Gourmet Investments Hospitality Group is set to introduce the Olive Garden brand in India as part of its strategy to expand the country’s premium casual dining market.
Founded in 1982 and owned by Darden Restaurants, Olive Garden operates nearly 1,000 outlets across 12 international markets. Gourmet Investments plans to open more than 10 Olive Garden restaurants in India over the next three years, with further expansion expected in larger cities afterward.
CEO Rohan Pewekar said the brand will be positioned as a premium casual dining concept in the Indian market. While the company intends to retain Olive Garden’s global menu identity, it also plans to introduce a wider range of vegetarian options tailored to Indian consumer preferences.
Gourmet Investments, part of the Bharti Group, already operates international restaurant brands such as PizzaExpress and Chili’s in India. The company has also brought brands including Ministry of Crab and P.F. Chang’s to the country.
The group is also aiming to significantly increase its overall footprint, targeting nearly 100 to 125 outlets across different restaurant formats and categories within the next three years, up from around 55 currently.
Earlier this year, Gourmet Investments expanded its PizzaExpress Daily presence in India with a launch in Jaipur. According to the company, it currently operates 35 outlets across cities including Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai.
