Dive Brief:
- Olive Garden was one of many brand putting its agency relationship under review this year, and Mcgarrybowen won the process to become the restaurant chain’s lead creative.
- The review process ended a 30-year relationship with Grey that dated back to Olive Garden’s earliest days when it had only four locations.
- Grey will retain some footing with Olive Garden’s parent company Darden Restaurants via the LongHorn Steakhouse brand.
Dive Insight:
Jose Duenas, EVP of marketing for Olive Garden, said in a statement, "Though we met with immensely talented agencies, Mcgarrybowen's proven track record of creatively bringing brands to life across multiple channels within the retail and hospitality industries makes them the ideal partner. We're excited to work with Mcgarrybowen to continue to build the Olive Garden brand and showcase what we are best known for – bringing families together over craveable Italian food – in new and exciting ways."
Ned Crowley, Chief Creative Officer of Mcgarrybowen Chicago, said about the announcement, "Olive Garden is a famous and beloved brand that we are thrilled to be working with. We look forward to working together to take the brand and business to new heights."
Meanwhile, Duenas praised their longtime agency partner Grey, which was left in the dust as a result of the review process, as a "tremendous partner and has played an important part in helping build the Olive Garden brand."