Olive Garden owner targets Jamaica for expansion

Darden Restaurants, the American company behind Olive Garden and Ruth’s Chris Steak House, holds franchise agreements covering Jamaica, according to its latest annual filing with United States regulators.

The company has not named which of its brands it intends for the island.

The Orlando-based group said it holds agreements “with unaffiliated operators to develop and operate” seven of its brands, which include Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Yard House, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, The Capital Grille and Bahama Breeze.

Jamaica sits alongside Aruba, The Bahamas and Barbados on the 2026 list. The Cayman Islands, named in the 2025 filing, no longer appears. Darden gave no explanation for the change.

“We have a development, franchise, and/or license agreements in place with unaffiliated operators to develop and operate ... restaurants,” stated the shareholder letter issued this month.

The Caribbean currently accounts for two of the company’s 167 franchised restaurants worldwide – one Olive Garden and one Ruth’s Chris Steak House. Latin America holds 36; Asia, 23; and Canada, 14. Darden operated a further 2,202 restaurants of its own in the United States as at May 2026, taking the group total to 2,373.

Darden has retrenched elsewhere in the wider region, closing the sale of eight Olive Garden restaurants in Canada to Recipe Unlimited Corporation in July 2025.

The Financial Gleaner sent queries to Darden for comment but did not get a response by press time.

Its biggest brands are Olive Garden, LongHorn and Yard House. Darden’s total sales rose 9.4 per cent to US$13.2 billion in fiscal 2026, helped by an extra week of operations, blended same-restaurant sales up 4.5 per cent, and 43 net new restaurants.

“It was an especially strong year for our three largest brands,” stated the group.

Olive Garden, described as the largest Italian restaurant operator in the United States, opened its first location in 1982. The brand delivered 4.0 per cent same-restaurant sales growth for the year, which the company attributed to strong execution, menu innovation and initiatives that gave guests more choice and value, including the systemwide roll-out of a lighter portions menu.

LongHorn Steakhouse is an American Western style “full-service” restaurant brand with locations primarily in the eastern United States. It delivered 7.2 per cent same-restaurant sales growth for the year, which the company credited to a strategy rooted in food quality, simplicity and culture.

Yard House is known for its food, classic rock, and over 100 draft beer offerings. It delivered 5.6 per cent same-restaurant sales growth and grew total sales by US$95 million.

“Together, Olive Garden, LongHorn, and Yard House have now delivered positive same-restaurant sales for five consecutive years,” stated the company.

Darden also stated in its shareholder letter that it would wind down its Bahama Breeze restaurants, converting about half of the remaining 28 locations to other brands over 12 to 18 months and permanently closing the rest. Bahama Breeze was described as offering the feel of a Caribbean escape built on island-inspired seafood, chicken and steaks. All locations are in the United States.

“We believe the locations that we expect to convert are strong sites that can benefit several brands in our portfolio,” stated the company.

business@gleanerjm.com