Saskatoon is city that is rich with resources. The city has close proximity to natural resources and various necessary industries. A main reason behind Saskatoon's growth is their wealth in agriculture and mining industry. Farmers grow crops like wheat, barley, canola and oats. Saskatchewan grows half of all the wheat grown in all of Canada. As a lot of this agriculture is grown in Saskatoon, it makes sense that Saskatoon also has value added industries. The city has strong value added food processing industries ("City of Saskatoon", 2012), as well as a strong manufacturing, warehouse and transportation sector. Easier transportation methods results in less travel costs and more profit. The Region benefits from its great highways, rail and air infrastructures ("Saskatoon", 2013). Because Saskatoon has these resources, having Olive Garden in the city would elimate excess costs of importing. Considering that Olive Garden is an Italian restaurant that serves lots of bread and pasta's, there is an increased need of wheat and other agricultural products that Saskatoon can provide.
Growing City
Saskatoon is also the largest urban centre in Saskatchewan and nearby states of North Dakota and Montana with a population of 240,000 ("Saskatoon", 2012). Saskatoon can give Olive Gardens more profit because of the growth within the city. The city has significantly lower taxes than most places and outperformed all major cities in Canada for GDP growth in 2007, with an amazing 5.5% increase and was named the #1 small city with the "Best Economic Potential" by Foreign Direct Investment magazine" ("Invest in Canada", 2012).The average disposable income has also continued to increase in Saskatoon ("Saskatoon", 2013). This is key for a business because as cities grow economically, more people are willing to spend money on going out for enjoyment.
"Saskatoon grows in harmony with nature"("Strategic Plan",2012).
Innovative City
Saskatoon is an incredibly innovative city. With an innovative city the companies within also grows to be more innovative and efficient. As the city grows, it continues to strive to be better. To do this the 2012-2022 Strategic Plan has been created. "Our new integrated approach focuses on economic prosperity, quality of life and environmental responsibility. Equipped with a long-term vision, it seeks new collaborative, responsive and innovative ways, 21st Century solutions, to create a highly desirable and sustainable city" ("Strategic Plan", 2012). Although they have an excessive amount of exports from their various industries, they maintain to be environmentally friendly. "People routinely take transit, walk or cycle to get around, and our neighborhoods are more compact. We produce less garbage and recycle or compost most of it. We grow more food in the city:" ("Strategic Plan", 2012). Saskatoon continues to grow, however, the city grows upwards rather than outwards. Saskatoon is planning to grow and planning to be better than it already is. Olive Garden needs to be in a city like this because it will allow the company to grow along with the city in a sustainable way.