Darden Restaurants Inc
Darden'Restaurants,'Inc.'is the'largest'publicly'held'casual'dining restaurant'
company in the'world,1. We operated'1,325'restaurants'in the United States and
Canada.'In the United States,'we operated'1,288'restaurants in 49 states (the
exception'being Alaska),'including 649 Red'Lobster(R),'537 Olive Garden(R),'32
Bahama'Breeze(R),'69 Smokey'Bones'Barbeque & Grill SM and one Seasons 52SM
restaurants.'In Canada,'we operated 37 restaurants,'including 31 Red'Lobster'and
six Olive'Garden'restaurants.'We own and operate all of our restaurants in the
United States and Canada,'with no franchising.
The'restaurant'industry is generally'considered'to be comprised of four segments:
quick service,'midscale,'casual dining and fine dining. The industry is highly'
fragmented and includes many independent'operators and small chains. We'believe'
that'capable'operators'of strong'multi-unit'concepts'have the opportunity'to
increase'their share of the casual dining'segment.'We plan to grow by increasing
the number of'restaurants'in each of our existing'concepts and by'developing'
or'acquiring'additional'concepts'that'can'be'expanded profitably.
While we are a leader in the casual'dining'segment,'we know we cannot be successful'
without a clear sense of who we are. Our core purpose is "To nourish and'
delight'everyone we serve."'This core'purpose is'supported'by our core
values:
o'Integrity and fairness;
o'Respect and caring;
o'Diversity;
o'Always learning/always teaching;
o'Being "of service";
o'Teamwork; and
o'Excellence.
Our mission is to be "The best in casual dining,'now and for generations."
Four strategic imperatives support our mission:
o'Leadership excellence at all levels;
o'Brand building excellence;
o'Service and hospitality excellence; and
o'Culinary and beverage excellence.
Competition
The restaurant'industry is intensely'competitive with respect to the type and
quality of food, price, service,'restaurant location,'personnel,'concept, attractiveness'
of facilities,'and'effectiveness of advertising and marketing.
The'restaurant'business'is often'affected'by'changes in'consumer'tastes; national,'
regional or local economic'conditions;'demographic trends;'traffic patterns;
the type, number and location of competing restaurants; and consumers discretionary'
purchasing power. We compete within each market with national and regional'chains
and'locally-owned'restaurants'for customers,'management and hourly'personnel'
and'suitable'real'estate'sites.'We'also'face'growing competition from the supermarket'
industry,'which offers'"convenient meals" in the form of improved'
entrees and side dishes from the deli'section.'We expect intense competition
to continue in all of these areas.
0.31% 
