Olive Garden

Olive Garden helped define the Italian segment of casual dining when it opened in 1982 and today is the world’s largest full-service Italian restaurant company, with 576 restaurants in the United States and six in Canada. Olive Garden posted its 47th consecutive quarter of U.S. same-restaurant sales growth in fiscal 2006, and sales totaled $2.6 billion, an average of $4.6 million per restaurant.

Bahama Breeze

Bahama Breeze is the restaurant that brings you the feeling of a Caribbean escape, offering the food, drinks and atmosphere you would find in the islands. Now in its 11th year, Bahama Breeze operates 32 restaurants in 19 states and had sales of $166 million in fiscal 2006, an average of $5.2 million per restaurant.

Smokey Bones

Smokey Bones Barbeque & Grill is one of Darden’s newer brands, with 126 restaurants in 28 states. Since opening in 1999, the brand has offered great-tasting genuine barbeque and other American favorites in a mountainlodge setting with televised sports viewing. In fiscal 2006, Smokey Bones had sales of $337 million, an average of $2.9 million per restaurant.

Seasons 52

Seasons 52, the newest test concept developed by Darden’s New Business team, celebrates living well by offering a seasonally inspired and healthier dining option. Debuting in 2003, Seasons 52 continued its initial test phase in fiscal 2006 with the opening of two additional Florida locations. The fresh grill restaurants feature lower-calorie, nutritionally balanced meals, complemented by quality wines from around the world.