1.

THE INDUSTRY

Casual dining is the fastest growing segment of the restaurant industry.

During the 1990s, casual dining sales growth was robust, averaging 6.9% annually. In 1999, industry sales were more than $44 billion, and they are expected to grow 6-8% a year over the next 10 years. At this rate, casual dining sales are projected to increase faster than sales in every other segment of the restaurant industry, continuing the trend from the 1990s.

DARDEN

Darden is the casual dining leader, with unsurpassed market share and brand awareness.

Darden is the world’s largest casual dining operator with more than 8% of the market - that’s nearly four percentage points greater than the next closest competitor. The Company’s 1,139 restaurants serve more than five million guests every week and deliver almost 300 million dining experiences every year. With Red Lobster and Olive Garden, Darden is the only company that has two firmly established top-tier casual dining success stories. Darden dominates the food categories people crave most - seafood and Italian - and has unmatched brand awareness, built on longevity and marketing prowess. The Company also has an unparalleled portfolio of top restaurant locations.