EXHIBIT 99

                     DARDEN RESTAURANTS APPOINTS GARY HECKEL
                   SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT OF DARDEN RESTAURANTS

ORLANDO, FL - A 25-year industry veteran who began his career as a grill cook is
now Darden Restaurants' new Corporate Officer. Gary Heckel,  President of Bahama
Breeze  Restaurants  added  Senior  Vice-President  Darden  Restaurants  to  his
responsibilities. He becomes a member of the Darden Executive Management team as
a Corporate Officer.

"Gary's  contributions  to  Bahama  Breeze  operations  has  made  it one of our
industry's  hottest concepts," said Joe R. Lee, CEO of Darden  Restaurants.  "He
has made  significant  contributions  to the  development of the business and is
busy  overseeing  its  expansion.  This  promotion  recognizes  his  outstanding
leadership."

Heckel  joined  Darden in 1995 as  Vice-President  Operations  for New  Business
Development.  He was  promoted to Senior  Vice-President  Operations  for Bahama
Breeze in 1997, and assumed  responsibilities  as President in 1998. He has been
responsible  for day-to-day  operations and has been  instrumental in developing
the  principles,  values and  extraordinary  food and service  culture unique to
Bahama Breeze.

Darden  Restaurants,  with  headquarters  in  Orlando,  Florida,  is the world's
largest casual dining company,  with 1,151  restaurants  operating under the Red
Lobster,  The Olive Garden and Bahama Breeze brands,  over 115,000 employees and
annual sales of over $3.3 billion.


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