Restaurant magnate plans to sell off Caribbean dining chain under ownership.
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Darden Restaurants might be kissing goodbye to their Bahama Breeze chain.
CEO Rick Cardenas, in a chat with analysts and investors on Friday, mentioned that they are considering strategic moves for Bahamas Breeze, such as giving it up or transforming restaurants into other Darden brands.
As of late May, they managed a total of 28 Bahama Breeze joints. And guess what? A whopping 15 of them shut down during that month, according to ol' Ricky C. 🧹
An abandoned car sits parked outside a Darden Restaurants Inc. Bahama Breeze Island Grille location in Schaumburg, Illinois. (Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Recently, Darden had a strategy session for their different chains.
**FOOD FOR THOUGHT: WHY 'BREEZE' COULD LOSE ITS WIND****
Cardenas revealed they made a tough decision: the remaining 28 Bahama Breeze locations and their brand, well, they're not a strategic priority for Darden. He also added that this brand could use some love from a new owner.
Darden started serving up Bahama Breeze back in the '90s. The chain is famous for its tropical vibes and Caribbean-inspired dishes and cocktails.
When discussing the strategic moves for Bahama Breeze, Cardenas also dropped a bombshell, saying Darden won't be pouring much money into reviving the floundering brand.
Cardenas also shared that Bahama Breeze doesn't meet the criteria for its portfolio of restaurant brands anymore.
An abandoned car sits parked outside a Darden Restaurants Inc. Bahama Breeze Island Grille location in Schaumburg, Illinois. (Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Yard House, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, The Capital Grille, Chuy's Seasons 52, and Eddie V's are just a few of the other tasty brands under Darden's umbrella.
The news that Darden is mulling over strategic moves for Bahama Breeze dropped when the Florida-based restaurant big-wigs released their fourth-quarter financial results.
Darden raked in $3.27 billion in sales during the last quarter of their fiscal 2025 year, which is a solid 10.6% increase from the same period the previous year. And their net earnings were $303.8 million.
**FOR DARDEN, THE SUN NEVER SETS ON SUCCESS****
"We stuck to our winning game plan, and it paid off. Our plan remains golden, and we’re going to keep at it to keep growing and create long-term shareholder value," Cardenas said.
For the upcoming fiscal 2026, Darden predicts a 7-8% increase in sales.
As of early Friday afternoon, Darden's market cap was sitting pretty at around $26.06 billion.
- Darden could potentially divest or rebrand its Bahama Breeze chain, as stated by CEO Rick Cardenas in a discussion with investors and analysts.
- The decision not to prioritize Bahama Breeze was part of Darden's strategic plan for their portfolio of restaurant brands.
- The food and drinks industry isn't the only sector Darden operates in; they also have interests in various business ventures, including finance and lifestyle.
- The potential departure of Bahama Breeze from Darden's portfolio might open up opportunities for another investor to capitalize on the brand, as suggested by Cardenas.
