DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI) operates as a full-service restaurant company with a portfolio of distinctive dining brands serving guests across North America. The company maintains its corporate website at www.darden.com and employs approximately 209,931 team members across its operations.

As of May 31, 2026, Darden owned and operated 2,202 restaurants in the United States, with an additional 167 restaurants operated by franchisees and independent third parties under area development and franchise agreements. The company also manages four restaurants under contractual agreements and jointly owns one restaurant with a third party. The restaurant portfolio spans multiple dining segments and price points, including Olive Garden, the largest full-service Italian restaurant operator in the United States; LongHorn Steakhouse; Yard House; Ruth's Chris Steak House; Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen; The Capital Grille; Chuy's; Seasons 52; Eddie V's Prime Seafood; Bahama Breeze; and The Capital Burger.

Darden organizes its business into four reportable segments: Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Fine Dining (Ruth's Chris, The Capital Grille, and Eddie V's), and Other Business (Yard House, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, Chuy's, Seasons 52, Bahama Breeze, The Capital Burger, and franchise operations). Total sales from continuing operations reached $13.2 billion in fiscal 2026, with alcoholic beverages representing 10.0 percent of sales.

The company traces its heritage to 1968 when GMRI, Inc. was originally incorporated as Red Lobster Inns of America. Darden became a separate publicly held company in 1995 following its distribution by General Mills. Subsequent acquisitions have expanded the portfolio, including RARE Hospitality International in 2007, Yard House in 2012, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen in 2017, Ruth's Chris in 2023, and Chuy's in 2024.

Darden's competitive advantages center on operational excellence, brand management expertise, supply chain capabilities, talent management, and information technology infrastructure. The company sources from over 1,400 suppliers across more than 30 countries and maintains a dedicated distribution network. The business model emphasizes internal promotion, with 68 percent of restaurant manager trainees and 100 percent of new general managers or managing partners in fiscal 2026 promoted from within the organization.