Red Lobster 2008 Annual Report Download - page 19

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DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC. 15
As we work to build great brands, we also bring to
the table strong brand-support expertise that refl ects our
signifi cant scale – scale that is unmatched in the full-service
restaurant industry. The resources that come with our scale
enable us to invest in great people – people with superior
expertise in a range of important support functions – and
to invest in strong systems. As a result of these investments,
we are able to support our brands more effectively and
effi ciently than many competitors. This is an especially
important advantage as our industry is challenged to respond
to current cost pressures related to increasing globalization
and the changing public policy landscape in the U.S.
Darden is fi rst and foremost a people business, and our
nearly 180,000 employees are our greatest competitive edge.
Because of that, many of our brand-support investments
are in systems that enhance our ability to attract, retain and
develop the best people. We also invest in driving and sustaining
competitive superiority in our supply chain capabilities. With
a $2.4 billion supply chain we have the size and scope to
explore innovations and initiatives that will help us become
more effi cient and socially responsible in the way we harvest,
process, ship and serve the high-quality, delicious food our
guests expect. And, our scale and resources enable us to
continue to make investments that others cannot in areas of
our restaurant support infrastructure, including information
technology and restaurant-level labor and food cost manage-
ment processes.