As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 20, 2004.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
May 20, 2004
Darden Restaurants, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Florida 1-13666 59-3305930
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission file number) (IRS employer
of incorporation) identification No.)
5900 Lake Ellenor Drive, Orlando, Florida 32809
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number,including area code:
(407) 245-4000
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Item 5. Other Events.
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On May 20, 2004, the Company issued a news release entitled
"Darden Restaurants Announces New Red Lobster Leadership," a
copy of which is being filed herewith as Exhibit 99.
2
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: May 20, 2004 DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
By: /s/ Paula J. Shives
-------------------------
Paula J. Shives
Senior Vice President and
General Counsel
3
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit Number Description of Exhibit
99 Press Release dated May 20,2004, entitled "Darden
Restaurants Announces New Red Lobster Leadership."
4
EXHIBIT 99
DARDEN RESTAURANTS
Red Lobster(R)Olive Garden(R)Bahama Breeze(R)Smokey Bones(R)
www.darden.com
NEWS/INFORMATION
Corporate Relations
P.O. Box 593330
Orlando, FL 32859
Contacts:
(Analysts) Matthew Stroud (407) 245-6458
(Media) Jim DeSimone (407) 245-4567
FOR RELEASE
May 20, 2004
10:00 AM ET
DARDEN RESTAURANTS ANNOUNCES
NEW RED LOBSTER LEADERSHIP
ORLANDO, FL - Darden Restaurants, Inc., (NYSE: DRI) today reported that it
has promoted Kim Lopdrup to President of Red Lobster and Senior Vice President
of Darden from his position as Executive Vice President of Marketing for Red
Lobster. In addition, the Company announced that Kelly Baltes, a regional Senior
Vice President of Operations in Atlanta with Olive Garden, is being promoted to
the position of Red Lobster Executive Vice President of Operations. Jane Diange,
a regional Senior Vice President of Operations in Orlando, will assume the
position of Red Lobster Senior Vice President of Human Resources. After 28 years
of service to Red Lobster, Phil Robinson, Executive Vice President of Operations
for Red Lobster, has announced his retirement. Robinson will remain with the
company through September to ensure a smooth transition. All changes are
effective May 31, 2004.
"I am pleased to announce these well deserved promotions," said Joe R. Lee,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Darden Restaurants. "Kim is a proven,
outstanding leader who has been in the restaurant industry since 1985. His
dedication, knowledge and enthusiasm for our business are contagious. He is the
right leader for Red Lobster as the company continues its progress towards a
return to historical financial performance levels. Kelly Baltes and Jane Diange
are outstanding operations leaders who have been successful throughout their
restaurant careers. Phil Robinson has served Red Lobster admirably during his
28-year career. He will be greatly missed by all of us at Darden, and we wish
him well as he begins a much deserved retirement."
Kim Lopdrup, 46, joined Red Lobster in 2003. Previously, he worked for
Burger King Corporation, where he served as Chief Operating Officer, North
America and for Allied Domecq Quick Service Restaurants, where he held
increasingly senior positions in marketing and operations and led a highly
successful turnaround of Allied's 3,500-unit International Division as its Chief
Executive Officer. Prior to Allied Domecq, he was employed by Procter & Gamble.
Kelly Baltes, 38, joined Olive Garden in 2001. He is a 19-year industry
veteran who previously worked for Uno Restaurant Corporation for seven years
where he was a Divisional Vice President of Operations and a Regional Director
of Operations.
Jane Diange, 48, joined Olive Garden in 1996 as Director of Employment. She
held various human resources, staffing and leadership development positions
before being promoted to her current role as Senior Vice President of
Operations. Prior to joining Olive Garden, she worked for Host Marriott Services
for nine years in various human resources positions.
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Phil Robinson joined Red Lobster in 1976 as an Associate Manager.
Throughout his 28-year career, he has held increasingly responsible positions in
operations and human resources.
"We have a tremendous opportunity at Red Lobster," said Lopdrup. "This is a
great brand with a great team that is committed to providing an outstanding
dining experience to every guest. We have made great progress recently at
improving both guest satisfaction and operating efficiency. We have also
strengthened our marketing discipline and hired a world-class marketing partner
in The Richards Group. All of us at Red Lobster are focused on making further
improvements in our operations, marketing and value position."
Darden Restaurants, Inc., headquartered in Orlando, FL, owns and operates
over 1,300 Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze, Smokey Bones, and Seasons
52 restaurants with annual sales of over $4.7 billion.
Forward-looking statements in this news release, if any, are made under the Safe
Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Certain important factors could cause results to differ materially from those
anticipated by the forward-looking statements, including the impact of changing
economic or business conditions, the impact of competition, the availability of
favorable credit and trade terms, the impact of changes in the cost or
availability of food and real estate, government regulation, construction costs,
weather conditions and other factors discussed from time to time in reports
filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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