Exhibit 99(c)


DARDEN RESTAURANTS
Red Lobster(R) Olive Garden(R)
Bahama Breeze(R) Smokey Bones(R)
         www.darden.com
                                                            NEWS/INFORMATION
                                                            Corporate Relations
                                                            P.O. Box 593330
                                                            Orlando, FL  32859

                                    Contacts:
                                    (Analysts) Matthew Stroud   (407) 245-6458
                                    (Media)    Mike Bernstein   (407) 245-5270
FOR RELEASE
March 22, 2005
4:30 PM EST


          CHARLES A. LEDSINGER, JR. ELECTED TO DARDEN RESTAURANTS BOARD

Orlando,  FL - Darden  Restaurants,  Inc.  (NYSE:DRI),  has  elected  Charles A.
Ledsinger, Jr., to its board of directors,  effective June 2005. Darden owns and
operates Red Lobster,  Olive Garden,  Bahama Breeze, and Smokey Bones Barbeque &
Grill restaurant companies.

Mr.  Ledsinger  is  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer  of  Choice  Hotels
International [NYSE:CHH], one of the world's largest hotel franchisers with more
than 5,000 hotels open and under  development  in 44 countries and  territories.
The Silver Spring,  Maryland-based  company  franchises the Comfort Inn, Comfort
Suites,  Quality,  Econo Lodge,  Clarion,  Sleep Inn,  Rodeway Inn, and MainStay
Suites hotels.  The Choice worldwide system generates in excess of $4 billion in
annual revenue.

"We are honored  and  excited to welcome  Chuck  Ledsinger  to our board,"  said
Clarence Otis, Darden's Chief Executive Officer. "His years of proven leadership
in the hospitality  industry will be a tremendous  asset to Darden as we explore
the next frontier of casual dining growth."

"I am pleased to join the Darden  Restaurants board because of its commitment to
excellence in casual dining," said  Ledsinger.  "Darden has become the leader in
its field by understanding  how to provide true hospitality and consistent value
at all of its restaurants."

Under  Ledsinger's  leadership,  Choice has launched a number of  initiatives to
reach more consumers,  deliver  exceptional  services,  and build strong brands.
These  include the  successful  re-imaging of the  company's  Quality,  Comfort,
Comfort  Suite,  and Sleep Inn brands and the "thanks for  traveling"  marketing
campaign in response to the travel slowdown following the 2001 terrorist attacks
on America.

In 2002,  Ledsinger was named the  industry's  top  performing  chief  executive
officer  for 2001 by HVS  Executive  Search,  a  division  of the  global  hotel
consulting  firm HVS  International.  The annual award honors the CEO who offers
the best value to shareholders on a pay per performance model.

                                    - MORE -


"Chuck  brings  to  Darden's  Board  a  good  understanding  of  multi-unit  and
multi-brand  management," said Joe Lee, Chairman of the Board of Darden. "Choice
Hotels and Darden share a similar commitment to excellence."

Ledsinger  joined  Choice in August,  1998 after  serving as President and Chief
Operating  Officer of The St. Joe Company,  Florida's  largest private landowner
and  developer  of  master  planned   communities,   commercial  and  industrial
facilities, resorts and location based entertainment.

Prior to joining St. Joe in 1997, he spent nearly 20 years at Promus  Companies,
Inc., now owned by Hilton Corporation.  He held a number of financial management
positions, including serving as its Chief Financial Officer.

Ledsinger serves on the boards of Choice Hotels International [NYSE:CHH], FelCor
Lodging Trust Inc. [NYSE:FCH], and TBC Corporation [NASDAQ:TBCC].

A Memphis native and a graduate of the University of Virginia,  Ledsinger earned
an MBA  degree  from the  University  of  Memphis.  He lives  with his family in
Bethesda, Maryland.

Darden Restaurants,  Inc.,  headquartered in Orlando, FL, owns and operates over
1,350 restaurants with annual sales of over $5.0 billion. It is the market share
and sales leader in casual dining.

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.

                                      -END-