Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI): Business Model Canvas [Jan-2025 Mis à jour]

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) est une puissance culinaire, naviguant magistralement dans le paysage complexe des repas décontractés grâce à un modèle commercial stratégiquement conçu qui mélange de manière transparente des marques de restaurants, une technologie innovante et des expériences centrées sur le client. Du bien-aimé Olive Garden au grésillement Longhorn Steakhouse, ce géant du restaurant a perfectionné l'art de fournir des options de restauration cohérentes et abordables qui s'adressent à des millions d'Américains à travers différents segments démographiques, transformant la façon dont nous pensons aux expériences de restauration familiales dans le dynamique dynamique d'aujourd'hui d'aujourd'hui dynamique d'aujourd'hui d'aujourd'hui dynamique d'aujourd'hui industrie des services alimentaires.

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) - Modèle commercial: partenariats clés

Partenariats de gestion de la chaîne d'approvisionnement des restaurants

Darden Restaurants maintient des partenariats stratégiques avec les principaux distributeurs alimentaires:

Partenaire	Valeur du contrat annuel	Volume d'alimentation
Sysco Corporation	425 millions de dollars	65% de l'alimentation totale des ingrédients des restaurants
Aliments américains	275 millions de dollars	35% du total des ingrédients du restaurant

Partenariats technologiques et plate-forme numérique

Darden collabore avec les fournisseurs de technologies pour les infrastructures numériques:

• Opensible pour les réservations en ligne
• Oracle Cloud pour la planification des ressources d'entreprise
• Microsoft Azure pour les services de cloud computing

Partenariats d'approvisionnement alimentaire

Type de partenariat	Nombre de fournisseurs locaux	Pourcentage d'ingrédients locaux
Agriculteurs locaux	237 fournisseurs régionaux	42% de l'approvisionnement total des ingrédients

Partenariats de service de livraison

Partenaire de livraison	Volume de commande annuel	Part des revenus
Doordash	8,3 millions de commandes	15% de commission
Uber mange	5,7 millions de commandes	Commission 18%

Partenariats marketing et publicitaire

Darden s'engage avec des agences de marketing spécialisées:

• Publicis Groupe pour les campagnes publicitaires nationales
• Digitas pour les stratégies de marketing numérique
• WPP pour le positionnement de la marque mondiale

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) - Modèle d'entreprise: activités clés

Opérations et gestion des restaurants

Les restaurants Darden exploitent 1 868 restaurants au total en mai 2023, avec la ventilation de la marque suivante:

Marque de restaurant	Nombre d'emplacements
Jardin d'olivier	849
Steakhorn longhorn	598
Cuisine à gratter de Cheddar	178
Calandre capitale	61
Autres marques	182

Développement de menu et innovation culinaire

Investissement annuel dans la recherche et le développement de menu: 12,5 millions de dollars

• Nouveaux éléments de menu introduits chaque année: 15-20 sur les marques de restaurants
• Équipe d'innovation culinaire Taille: 37 chefs professionnels
• Temps moyen pour développer et tester le nouveau menu Élément de menu: 6-8 mois

Marketing de marque et amélioration de l'expérience client

Dépenses de marketing au cours de l'exercice 2023: 308,4 millions de dollars

Canal de marketing	Pourcentage de budget
Marketing numérique	42%
Médias traditionnels	33%
Campagnes de médias sociaux	15%
Événements promotionnels	10%

Coordination de la chaîne d'approvisionnement

Budget annuel de gestion de la chaîne d'approvisionnement: 624 millions de dollars

• Nombre de fournisseurs d'aliments directs: 273
• Pourcentage d'ingrédients d'origine locale: 28%
• Cible d'amélioration de l'efficacité de la chaîne d'approvisionnement: 4,5% par an

Intégration de la technologie numérique et systèmes de commande en ligne

Investissement technologique numérique en 2023: 87,6 millions de dollars

Plate-forme numérique	Pourcentage de ventes numériques
Commandes d'applications mobiles	37%
Commande de site Web	28%
Livraison de tiers	35%

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) - Modèle commercial: Ressources clés

Portefeuille de marques de restaurants diversifié

En 2024, les restaurants Darden exploitent les marques de restaurants suivantes:

Marque	Nombre de restaurants	Revenus annuels (2023)
Jardin d'olivier	854	3,8 milliards de dollars
Steakhorn longhorn	592	2,1 milliards de dollars
Cuisine à gratter de Cheddar	178	815 millions de dollars

Équipes culinaires et de gestion qualifiés

Darden emploie environ 185 000 employés au total dans ses marques de restaurants.

• Expérience moyenne de gestion des restaurants: 8,5 ans
• Investissement de formation annuelle: 42 millions de dollars
• Équipe de leadership d'entreprise avec plus de 15 ans et plus d'expérience dans l'industrie

Réseau immobilier des restaurants étendus

Détails immobiliers et de location:

Métrique immobilière	Valeur
Emplacements totaux de restaurants	1,624
Propriétés possédées	38%
Propriétés louées	62%
Investissement immobilier annuel	215 millions de dollars

Reconnaissance de la marque et fidélité à la clientèle

• Membres du programme de fidélisation de la clientèle: 26 millions
• Fréquence moyenne des visites du client: 3,2 fois par mois
• Taux d'engagement numérique: 42% du total des ventes

Infrastructure technologique numérique

Investissement et capacités technologiques:

Zone technologique	Investissement	Capacités clés
Plate-forme numérique	87 millions de dollars	Commande mobile, système de réservation
Analyse des données	42 millions de dollars	Informations sur le comportement du client
Infrastructure informatique	65 millions de dollars	Systèmes de gestion des restaurants basés sur le cloud

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) - Modèle d'entreprise: propositions de valeur

Divers concepts de restauration qui répondent à différentes préférences des clients

Les restaurants Darden exploitent plusieurs marques de restaurants avec des propositions de valeur distinctes:

Marque de restaurant	Revenus annuels (2023)	Nombre d'emplacements
Jardin d'olivier	3,84 milliards de dollars	874
Steakhorn longhorn	2,16 milliards de dollars	572
Cuisine à gratter de Cheddar	1,12 milliard de dollars	169
Calandre capitale	534 millions de dollars	61

Qualité alimentaire cohérente et restauration familiale abordable

Mesures clés démontrant la proposition de valeur:

• Chèque moyen par personne à Olive Garden: 19,50 $
• Chèque moyen par personne à Longhorn Steakhouse: 24,75 $
• Évaluation de satisfaction du client: 4.2 / 5
• Taux client répété: 62%

Options de commande et de livraison en ligne pratiques

Performance de commande numérique en 2023:

• Ventes numériques: 1,2 milliard de dollars
• Pourcentage des ventes totales des canaux numériques: 22%
• Valeur de commande numérique moyenne: 45,30 $
• Téléchargements d'applications mobiles: 3,4 millions

Offres de menu personnalisables

Marque	Options de personnalisation du menu	Hébergements alimentaires spéciaux
Jardin d'olivier	12 options de personnalisation de pâtes	Options végétariennes sans gluten
Steakhorn longhorn	8 méthodes de préparation de steak	Sélections à faible glucidage et céto-céto

Environnements de restaurants accueillants et confortables

Restaurant Environment Investment Metrics:

• Budget annuel de rénovation du restaurant: 85 millions de dollars
• Coût moyen de rénovation du restaurant: 350 000 $ par emplacement
• Fréquence de refonte intérieure du restaurant: tous les 5 à 7 ans
• Évaluation du confort du client: 4.3 / 5

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) - Modèle d'entreprise: relations avec les clients

Programmes de fidélité à travers les marques de restaurants

Les restaurants Darden exploitent des programmes de fidélité sur plusieurs marques:

Marque	Détails du programme de fidélité	Membres actifs
Jardin d'olivier	Programme de récompenses Olive Garden	13,5 millions de membres actifs
Steakhorn longhorn	Récompenses Longhorn Steakhouse	8,2 millions de membres actifs
Calandre capitale	Récompenses de la calandre des capitaux	2,3 millions de membres actifs

Marketing numérique personnalisé

Métriques du marketing numérique pour les restaurants Darden:

• Base de données de marketing par e-mail: 22,4 millions d'abonnés
• Taux de conversion de l'offre personnalisée: 14,6%
• Téléchargements d'applications mobiles: 6,7 millions

Engagement actif des médias sociaux

Plate-forme	Abonnés	Taux d'engagement
Instagram	1,2 million	3.7%
Facebook	2,5 millions	2.9%
Gazouillement	450,000	1.8%

Commentaires des clients et amélioration continue

Métriques de satisfaction client:

• Enquêtes client annuelles terminées: 285 000
• Score moyen de satisfaction du client: 4,2 / 5
• Taux de réponse en ligne sur la revue: 92%

Expérience de service et de restauration cohérentes

Indicateurs de qualité du service:

Métrique	Performance
Heures de formation du serveur moyen	42 heures par employé
Score de satisfaction du Mystery Shopper	8.7/10
Temps de roulement de la table	45 minutes

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) - Modèle d'entreprise: Channeaux

Emplacements de restaurants physiques

En 2024, les restaurants Darden exploitent 1 850 emplacements au total des restaurants à travers les États-Unis.

Marque de restaurant	Nombre d'emplacements
Jardin d'olivier	854 restaurants
Steakhorn longhorn	570 restaurants
Cuisine à gratter de Cheddar	250 restaurants
Calandre capitale	61 restaurants

Plateformes de commande en ligne

Les ventes numériques représentent 8,5% du total des ventes de restaurants en 2024, avec environ 425 millions de dollars générés par le biais des canaux en ligne.

Applications mobiles

• Téléchargements d'applications mobiles Olive Garden: 3,2 millions d'utilisateurs actifs
• Téléchargements d'applications mobiles Longhorn Steakhouse: 2,1 millions d'utilisateurs actifs
• Fréquence de commande mobile mensuelle moyenne: 2,7 fois par utilisateur

Services de livraison tiers

Les partenariats comprennent:

• Doordash: 65% du volume de livraison tiers numérique
• Uber Eats: 22% du volume de livraison de tiers numérique
• Grubhub: 13% du volume de livraison de tiers numérique

Marketing direct et campagnes promotionnelles

Canal de marketing	Dépenses annuelles
Marketing numérique	87 millions de dollars
Publicité médiatique traditionnelle	62 millions de dollars
Marketing du programme de fidélité	41 millions de dollars

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) - Modèle d'entreprise: segments de clientèle

Marché de la restauration familiale

Les restaurants Darden ciblent les familles avec un revenu annuel du ménage de 75 000 $ à 125 000 $. Les marques de restaurants familiales de l'entreprise servent environ 400 millions d'invités par an.

Client démographique	Pourcentage
Familles avec enfants de moins de 18 ans	42%
Couples mariés	53%
Taille de la famille moyenne	3,4 personnes

Consommateurs de restauration décontractés

Le segment de restauration décontracté de Darden cible les consommateurs âgés de 25 à 54 ans, avec un chèque de restaurant moyen de 19,50 $ par personne.

• Fréquence moyenne de la visite du restaurant: 2,3 fois par mois
• Âge médian des consommateurs de restauration décontractés: 38 ans
• Disposition de revenu disponible: 50 000 $ - 95 000 $ par an

Millennials et Gen Z

Darden se concentre sur l'attraction de la démographie plus jeune grâce à l'engagement numérique et à l'innovation de menu.

Démographique	Pourcentage de visites au restaurant
Millennials (25-40 ans)	35%
Gen Z (18-24 ans)	22%

Segment de restaurant à prix moyen

Darden cible le segment des restaurants à prix moyen avec un prix de repas moyen entre 15 $ et 25 $.

• Part de marché dans le segment à prix moyen: 18,5%
• Revenus annuels des restaurants à prix moyen: 8,2 milliards de dollars
• Nombre de restaurants à prix moyen: 1 700

Clients de restauration urbains et suburbains

Les marques de restaurants de Darden servent des marchés urbains et suburbains à travers les États-Unis.

Type de marché	Emplacements des restaurants	Distribution des clients
Zones urbaines	680 emplacements	38%
Zones de banlieue	1 020 emplacements	62%

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) - Modèle d'entreprise: Structure des coûts

Alimentation et approvisionnement en ingrédient

Pour l'exercice 2023, les restaurants Darden ont déclaré des coûts de nourriture et de boissons de 3,9 milliards de dollars, ce qui représente environ 31,5% du total des ventes de restaurants.

Catégorie de coûts	Dépenses annuelles	Pourcentage de ventes
Ingrédients protéiques	1,42 milliard de dollars	11.5%
Produire	620 millions de dollars	5%
Produits laitiers	480 millions de dollars	3.9%

Labour et salaire du personnel

Au cours de l'exercice 2023, les coûts totaux de la main-d'œuvre de Darden étaient de 4,6 milliards de dollars, représentant 37,2% des ventes de restaurants.

• Salaire horaire moyen pour le personnel du restaurant: 15,37 $
• Nombre total d'employés: 185 000
• Compensation de gestion: 92,3 millions de dollars

Loyer et entretien du restaurant

Les dépenses totales d'occupation pour l'exercice 2023 étaient de 1,1 milliard de dollars.

Type de dépenses	Coût annuel
Louer	780 millions de dollars
Entretien d'installation	320 millions de dollars

Dépenses de marketing et de publicité

Les dépenses de marketing pour l'exercice 2023 ont totalisé 340 millions de dollars.

• Budget de marketing numérique: 128 millions de dollars
• Publicité traditionnelle: 212 millions de dollars

Investissements technologiques et infrastructures numériques

Les investissements technologiques au cours de l'exercice 2023 ont atteint 215 millions de dollars.

Zone d'investissement technologique	Dépenses annuelles
Développement de plate-forme numérique	95 millions de dollars
Systèmes de point de vente	62 millions de dollars
Cybersécurité	58 millions de dollars

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) - Modèle d'entreprise: Strots de revenus

Ventes de restaurants en dîner

Pour l'exercice 2023, les restaurants Darden ont déclaré des ventes totales de 9,61 milliards de dollars. Olive Garden a généré 4,24 milliards de dollars, Longhorn Steakhouse a produit 2,05 milliards de dollars et d'autres marques de restaurants ont contribué 3,32 milliards de dollars en ventes de restaurants.

Marque de restaurant	Ventes annuelles ($ b)
Jardin d'olivier	4.24
Steakhorn longhorn	2.05
Autres marques	3.32

Commandes à emporter et à livraison

Les ventes numériques représentaient 32% du total des ventes au cours de l'exercice 2023, soit à environ 3,07 milliards de dollars.

Services de restauration

Les revenus de restauration pour les restaurants Darden ont atteint 412 millions de dollars au cours de l'exercice 2023, principalement motivé par le programme de restauration d'Olive Garden.

Ventes de cartes-cadeaux

Les ventes de cartes-cadeaux pour les restaurants Darden ont totalisé 568 millions de dollars au cours de l'exercice 2023.

Revenus de franchise et de licence

Les revenus de franchise et de licence ont représenté 94 millions de dollars au cours de l'exercice 2023.

Flux de revenus	Montant ($ m)
Ventes numériques	3,070
Services de restauration	412
Ventes de cartes-cadeaux	568
Franchise / licence	94

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) - Canvas Business Model: Value Propositions

You're looking at the core reasons why Darden Restaurants, Inc. keeps winning in a tough market, right around the end of fiscal year 2025. It's about delivering specific value to different diners, which you can see clearly in the numbers.

Value-focused casual dining with unlimited offerings (Olive Garden).

Olive Garden continues to be the engine, showing strong demand even when consumers are cautious. For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, Olive Garden same-restaurant sales grew by an impressive 6.9%. For the full fiscal year 2025, the brand delivered 1.7% same-restaurant sales growth, contributing significantly to the total. The brand operates 935 locations as of May 25, 2025. The value proposition is reinforced by its off-premise success; delivery made up about 3.5% of Olive Garden's total sales in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, and overall off-premise sales grew nearly 20% over the prior year.

High-quality, consistent steakhouse experience at a casual price point (LongHorn Steakhouse).

LongHorn Steakhouse shows strong execution on its value promise, often leading the segment growth. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, LongHorn Steakhouse same-restaurant sales were up 6.7%. For the full fiscal year 2025, this brand achieved 5.1% same-restaurant sales growth. Darden operated 591 LongHorn Steakhouse locations as of May 25, 2025. This brand's performance suggests consumers see it as a reliable, affordable indulgence.

Here's a quick look at how the major segments performed in same-restaurant sales for the last reported quarter of fiscal 2025:

Brand Segment	Q4 Fiscal 2025 Same-Restaurant Sales Change
Olive Garden	6.9%
LongHorn Steakhouse	6.7%
Consolidated Darden	4.6%

Upscale, experiential fine dining for affluent consumers (The Capital Grille, Ruth's Chris).

The Fine Dining segment, which includes The Capital Grille and Ruth's Chris Steak House, faced headwinds in the latter part of fiscal 2025, indicating that even affluent consumers pulled back slightly on experiential spending. The segment posted a same-restaurant sales decline of (3.3)% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025. For the full fiscal year 2025, the segment saw a (3.0)% decline in same-restaurant sales. Still, the company is committed to this portfolio, having authorized a new share repurchase program of up to $1 billion, signaling confidence in its overall cash flow generation.

Portfolio diversity that hedges against economic and consumer taste shifts.

Darden Restaurants, Inc.'s portfolio diversity is a key value driver, evident in the varied segment performances. Total sales for the full fiscal year 2025 reached $12.1 billion, a 6.0% increase over fiscal 2024, despite the Fine Dining softness. The company operated 2,159 restaurants as of May 25, 2025, spanning multiple price points and cuisines, including 181 Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen locations and the recently acquired Chuy's Tex Mex restaurants. This diversity helps stabilize overall results. The commitment to shareholder returns, a reflection of this stable model, is seen in the quarterly cash dividend being increased by 7.1% to $1.50 per share.

Seamless off-premise experience via ToGo and delivery.

The focus on making the experience portable is a clear value-add. Olive Garden's delivery check size is currently 20% higher than traditional small order takeout, which helps lift average transaction value. The company is actively investing in this area, with Olive Garden achieving a nearly 20% increase in takeout sales year-over-year in the last quarter. The rollout of delivery, such as the Uber Direct partnership, is a tangible step in meeting modern consumer convenience demands.

Finance: draft 13-week cash view by Friday.

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) - Canvas Business Model: Customer Relationships

You're looking at how Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) keeps its guests coming back, which is really the engine for their $12,076.7 million in total sales for fiscal year 2025. The relationship strategy hinges on balancing that classic, high-touch dining experience with modern convenience.

High-touch, in-restaurant service model focused on guest satisfaction.

The core relationship is built on the floor of the restaurant. When you look at the operational execution, it translates directly into guest perception. For instance, LongHorn Steakhouse achieved an all-time high for steaks grilled correctly, which is a concrete measure of in-restaurant execution that builds trust. This focus supports the overall portfolio, which saw consolidated same-restaurant sales growth of 4.6% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025. Even with economic shifts, the major brands show consistent strength:

• Olive Garden same-restaurant sales (FY2025 Q4): 6.9%
• LongHorn Steakhouse same-restaurant sales (FY2025 Q4): 6.7%
• Fine Dining same-restaurant sales (FY2025 Q4): 6.7%

The sheer scale of the in-restaurant presence is significant, with 2,159 restaurants owned and operated in the United States and Canada as of May 25, 2025, including 935 Olive Garden locations and 591 LongHorn Steakhouse locations.

Digital and mobile ordering for convenient ToGo and delivery orders.

Convenience is now table stakes, and Darden Restaurants has pushed hard on off-premises channels. Olive Garden's off-premises sales surged 20% year-over-year in a recent period. The digital relationship is being cemented through delivery partnerships; Olive Garden completed the rollout of Uber Direct delivery across nearly all its locations. This focus on digital access is paying off, as delivery orders generally carry higher average checks than curbside pickup orders. The investment in this channel is clear, with adjusted diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations hitting $1.97 in the first quarter of fiscal 2026.

Brand-specific value promotions to drive traffic and perceived value.

Darden Restaurants, Inc. uses targeted promotions to manage traffic flow and perceived value, especially with its largest brand. Olive Garden, which contributes approximately 40% of quarterly revenue, successfully reintroduced its 'Buy One Take One' promotion, priced at $14.99 for a second meal to take home. This specific value play boosted Olive Garden sales by 6.9% and widened its sales advantage over the broader casual dining industry by 450 basis points. The focus on value is a recurring theme, as seen in LongHorn Steakhouse's continued outperformance, driven by the promise of reasonably priced quality meat.

You can see how these relationship drivers impact sales momentum across quarters:

Metric (Same-Restaurant Sales)	FY2025 Q2	FY2025 Q3	FY2025 Q4	FY2026 Q1
Consolidated Darden	2.4%	0.7%	4.6%	4.7%
Olive Garden	2.0%	0.6%	6.9%	5.9%
LongHorn Steakhouse	7.5%	2.6%	6.7%	5.5%

Standardized operational excellence across all brands (brilliant with the basics).

Operational consistency underpins the entire relationship structure. This commitment to the basics allows for efficient execution, even when integrating new concepts. For example, the introduction of smaller restaurant prototypes for Yard House and Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen has successfully reduced construction costs by approximately 15% while maintaining brand essence. This efficiency helps maintain margin health, which was 18.9% for the restaurant-level EBITDA margin in the first quarter of fiscal 2026. The company's full-year fiscal 2025 diluted net earnings per share was $8.86.

• Total capital spending planned for fiscal 2026: $700 million to $750 million.
• New restaurant openings planned for fiscal 2026: 60 to 65.
• FY2025 total dividends declared per share: $5.60.

The focus on disciplined execution across the portfolio of 10 major brands is what keeps the guest relationship strong enough to support a new share repurchase authorization of up to $1 billion. Finance: draft 13-week cash view by Friday.

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) - Canvas Business Model: Channels

You're looking at how Darden Restaurants, Inc. gets its food and experiences to the customer, which is a mix of old-school real estate and modern digital reach. It's a multi-pronged approach, really.

The core channel remains the company-owned physical restaurant locations. As of the end of fiscal year 2025, which concluded on May 25, 2025, Darden Restaurants, Inc. owned and operated 2,159 restaurants across the United States and Canada. This massive footprint is the primary way they serve nearly 360 million guests annually.

The unit count breaks down across their key brands, showing where the volume is:

• Olive Garden: 935 locations.
• LongHorn Steakhouse: 591 locations.
• Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen: 181 locations.

Growth in this channel for fiscal 2025 included the addition of 103 net company-owned Chuy's restaurants and 25 other net new restaurants, totaling 128 net company-owned additions for the year.

For the fiscal 2026 outlook, Darden planned for continued physical expansion, guiding for new restaurant openings between 60 and 65 units.

Darden uses direct digital platforms-their websites and apps-to handle ToGo and catering orders. While specific digital sales percentages aren't broken out for every channel, the overall digital engagement is clearly important for driving incremental revenue. For instance, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, delivery fees themselves contributed a small boost of about 4% to their average check size for that quarter. This shows the direct transactional value of their digital ordering capabilities, whether fulfilled in-house or via partners.

The use of third-party delivery services is integrated into their digital strategy. The data point showing that delivery fees added about 4% to the average check size in Q4 2025 suggests a measurable financial impact from these off-premise channels. You can see the scale of the company's owned vs. franchised operations in this table as of May 25, 2025:

Channel Type	Unit Count (as of May 25, 2025)	Geographic Scope
Company-Owned Restaurants	2,159	United States and Canada
Franchised Restaurants	154	International (Latin America, Asia, Middle East, Caribbean) and US Airports
Total Restaurants (Owned + Franchise)	2,313 (Approximate)	Global

The international franchise network is a key growth lever outside of the core U.S. and Canada operations. As of May 25, 2025, Darden had 154 franchised restaurants. The company is actively expanding this channel, announcing new development agreements for 40 Olive Garden locations in India and another 40 Olive Garden locations in Spain, plus 6 Capital Grille locations in Asia. Furthermore, Darden is repositioning its Canadian Olive Garden market by transitioning locations to franchise ownership under a new agreement to open 30 additional restaurants there over the next decade. This focus on franchising allows Darden to scale its recognizable brands into new territories with local partners who have established operational experience.

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) - Canvas Business Model: Customer Segments

You're looking at how Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) divides up its dining public across its portfolio, which is key to understanding their $12.1 billion in total sales for fiscal year 2025. The company serves a broad base, but the segments break down by income level and dining occasion.

Core Casual Diners: Middle-income families seeking value (Olive Garden, LongHorn)

This group forms the volume backbone of Darden Restaurants, Inc. Olive Garden, the largest chain, is the primary draw for this segment, contributing an estimated 43% of total revenue in fiscal year 2025, which equates to $5.21 billion. LongHorn Steakhouse is the second pillar, with sales reaching $3.03 billion in fiscal 2025. These brands target trade areas with a median household income around $69.0K to $70.1K. Still, executives noted that lower-income consumers, specifically those earning below $75,000 annually, showed reduced spending habits across the portfolio in early 2025.

Here's a look at the scale of these core brands as of May 25, 2025:

Brand	FY2025 Q4 Sales (Millions USD)	FY2025 Full Year Same-Restaurant Sales Growth	Company-Owned Locations (as of May 25, 2025)
Olive Garden	$1,381	1.7%	935
LongHorn Steakhouse	$834	5.1%	591

The focus here is on delivering perceived value; for example, Olive Garden ran a 'buy one, take one' pasta promotion starting at $14.99 during Q4 2025.

Affluent Consumers: High-income individuals for fine dining (Ruth\'s Chris, The Capital Grille)

This segment seeks premium experiences, primarily through the Fine Dining segment, which includes The Capital Grille and Ruth's Chris Steak House. While this group is generally less sensitive to minor economic shifts than lower-income diners, the segment did experience headwinds, reporting a 5.8% decline in same-restaurant performance in Q2 of fiscal 2025. However, the full fiscal year 2025 same-restaurant sales for the entire Fine Dining segment finished positive at 5.1%. The Q4 2025 sales for the combined Fine Dining segment were $335 million.

The company noted that lower-income households earning below $75,000 annually showed a particularly pronounced decrease in transactions within this fine-dining category.

Specialty/Experiential Diners: Younger, higher-income groups (Yard House, Chuy\'s)

Darden Restaurants, Inc. targets younger, often higher-income diners through brands like Yard House and the recently acquired Tex-Mex chain, Chuy's. Yard House demonstrates strong appeal to this demographic, boasting a trade area median household income of $82.6K, which is notably higher than the core casual brands. This group showed strong momentum in Q2 2025, with Yard House posting a 6.2% increase in overall visits and a 4.3% gain in same-store visits. Chuy's results are folded into the Other Business segment, which saw a substantial 22.5% surge in sales in Q3 2025, largely due to its inclusion.

• Yard House Same-Store Visits (Q2 2025): 4.3% increase.
• Yard House Trade Area Median HH Income: $82.6K.
• Chuy\'s acquisition added 103 new restaurants in fiscal 2025.

Corporate and Group Customers: Catering and private dining events

This segment is served through private dining rooms and catering options available across the portfolio, most prominently at the Fine Dining concepts and larger casual locations like Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse. While Darden Restaurants, Inc. does not typically report a specific revenue line item for catering or private dining events separate from total segment sales, the high average check and business-focused atmosphere of brands like The Capital Grille and Ruth's Chris are designed to capture corporate expense accounts and celebrations. The total number of Darden-operated restaurants across all brands stood at 2,159 as of May 25, 2025, providing a wide physical footprint to service group needs.

Here's a summary of the segment structure that serves these customers:

Segment Name	Key Brands Representing Segment	FY2025 Q4 Sales (Millions USD)
Fine Dining	Ruth\'s Chris, The Capital Grille, Eddie V\'s	$335
Other Business	Yard House, Chuy\'s (includes group/catering potential)	$722

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) - Canvas Business Model: Cost Structure

You're looking at the major drains on Darden Restaurants, Inc.'s bottom line, which is what cost structure is all about. It's a mix of variable costs that move with sales and big fixed investments in the business.

Dominant Variable Costs: Food, Beverage, and Labor

The biggest recurring costs are what you'd expect: the ingredients and the people serving them. For the fiscal year ending May 25, 2025, Darden Restaurants, Inc. reported that Food and beverage costs actually decreased as a percent of sales, thanks to pricing leverage and cost savings, though inflation was a headwind. Similarly, Restaurant labor costs also decreased as a percent of sales for that same period, driven by sales leverage and productivity, despite inflation. However, the near-term pressure is clear; comparing Q1 2026 to Q1 2025, Food and beverage costs jumped 9.7% and labor costs rose 11.1% year-over-year, showing inflation is definitely biting now.

The way Darden measures profitability at the restaurant level (Segment Profit) excludes non-cash real estate related expenses, meaning rent and depreciation aren't in that core operating metric.

Capital Expenditures for Growth

Darden Restaurants, Inc. commits significant capital to expanding its footprint. The plan for capital expenditures to build new restaurants, remodel existing ones, and fund technology initiatives for fiscal 2025 was approximately $650 million. For fiscal 2026, the total capital spending outlook is set between $700 million and $750 million.

Centralized Corporate Overhead

Centralized corporate functions drive General and Administrative (G&A) expenses. Darden Restaurants, Inc.'s annual SG&A expenses for the full fiscal year 2025 were reported as $0.69 billion. Looking at a specific period, for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 (ended November 24, 2024), General and administrative expenses were $25.0 million.

Acquisition and Integration Costs

Strategic moves, like the acquisition of Chuy's Holdings, Inc., introduce one-time, non-recurring costs. For fiscal 2025, Darden Restaurants, Inc. expected approximately $47 million, pre-tax, in transaction and integration related costs associated with the Chuy's acquisition. The total enterprise value for the Chuy's acquisition itself was approximately $605 million.

Occupancy Costs and Real Estate Portfolio

The cost of the extensive real estate portfolio is a major fixed component. While a specific total occupancy cost isn't explicitly stated, the impact of the real estate base is reflected in depreciation. For the six months ended November 24, 2024, Depreciation and amortization expenses increased as a percent of sales, largely due to the Chuy's acquisition and incremental depreciation on new restaurant assets.

Here's a quick look at how some of these major cost categories compare:

Cost Category	FY2025 Financial Data Point	Amount/Value
Capital Expenditures (New Units/Remodels/Tech)	Fiscal 2025 Total Capital Spending	$650 million
Acquisition & Integration Costs (Chuy's)	Expected Pre-Tax Costs for FY2025	$47 million
General & Administrative (G&A)	Annual SG&A Expense for 2025	$0.69 billion
Food & Beverage Costs	Year-over-Year Inflationary Jump (Q1 2026 vs Q1 2025)	9.7%
Restaurant Labor Costs	Year-over-Year Inflationary Jump (Q1 2026 vs Q1 2025)	11.1%

You can see the pressure points clearly: the fixed investment in growth via CapEx, the one-time hit from acquisitions, and the variable cost inflation in labor and ingredients.

Finance: draft 13-week cash view by Friday

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) - Canvas Business Model: Revenue Streams

The core of Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) revenue generation comes from the direct sale of food and beverages consumed within its restaurants. This represents the primary revenue stream across its portfolio of iconic brands. However, the company has seen significant growth in its off-premise channels, which include ToGo (takeout), catering, and delivery services across all brands. For instance, during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, Olive Garden saw a nearly 20% increase in takeout sales, and its delivery order volumes nearly doubled in the last two weeks of that quarter, showing strong momentum in these ancillary channels.

Total sales reached $12.1 billion for fiscal year 2025. This figure is the aggregate of all company-operated restaurant sales for the period ended May 25, 2025. To give you a clearer picture of the composition of that total revenue, here is a breakdown of the major segment sales for the full fiscal year 2025:

Revenue Source / Segment	Fiscal Year 2025 Sales (in millions)	Percentage of Total Sales (Approximate)
Consolidated Darden Total Sales	$12,076.7	100%
Olive Garden Sales	$5,212.9	43.17%
LongHorn Steakhouse Sales	$3,025.5	25.05%
Fine Dining Sales	$1,304.8	10.81%
Other Business Sales (including Chuy's)	$2,533.5	20.98%

Olive Garden contributed $5.21 billion, which accounts for approximately 43% of the total sales in FY2025. The Other Business segment, which includes Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, Yard House, and the recently acquired Chuy's, accounted for $2,533.5 million in sales for the full year.

A secondary, though less significant, revenue stream involves franchise fees and royalties derived from international operations and domestic franchise agreements. Darden Restaurants, Inc. has area development, franchise, and license agreements for brands like Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse in regions spanning the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Middle East as of May 25, 2025. However, the income derived from these franchise arrangements, including royalty income, is explicitly stated as not material to the consolidated financial statements.

You can see the key drivers of the revenue base here:

• Primary revenue source is in-restaurant food and beverage sales.
• Total FY2025 sales reached $12,076.7 million.
• Olive Garden accounted for $5,212.9 million in FY2025 sales.
• Off-premise sales channels, like delivery, showed accelerated growth in Q4 FY2025.
• Franchise fees and royalties are generated internationally but are not material to total revenue.