<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000898822-14-000394
<TYPE>DEFA14A
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<FILING-DATE>20141001
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20141001
<EFFECTIVENESS-DATE>20141001
<FILER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC
<CIK>0000940944
<ASSIGNED-SIC>5812
<IRS-NUMBER>593305930
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>FL
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0525
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>DEFA14A
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-13666
<FILM-NUMBER>141133818
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<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
<CITY>ORLANDO
<STATE>FL
<ZIP>32837
<PHONE>4072454000
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<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
<CITY>ORLANDO
<STATE>FL
<ZIP>32837
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<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>GENERAL MILLS RESTAURANTS INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19950313
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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>DEFA14A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>defa14a.htm
<TEXT>
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    <title>defa14a.htm</title>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">UNITED STATES</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Washington, D.C. 20549</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section&#160;14(a) of the Securities</font></div>

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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Filed by the Registrant&#160;&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Wingdings">&#254;</font>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Filed by a Party other than the Registrant&#160;&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Wingdings">&#168;</font></font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Check the appropriate box:</font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Preliminary Proxy Statement</font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))</font></font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Wingdings">&#168;</font></font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Definitive Proxy Statement</font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Definitive Additional Materials</font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Soliciting Material Pursuant to &#167;240.14a-12</font></div>
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<div align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 24pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):</font></div>

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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">No fee required.</font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules&#160;14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(1)</font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(2)</font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block">&#160;</div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(3)</font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule&#160;0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):</font></div>
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<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(4)</font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(5)</font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Total fee paid:</font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.</font></div>
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<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Wingdings">&#168;</font></font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule&#160;0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.</font></div>
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<div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(1)</font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Amount Previously Paid:</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block">&#160;</div>
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<div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160; </font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(2)</font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(3)</font></div>
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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Set forth on the following page are talking points intended to be used on an as-needed basis with employees of Darden Restaurants, Inc. (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) regarding the Company&#8217;s 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Recommendations by Proxy Advisory Firms</font></font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), Glass Lewis and Egan-Jones are proxy advisory firms that provide research and voting recommendations to their clients, which include institutional investors, pension funds and money managers.&#160;&#160;While these recommendations can be influential, they are not outcome determinative.&#160;&#160;Each investor makes its own decision on how to vote; the advisory firm recommendations are a tool used in reaching the decision.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">As you may have heard, ISS and Glass Lewis have recommended support for Starboard&#8217;s slate of director nominees.&#160;&#160;We do not agree with these recommendations and have issued public statements accordingly.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">In addition, we have heard from many Darden shareholders who, like us, do not support giving complete control of the Darden Board to Starboard and its nominees.&#160;&#160;We are continuing to communicate with all of Darden&#8217;s shareholders, in person or in writing, about the benefits of Darden&#8217;s slate of director nominees and the importance of voting on Darden&#8217;s BLUE proxy card.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Communicating with Shareholders</font></font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Over the last months, Darden has been speaking with shareholders in a number of ways regarding the upcoming Annual Meeting.&#160;&#160;In addition to mailings to shareholders, our proxy solicitor, Innisfree, is conducting a phone campaign to ensure that shareholders have received materials and to encourage them to cast their vote on the BLUE proxy card.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">In addition, members of Darden&#8217;s Board, our new director nominees, and members of Darden&#8217;s management leadership team are having in-person meetings and conference calls with shareholders to be sure they understand the positive improvements we are making across the Company as part of our efforts to drive value for our shareholders, employees and guests.</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">How to Cast a Vote for Darden&#8217;s Slate</font></font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">For any company, the proxy voting process can be complicated and confusing.&#160;&#160;There are a variety of ways that individuals can own shares in Darden, and consequently, there are a number of ways that proxy related voting materials will be received.&#160;&#160;The best advice to give employees seeking help with the voting process is to have them call the team at Innisfree, our proxy solicitor.&#160;&#160;The Innisfree number is 877-825-8631.</font></div>

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