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):
January 18, 2000
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 January 18, 2000, the Registrant issued a news release
entitled "Darden Restaurants Awards Distribution Business to
MBM Corporation and Marriott Distribution Services."
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits.
Exhibit Number Description
99 Press Release dated January 18,
2000, entitled "Darden Restaurants
Awards Distribution Business to
MBM Corporation and Marriott
Distribution Services."
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<PAGE>
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: January 19, 2000 DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
By: /s/ Paula J. Shives
Paula J. Shives
Senior Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary
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<PAGE>
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number Page
99 Press Release dated January 18, 2000, entitled
"Darden Restaurants Awards Distribution Business
to MBM Corporation and Marriott Distribution Services." 5
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EXHIBIT 99
DARDEN RESTAURANTS AWARDS DISTRIBUTION BUSINESS TO
MBM CORPORATION AND MARRIOTT DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
ORLANDO, FL, January 18, 2000 - Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI)
today announced that it has agreed to award its food and product distribution
business to MBM Corporation and Marriott Distribution Services. The transition
will begin within the next couple of weeks and be completed over the next
several months.
"We are very pleased with our new distributors," said Joe Lee, CEO of
Darden Restaurants, Inc. "Both MBM Corporation and Marriott Distribution
Services are premier leaders in the restaurant distribution industry. These new
relationships will ensure superior service levels to our restaurants at
competitive costs."
MBM Corporation is headquartered in Rocky Mount, North Carolina,
generates $3.0 billion in annual sales and currently operates twenty-seven
distribution centers nationwide.
Marriott Distribution Services, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a
division of Marriott International, Inc. Distribution Services has been a part
of Marriott since 1929, generated $1.2 billion in sales in 1998 and currently
operates thirteen distribution centers nationwide.
Darden Restaurants, in Orlando, Florida, is the world's largest casual
dining company with more than 1,120 restaurants operating under the Red Lobster,
Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze and Smokey Bones brands, with over 115,000 employees
and annual sales of $3.5 billion.
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