Olive Garden is bringing back the Olive Garden Never-Ending Pasta Pass on July 16 at 2 p.m. ET, selling 10,000 passes for $100 plus tax. The limited offer is the company’s first sale of the pass since 2019, and it ends once every pass is claimed.
Each pass covers 13 weeks of unlimited pasta, sauces and protein toppings, plus unlimited soup or salad and breadsticks. Olive Garden said the pass is not available for redemption with to-go orders, while in-restaurant redemptions are unlimited.
Jaime Bunker on loyalty
Jaime Bunker, Olive Garden’s senior vice president of marketing, said, “Bringing it back felt like the right way to recognize the loyalty of so many guests who have kept it top of mind all these years.” The promotion debuted in 2014, then disappeared after its 2019 run before this return.
The company is reviving a familiar offer while Darden Restaurants faces margin pressure and weaker-than-expected sales. In late June, Darden Restaurants forecast full-year profit below Wall Street estimates and reported lower-than-expected fourth-quarter sales, with annual earnings per share from continuing operations expected to be between $11.10 and $11.35 and annual same-restaurant sales expected to grow 2.5% to 3.5%.
Darden Restaurants late June results
Darden Restaurants reported fourth-quarter sales of $3.72 billion for the period ended May 31, below the $3.73 billion estimate, and said total operating costs and expenses rose 10.7% to $3.20 billion. For customers, the practical step is simple: anyone who wants one has a brief window on July 16 at 2 p.m. ET, and the offer disappears as soon as the 10,000 passes are gone.
The pace of demand will decide everything. If past interest returns, the passes could go quickly; if it does not, the sale will still close at the same cap, with no extra inventory added after the 10,000 are taken.
