA chain and even its efforts to mitigate the coming costs of healthcare reform, also known as “Obamacare.”
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2965522/posts
My planet is Earth....but, you’re my fave Martian 👽
Not at the ‘eat bugs’ point yet. And if it comes to that, they’ll need to be smothered in chocolate. ;)
I still have dozens of tomatoes and apples to process for the ‘Prepper Pantry.’ I’m getting there, but I’m getting tired! ;)
It’s not that seniors have “lost their taste” for these restaurants. The fact is they no longer have the discretionary income for eating out every Friday night (or Sunday afternoon-—or whenever) that they did previously. It’s not Covid or a change in habits. It is simply an economic necessity.
After the lock-downs from the government’s ridiculous decrees from Covid, senior citizens would have loved to return to Bingo games followed by the trip to Cracker Barrel, or church followed by the evening at Waffle House with their friends. But, they can no longer afford that luxury. Those on fixed incomes are worried about saving the 25 or so bucks so they can pay the co-pay for the next doctor’s visit, or make sure they can pay the light bill, or buy a box of their favorite cereal plus some milk for the following week.
“Journalists” are so dam#ed clueless!
I think it's a combination of both. The quality of many places are not what they used to be.
Yep. Unlike what is reported about other Paneras, the 86th Street one is host to a lot of conservative activists, including some notable political players. Michele Bachmann is almost a regular. Pals with the owners.
My uncle is almost 94 and drives himself to the Olive Garden for lunch every day, because they are good to him there.
Olive Garden, Still a fan. But they’re high carb. Used to love how they let you try a wine. I guess some of them don’t do that anymore.
Cracker Barrel, great marketing for a greasy spoon. It’s truck stop food. Once your system gets used to it you wont spend all day in the bathroom. Kind of like that Spaceballs movie, ya know... “Check Please!” And they always have a great little shop to buy junk to stuff your car with. They should have a little baby alien up in the souvenirs, with a top hat. That would be hilarious merchandising!
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