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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):
September 13, 1997
Darden Restaurants, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Florida 1-13666 59-3305930
(State or other juris- (Commission file number) (IRS employer
diction 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)
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Item 5. Other Events.
On September 13, 1997, the Registrant closed 15 Red Lobster
restaurants and 11 The Olive Garden restaurants in Canada.
Additional details were made available in an informational
statement entitled "Darden Restructures Canadian Operations."
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits.
Exhibit Number Description
99 Informational Statement dated September
13, 1997, entitled "Darden Restructures
Canadian Operations."
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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: September 16, 1997 DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
By:
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C.L. Whitehill
Senior Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit Number Page
- -------------- ----
99 Informational Statement dated September 13, 1997,
entitled "Darden Restructures Canadian Operations." 5
4
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EXHIBIT 99
Informational Statement dated September 13, 1997, of Darden Restaurants, Inc.
DARDEN RESTRUCTURES CANADIAN OPERATIONS
ORLANDO, FL - Launching a new plan to strengthen performance of its Canadian
operations, Darden Restaurants Inc. today closed 15 underperforming Red Lobster
restaurants and 11 Olive Gardens in Canada. The move follows Darden's recent
decision to end negotiations with potential franchise partners.
"We are committed to a strong business in Canada. This difficult decision was
made to maximize the performance of the many strong restaurants we have there,"
said Darden CEO Joe Lee. "The restaurants we're closing had sustained long-term
poor financial performance, despite the terrific efforts of our outstanding
employees there."
"We are committed to continuing to operate our strongest Canadian restaurants
and we are confident that this decision will benefit both our dedicated
employees in those restaurants as well as our shareholders."
Darden, the largest casual dining company in the U.S., continues to operate 40
restaurants in Canada.
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