This Olive Garden Competitor Once Had Over 200 Locations - Now Fewer Than 10 Remain - Tasting Table

"Some restaurant categories can support plenty of competitors in the same space, but if you're up against Olive Garden in the casual dining Italian sector you better be bringing your A-game. The popular Italian restaurant chain has reigned supreme atop the casual dining sector for years, even as many competitors struggled, adding almost 100 locations in the last decade on top of its already sizable footprint."

"Founded in San Antonio in 1988, Romano's Macaroni Grill was created by restaurateur Phil Romano, who was also the founder of Fuddruckers. He started the Macaroni Grill as an explicit Olive Garden competitor after a jumping ship from his first restaurant during a downturn in sales. The chain was quickly acquired by the owners of Chili's and grew throughout the '90s, peaking at 237 American locations in 2006."

Olive Garden dominates the casual dining Italian sector, adding almost 100 locations in the last decade and maintaining a large footprint. Competitors have struggled to match its scale; the second-largest sit-down Italian chain, Carrabba's Italian Grill, has fewer than a quarter of Olive Garden's locations. Romano's Macaroni Grill was founded in San Antonio in 1988 by Phil Romano and grew through the 1990s, peaking at 237 U.S. locations in 2006. Sales declined before the 2008 financial crisis, and ownership changed hands multiple times afterward. Golden Gate Capital purchased the chain at a roughly 40% reduced price, and subsequent ownership under Ignite fared worse, leading to dramatic shrinkage to fewer than ten locations.

Read at Tasting Table