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Darden Restaurants
From SourceWatch
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This article is part of the Center for Media & Democracy's spotlight on global corporations. |
Darden Restaurants is the number one casual-dining operator in terms of revenue; with about 1,825 restaurants in the United States and Canada. Its flagship chains include Red Lobster and Olive Garden. Both chains offer mid-priced menu items, themed interiors, and primarily suburban locations. Darden also operates the Long Horn Steakhouse chain, with about 330 outlets. Other chains include The Capital Grille (upscale steakhouse), Bahama Breeze (Caribbean food and drinks) and Seasons 52 (casual grill and wine bar). [1]
In the fiscal year ending in May of 2010, the company reported sales of approximately $7.1 billion dollars and had 174,000 employees.[2]
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Ad boycott against Air America Radio
Darden Restaurants refused to advertise on the progressive Air America Radio. In October 2006, around 90 companies, including Darden Restaurants' Red Lobster, told ABC Radio Networks that they did not want their ads to play on radio stations that carried Air America Radio. [3], [4], [5]
Political contributions
Darden Restaurants gave $357,745 to federal candidates in the 2010 election through its political action committee - %52 to Democrats and %42 to Republicans.[6]
Lobbying
The company spent $962,531 for lobbying in 2006. $180,000 went to two outside lobbying firms with the remainder being spent using in-house lobbyists.[7]
Personnel
Key executives & pay
- Clarence Otis (54) - Chairman & CEO - 2.62 M & 3.67 M in exercised options
- Andrew H. Madsen (55) - President & COO - 1.87 M & 2.38 in exercised options
- C. Bradford Richmond (52) - CFO - 986K & 967K in exercised options
- David T. Pickens (56) - Sr. VP & President, Olive Garden - 1.26 M & 2.52 M in exercised options
- Eugene I. Lee, Jr. (49) - President, Specialty Restaurant Group - 1.10 M & 2.32 M in exercised options[8]
See also Executive Leadership.[9]
Board of directors
See also Board of Directors. [10]
Contact
5900 Lake Ellenor Drive
Orlando, FL 32809
Phone: 407-245-4000
Fax: 407-245-5389
Web address: http://www.dardenrestaurants.com
Articles & sources
SourceWatch articles
References
- ↑ Darden Restaurants Profile, Hoovers, accessed January 2011
- ↑ Key Darden Restaurants, Inc. Financials, Hoovers, accessed January 2011
- ↑ Marc Fisher, "Air America, in the Throes of Victory?", Washington Post, December 10, 2006.
- ↑ "Air America on Ad Blacklist?", FAIR, October 31, 2006
- ↑ "Air America Blackout", FAIR/ABC , October 25, 2006
- ↑ 2010 PAC Summary Data: Darden Restaurants, Open Secrets, accessed January 2011
- ↑ Darden Restaurants lobbying expenses, Open Secrets, accessed January 2011
- ↑ Key Executives, Yahoo Finance, accessed January 2011
- ↑ Our Company: Executive Leadership, Darden Restaurants, accessed January 2011
- ↑ Our Company: Board of Directors, Darden Restaurants, accessed January 2011
