Bharti-backed Gourmet Investments lands Olive Garden, plots scale-up to 125 restaurants
Gourmet Investments Hospitality has tied up with Darden Restaurants to launch Olive Garden in India, opening its first 2,500 sq ft outlet in Delhi. The Bharti Family Office–backed operator plans 10 Olive Gardens in three years and aims to grow its overall portfolio—spanning PizzaExpress, P.F. Chang's and Chili's—from 55 to 100–125 restaurants.
What happened
Bharti-backed Gourmet Investments launches Olive Garden in India via Darden tie-up, targeting 10 outlets in 3 years starting Delhi, and scaling its overall
Key facts
- 55 outlets currently
- 100-125 restaurants in 3 years
- 10 Olive Gardens in 3 years
- 2,500 sq ft first outlet
- 1,500-3,500 sq ft range
- 38 PizzaExpress outlets
- 80-20 menu rule
- 980+ global Olive Gardens
- 10%+ foodservice growth
Why this matters
Darden's first India entry via a Bharti-backed master franchisee signals global casual-dining chains are picking well-capitalized local platforms over JVs—expect Cheesecake Factory, Texas Roadhouse, and similar brands to follow.