Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: DRI) is the world’s largest company owned and operated full service restaurant company. The company’s brands include The Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Longhorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze, and Seasons 52. As of May 30, 2010, DRI operated 1,824 restaurants in the US and Canada. They also have franchised 5 restaurants in Puerto Rico and 25 Red Lobsters in Japan.
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBRL) operates a chain of restaurant/retail concepts under the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store brand. As of September 21, 2010, it operated 595 full-service restaurants and gift shops in 41 states, most located in the Southeast US. The format of its stores consists of a trademarked rustic, old country-store design with a separate retail area offering a variety of decorative and functional items featuring rocking chairs, holiday and seasonal gifts and toys, apparel, cookware and foods, including candies and jellies.
Yum! Brands Inc. (NYSE: YUM) is the world’s largest quick service restaurant company, with more than 37,000 units in more than 110 countries and territories. YUM’s portfolio includes 5 brand concepts: KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Long John Silver’s and A&W All-American Food Restaurants (A&W).
3M Company (NYSE: MMM) is a diversified technology company with a presence around the world. The company divides its businesses…