"Wheaties, Lucky Charms, and Cheerios may come to mind when you hear General Mills, but as its eponym suggests, General Mills began as a flour mill before growing into the food production juggernaut it is today. Boasting over 100 beloved brands like Bisquick, Betty Crocker, Blue Buffalo, and Nature's Valley, General Mills envelops more than just the cereal world. It has put in time in the restaurant business as well, obtaining ownership of Red Lobster in 1970."
"William B. Darden founded Red Lobster in 1968 before General Mills acquired the chain in 1970. He became an executive at General Mills and the namesake of Darden Restaurant Inc. which currently owns Olive Garden. General Mills spun off into Darden in 1995 when it steered focus from restaurants to packaged foods. Darden then became an independent, publicly traded, stockholder-owned company."
General Mills began as a flour mill and expanded into a major food company that owns over 100 brands, including Bisquick, Betty Crocker, Blue Buffalo, and Nature's Valley. General Mills entered the restaurant business and acquired Red Lobster in 1970, then developed Olive Garden as an original Italian-chain concept around 1982 with Tuscan-inspired decor. Olive Garden expanded rapidly to over 145 locations by 1989 and now operates more than 900 locations nationwide. William B. Darden, founder of Red Lobster, became an executive and lent his name to Darden Restaurant Inc. General Mills spun off Darden in 1995, and Darden reported $5.2 billion in Olive Garden sales for fiscal 2025.
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