DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC

Regulatory Filings • Jun 20, 2025

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report: June 13, 2025

(Date of earliest event reported)

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Commission File Number: 1-13666

Florida	59-3305930
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

1000 Darden Center Drive , Orlando , Florida 32837

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

( 407 ) 245-4000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, without par value	DRI	New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.12b-2).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On June 20, 2025, Darden Restaurants, Inc. (the Company) issued a news release entitled “Darden Restaurants Reports Fiscal 2025 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results; Increases Quarterly Dividend; Authorizes New $1 Billion Share Repurchase Program; And Provides Fiscal 2026 Outlook,” a copy of which is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. In addition, the slide presentation accompanying the Company’s conference call will be posted on the Company’s website.

As provided in General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information in this Item 2.02 in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. The information in this Item 2.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On June 13, 2025, Dan Kiernan, the Company’s President, Olive Garden, notified the Company of his intent to retire. The effective date of his retirement is August 31, 2025. On June 18, 2025, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the appointment of John Wilkerson, currently the Company’s President, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, to the office of President, Olive Garden, effective September 1, 2025. Effective on June 23, 2025, Mr. Wilkerson will no longer serve as President, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen and will assume the role of President-elect, Olive Garden. Mr. Wilkerson will work with Mr. Kiernan until his retirement date to ensure a smooth leadership transition.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit Number	Description of Exhibit
99.1	News release dated June 20, 202 5 entitled “Darden Restaurants Reports Fiscal 202 5 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results; Increases Quarterly Dividend; Authorizes New $1 Billion Share Repurchase Program ; And Provides Fiscal 202 6 Outlook”
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
By:	/s/ Rajesh Vennam
	Rajesh Vennam
	Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Date: June 20, 2025