ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 19-- Darden Restaurants, Inc.(NYSE: DRI - News) announced Monday that Darden Vice Chairman Dick Rivera will assume interim day-to-day leadership responsibilities at Bahama Breeze restaurants. At the same time, Bahama Breeze President Gary Heckel announced his resignation. Heckel will serve in a consulting role for the Caribbean-themed restaurant company.
Rivera, whose responsibilities include Red Lobster restaurants, Bahama Breeze and the real estate development operations at Darden, will now also serve as acting president of Bahama Breeze.
"Gary is a consummate entrepreneur. We wish him well in his new endeavors and we will continue to look to him for insight and advice," said Joe Lee, Chairman of Darden Restaurants. "We are now in the second phase of a successful national rollout with steady and focused growth. Dick's deep operating experience and grasp of the critical real estate strategies will help position Bahama Breeze for this next phase."
Bahama Breeze, with 30 restaurants, has built an exciting brand based on its promise of a memorable island vacation experience, with delicious Caribbean cuisine, handcrafted drinks, live music and a relaxed atmosphere. The restaurant company enjoys among the highest unit sales and unit level returns in casual dining.
"The culinary and beverage standards at Bahama Breeze are among the highest in the industry and have earned strong consumer acceptance," said Rivera. "We have a talented operating team in place and I'm confident that we can continue to build on the success that Gary and his team have achieved."
Rivera, 55, joined Darden in 1997 as president of Red Lobster after holding leadership roles in a variety of high profile casual dining companies. Among his industry accomplishments, Rivera served as president and chief executive of Chart House Restaurants, Inc. in 1997; president and chief executive of RARE Hospitality International, Inc., the parent of Longhorn Steakhouse from 1994 to 1997; and president and chief executive of T.G.I. Friday's, Inc. from 1988 to 1994. Rivera began his career with Steak & Ale in Dallas in 1971.
As the largest casual dining restaurant company in the world, Darden Restaurants, Inc., owns and operates over 1,100 Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Bahama Breeze and Smokey Bones BBQ restaurants with annual sales of $4.02 billion. Darden is headquartered in Orlando, FL.
Forward-looking statements in this news release, if any, are made under the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Certain important factors could cause results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements, including the impact of changing economic or business conditions, the impact of competition, the availability of favorable credit and trade terms, the impact of changes in the cost or availability of food and real estate, government regulation, construction costs, weather conditions and other factors discussed from time to time in reports filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.