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National Post

Olive Garden is expanding across Canada. Here's what to know

Olive Garden, the Italian-inspired chain restaurant found in all 52 U.S. states — including Hawaii and Alaska — with unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks, will soon be expanding across Canada. Article content The eight existing locations in Western Canada were acquired by Recipe Unlimited, franchisor for more than a dozen recognizable Canadian brands, along with 'the exclusive rights to develop and operate new' Olive Garden restaurants throughout the country. Article content Article content Article content In a press release announcing the acquisition, Recipe CEO Frank Hennessey said he sees 'immense potential for growth.' Article content 'This acquisition and subsequent development agreement align perfectly with our strategy to expand our presence in the casual dining segment with leading brands that resonate with Canadian consumers,' he stated. Article content For those unfamiliar, a large part of the chain's success is that diners — at both Canadian and U.S. locations — are offered unlimited soup, salad and breadsticks with the purchase of any entree. Similarly, anyone who comes in to order soup or salad individually can have as much as they want and also avail of the famous freshly-baked breadsticks. Article content Article content Where is Olive Garden in Canada and where are they expanding? Article content The company said it'll have more details on expansion as 'development plans take shape.' National Post has contacted Recipe for more information. Article content The current locations, previously operated by U.S.-based Darden Restaurants, consist of three in Alberta — two in Edmonton, one in Calgary — a pair in Winnipeg, and one each in Saskatoon, Regina and Langley, B.C. Article content It's not immediately clear if Olive Garden restaurants previously operated elsewhere in Canada; however, National Post has contacted Darden for clarification. Article content Where are Olive Garden's origins? Article content The first Olive Garden opened in Orlando, Fla., in 1982, as an arm of mass food manufacturer General Mills, according to food website Delish and the History Channel show The Food That Built America. It remains standing to this day. Article content The company also created Red Lobster and other brands, all of which were spun into Darden when it was formed in 1995. Article content Looking at the past with breadstick colored glasses. 😎 Posted by Olive Garden on Thursday, February 27, 2025 Article content Today, there are over 900 U.S. Olive Garden locations, more than a quarter of which are in Texas, Florida and California, and restaurants in countries other than Canada, including Mexico, with 13, the most outside of the U.S. There are also restaurants in Brazil, Panama, El Salvador, Ecuador, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait and more opening in Costa Rica and the Phillipines. Article content According to Darden, the brand brings in more than USD$4 billion annually in sales and is the United States's 'leading restaurant in the Italian casual dining segment.' Article content Brad Smith, president of Darden International and franchising, said Recipe's Canadian brand experience unlocks Olive Garden's growth potential north of the border. Article content What else does Recipe own in Canada? Article content Recipe, formerly known as CARA and whose origins are in airline catering, boasts a roster that already includes signature Canadian brands like Swiss Chalet, The Keg, Harvey's, and East Side Mario's, to name but a few of the 18, including the newest addition.