Yard House USA will benefit from Darden Restaurants' resources as largest casual-dining operator in terms of operational strengths, scale and supply chain, analysts say following Darden's US$585M acquisition of Yard House

Nevin Barich

LOS ANGELES , July 16, 2012 (Industry Intelligence Inc.) – Following Darden Restaurants’ US$585 million acquisition of Yard House USA, several analysts say that Yard House would benefit from Darden’s resources as the largest casual-dining operator in terms of operational strengths, scale and supply chain, Nation’s Restaurant News reported July 13.

Jeffrey Bernstein of Barclays Capital Inc. said that Yard House fits well within Darden’s portfolio and won’t distract anyone from Darden’s core brands. Additionally, said Paul Westra of Cowen and Co., Yard House is one of America’s best-positioned polished casual dining concepts.

Yard House will likely play a key role in Darden’s top-line growth goals as Olive Garden and Red Lobster approach their ultimate footprint potential within the next few years, said Raymond James analyst Bryan Elliott.

The primary source of this article is Nation’s Restaurant News, New York, New York, on July 13, 2012.

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