Certain statements on this Website and other materials filed or to be filed by Darden Restaurants, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission (as well as information included in oral or written statements made or to be made by us) may contain statements that are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as codified in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “continue,” “estimate,” “project,” “believe,” “plan,” “outlook” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All of these statements, and any other statements that are not historical facts, are forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions concerning important factors, risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect anticipated results in the future and, accordingly, could cause the actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. These factors, risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed in Part I, Item IA “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, and in our Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports (including all amendments to those reports).
These risks and uncertainties include: a failure to address cost pressures and a failure to effectively deliver cost management activities and achieve some economies of scale in purchasing; certain economic and business factors and their impacts on the restaurant industry and other general macroeconomic factors, including unemployment, energy prices and interest rates; the inability to hire, train, reward and retain restaurant team members and determine and maintain adequate staffing; a failure to recruit, develop and retain effective leaders or the loss or shortage of personnel with key capacities and skills that could impact our strategic direction; increased labor and insurance costs; health concerns arising from food-related pandemics, outbreaks of flu, viruses or other diseases; food safety and food-borne illness concerns; insufficient guest or employee facing technology or a failure to maintain a continuous and secure cyber network; compliance with privacy and data protection laws and risks of failures or breaches of our data protection systems; the inability to successfully integrate the Chuy’s brand’s operations into our business; risks relating to public policy changes and federal, state and local regulation of our business; intense competition; changing consumer preferences; an inability or failure to recognize, respond to and effectively manage the accelerated impact of social media; a failure to identify and execute innovative marketing and guest relationship tactics, ineffective or improper use of other marketing initiatives and increased advertising and marketing costs; climate change, adverse weather conditions and natural disasters; long-term and non-cancelable property leases; inability or failure to execute a business continuity plan following a major natural disaster; shortages, delays or interruptions in the delivery of food and other products and services from our third-party vendors and suppliers; failure to drive profitable sales growth; a lack of availability of suitable locations for new restaurants or a decline in the quality of locations of our current restaurants; higher-than-anticipated costs associated with the opening of new restaurants or with the closing, relocating or remodeling of existing restaurants; risks associated with doing business with franchisees, licensees and vendors in foreign markets; volatility in the market value of derivatives; volatility in the U.S. equity markets affecting our ability to efficiently hedge exposures; failure to protect our intellectual property; our reporting on environmental, social and governance matters or our sustainability ratings; litigation;, unfavorable publicity or failure to respond effectively to adverse publicity; disruptions in the financial and credit markets; impairment of the carrying value of our goodwill or other intangible assets; changes in tax laws or unanticipated tax liabilities; failure of our internal controls over financial reporting and future changes in accounting standards; and other factors and uncertainties discussed from time to time in reports filed by Darden with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Since it is not possible to foresee all such factors, risk and uncertainties, investors should not consider these factors to be a complete list of all risks or uncertainties.