Red Lobster is America's most successful casual dining seafood restaurant company, increasing its appeal by offering every guest fresh, exciting new menu items in an attractive dining environment. At the heart of Red Lobster's current success is its Compass - a set of principles and promises to all of the company's stakeholders. Guided by the Compass, Red Lobster and its crew are infusing every aspect of their business with delight, trust and magic so guests are treated to ever-better dining experiences. The company seeks to provide guests with hospitality they can taste and touch. Red Lobster has delivered 10 consecutive quarters of same-restaurant sales increases and in fiscal 2000 surpassed $2 billion in sales for the first time.

Olive Garden is a family of local restaurants focused on providing every guest with a genuine Italian dining experience. It is the dominant leader in the highly competitive casual dining Italian segment and is well positioned for continued strong growth. The unprecedented joint venture with a family-owned winery in Italy has led to opening a new restaurant and Culinary Institute in an 11th-century village in Tuscany, which is inspiring new authentic menu items and providing an outstanding training venue for the Olive Garden team. The wine list has been greatly expanded with some of the best wines in the world. This year Olive Garden delivered its 23rd consecutive quarter of same-restaurant sales increases, based on the Olive Garden Principles and its passion for "100% Guest Delight."

Bahama Breeze promises a two-hour island vacation - complete with outstanding Caribbean cuisine, specialty hand-crafted drinks, live music and a wonderful kicked-back, yet energized atmosphere. Guests have responded enthusiastically to these truly distinctive casual dining restaurants, making Bahama Breeze an exciting growth opportunity for Darden.

Smokey Bones is Darden's latest internally developed concept. It is delivering exciting early results, and is moving to its next phase of testing. The restaurant mixes mountain lodge comfort with great food, great service and a great helping of sports. Smokey Bones is proving to have broad appeal and has become a popular gathering place for avid fans, families and singles.