Darden Restaurants Joins Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation

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May 17, 2010, 03:01 ET

ORLANDO, Fla., May 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Darden Restaurants, Inc. – parent company of some of the nation's most popular full-service restaurants including Red Lobster, Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse – today announced it has joined the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation (HWCF). HWCF is a coalition of more than 80 retailers, food and beverage manufacturers and non-governmental organizations committed to helping people achieve a healthy weight.

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"We are aligned with the foundation's mission to combat obesity, and we look forward to working collaboratively to establish a process to guide Darden's efforts in this area," said Drew Madsen, president and chief operating officer of Darden. "As a leader in the restaurant industry, we look forward to contributing solutions that help improve the health and wellness of Americans. Based on the experience of food manufacturers, we realize that meaningful change takes time. Nonetheless, we are committed to working through the challenges unique to the restaurant industry and doing so in a way that continues to meet our guests' high expectations around quality and taste."

About Darden Restaurants

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI), the world's largest full-service restaurant company, owns and operates 1,800 restaurants that serve more than 400 million meals a year and generate more than $7 billion in annual sales. Headquartered in Orlando, and employing approximately 180,000 people, Darden is recognized for a culture that rewards caring for and responding to people. Our restaurant brands – Red Lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52 – reflect the rich diversity of those who dine with us. Our brands are built on deep insights into what our guests want. For more information, please visit www.darden.com.

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SOURCE Darden Restaurants, Inc.: General