# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0000940944
**File Stem:** 0001225208-25-006479
**Filing Date:** 2025-7
**Character Count:** 10980
**Document Hash:** 7b677c056d363a1760b6388a796b52cd
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001225208-25-006479.hdr.sgml**: 20250703

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001225208-25-006479

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 3

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 2

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20250623

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20250703

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20250703

**REPORTING-OWNER**: 

**OWNER DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** Wilkerson John W.
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0002075975

**ORGANIZATION NAME:**

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 3
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 001-13666
- **FILM NUMBER:** 251105347

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
- **CITY:** ORLANDO
- **STATE:** FL
- **ZIP:** 32837
**ISSUER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0000940944
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** RETAIL-EATING PLACES [5812]
- **ORGANIZATION NAME:** 07 Trade & Services
- **EIN:** 593305930
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** FL
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 0531

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
- **CITY:** ORLANDO
- **STATE:** FL
- **ZIP:** 32837
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 4072454000

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
- **CITY:** ORLANDO
- **STATE:** FL
- **ZIP:** 32837

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** GENERAL MILLS RESTAURANTS INC
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 19950313

## Ex-24

```

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Know all by these presents that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints
each of Matthew R. Broad, Ricardo Cardenas, Ashaki Noni Holmes-Kidd and
Christopher L. Guzman, signing singly, the undersigned's true and lawful
attorney-in-fact to:

(1)        execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the undersigned's
capacity as a current or retired officer and/or director of Darden Restaurants,
Inc. (the "Company"), Forms 3, 4, and 5 in accordance with Section 16(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder ("Section 16"), and
Form 144 pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
("Rule 144");

(2)        do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned
which may be necessary or desirable to complete and execute any such Form ID,
Form 3, 4, or 5, or Form 144, complete and execute any amendment or amendments
thereto, and file such form with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission, the New York Stock Exchange and any other stock exchange or similar
authority; and

(3)        take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with the
foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to,
in the best interest of, or legally required by, the undersigned, it being
understood that the documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the
  undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in such form and shall
  contain such terms and conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve in such
  attorney-in-fact's discretion.

The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact full power and
authority to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite,
necessary, or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers
herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or
  could do if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation,
  hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact, or such
attorney-in-fact's substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue of this power of attorney and the rights and powers herein
granted.  The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in
serving in such capacity at the request of the undersigned, are not assuming,
nor is the Company assuming, any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply
  with Section 16 and Rule 144.

This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the
undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4, and 5 and Form 144 with
respect to the undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities issued
by the Company, unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing
delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be
executed as of the 2nd day of July, 2025.

							/s/ John W. Wilkerson
							Signature
							Print name:  John W. Wilkerson

```

### UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
**Washington, D.C. 20549**

## FORM 3

### INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

[ ] Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **1. Name and Address of Reporting Person**<sup>*</sup><br>Wilkerson John W.<br><sub>(Last) (First) (Middle)</sub><br>1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE<br><sub>(Street)</sub><br>ORLANDO, FL 32837<br><sub>(City) (State) (Zip)</sub> | **3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol**<br>DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC [ DRI ] | **5. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)**<br>  |
| **2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)**<br>2025-06-23 | **4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer**<br>(Check all applicable)<br>[ ] Director   [ ] 10% Owner<br>[X] Officer (give title below)   [ ] Other (specify below)<br>_President Elect, Olive Garden_ | **6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)**<br>[X] Form filed by One Reporting Person<br>[ ] Form filed by More than One Reporting Person |

---

## Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned

---

|  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Title of Security | 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned | 3. Ownership Form | 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| Common Stock | 16771.7060<sup>(1)</sup> | D |  |
| Common Stock | 596.5930 | I | By 401k |

---

## Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned

---

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Title of Derivative Security | 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year) | 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year) | 3. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities | 3. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities | 4. Conversion or Exercise Price | 5. Ownership Form | 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| 1. Title of Derivative Security | Date Exercisable | Expiration Date | Title | Amount or Number of Shares | 4. Conversion or Exercise Price | 5. Ownership Form | 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| Performance Restricted Stock Units (FY22)<sup>(2)</sup> | <sup>(3)</sup> | 2025-07-28 | Common Stock | 1585.0000<sup>(4)</sup> | $0.0000 | D |  |
| Performance Restricted Stock Units (FY23)<sup>(5)</sup> | <sup>(6)</sup> | 2026-07-27 | Common Stock | 6428.0000<sup>(7)</sup> | $0.0000 | D |  |
| Phantom Stock | <sup>(8)</sup> | <sup>(8)</sup> | Common Stock | 516.1618<sup>(9)</sup> | <sup>(8)</sup> | D |  |
| Restricted Stock Units (FY23 Annual Grant) | 2025-07-27 | 2025-07-27 | Common Stock | 1607.0000 | 0.0000<sup>(10)</sup> | D |  |
| Restricted Stock Units (FY24 Annual Grant) | 2026-07-26 | 2026-07-26 | Common Stock | 1129.0000 | 0.0000<sup>(10)</sup> | D |  |
| Restricted Stock Units (FY25 Annual Grant) | 2027-07-24 | 2027-07-24 | Common Stock | 1307.0000 | 0.0000<sup>(10)</sup> | D |  |
| Stock Option (Right to Buy) | <sup>(11)</sup> | 2032-07-27 | Common Stock | 5429.0000 | $121.4700 | D |  |
| Stock Option (Right to Buy) | <sup>(12)</sup> | 2029-07-24 | Common Stock | 6364.0000 | $124.2400 | D |  |
| Stock Option (Right to Buy) | <sup>(13)</sup> | 2034-07-24 | Common Stock | 3973.0000 | $139.4300 | D |  |
| Stock Option (Right to Buy) | <sup>(14)</sup> | 2031-07-28 | Common Stock | 4241.0000 | $148.2000 | D |  |
| Stock Option (Right to Buy) | <sup>(15)</sup> | 2033-07-26 | Common Stock | 3399.0000 | $169.0200 | D |  |

---

### Footnotes:

(1) Includes shares acquired pursuant to the Darden Restaurants, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan and dividend reinvestment feature of the Plan.

(2) On July 28, 2021, the Reporting Person was awarded 2,384 target performance restricted stock units (PSUs) subject to the achievement of performance criteria (relative total shareholder return as compared to a selected comparison group) from July 29, 2020 through May 28, 2023.

(3) This grant vests in two equal annual installments beginning on July 28, 2024.

(4) On June 18, 2024, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors determined the final results under the applicable performance criteria resulting in 3,170 PSUs being earned in accordance with the provisions of the applicable award agreement.

(5) On July 27, 2022, the Reporting Person was awarded 3,214 target performance restricted stock units (PSUs) subject to the achievement of performance criteria (relative total shareholder return as compared to a selected comparison group) from July 28, 2021 through May 26, 2024.

(6) This grant vests in two equal annual installments beginning on July 27, 2025.

(7) On June 17, 2025, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors determined the final results under the applicable performance criteria resulting in 6,428 PSUs being earned in accordance with the provisions of the applicable award agreement.

(8) Each share of phantom stock is the economic equivalent of one share of DRI common stock. The share of phantom stock becomes payable in cash upon settlement.

(9) Includes phantom stock acquired under the Darden Restaurants, Inc. FlexComp Plan based on information provided by the plan administrator as of June 23, 2024.

(10) Restricted stock units convert into common stock on a one-for-one basis.

(11) This option vests in two equal annual installments beginning on July 27, 2025.

(12) This option vested in two equal annual installments beginning on July 24, 2022.

(13) This option vests in two equal annual installments beginning on July 24, 2027.

(14) This option vests in two equal annual installments beginning on July 28, 2024.

(15) This option vests in two equal annual installments beginning on July 26, 2026.

**Remarks:**
wilkersonpoa.txt

**Signature:** Ashaki Noni Holmes-Kidd, Attorney-in-fact for Wilkerson, John W.  
**Date:** 2025-07-03

### Remarks:

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

**Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.**