Founder Profile
Bill Darden
Last reviewed: October 2026 · By Swet Parvadiya
Who is Bill Darden?
Bill Darden is a founder of Darden Restaurants, Inc., which was founded in 1938 with General Mills.
- Company founded
- Darden Restaurants, Inc.
- Founded
- 1938
- Co-founders
- General Mills
Background
Georgia-born restaurateur who ran restaurants from 1938 and founded Red Lobster in 1968.
Founding Story
William 'Bill' Darden opened The Green Frog in Waycross, Georgia, in 1938 at age 19. In 1968 he opened the first Red Lobster in Lakeland, Florida, offering seafood to middle-class families at casual-dining prices. General Mills bought Red Lobster in 1970 and kept Darden involved as it grew nationally. When General Mills spun off its restaurant group in 1995, the new public company was named Darden Restaurants in his honor. Bill Darden was born in 1918.
Sources
This profile does not yet cite a source specific to Bill Darden. The sources below document the company company rather than the person, so check them against the claims above.
- Darden Restaurants FY2026 fourth quarter and full-year results exhibit (Darden Restaurants, Inc.)
- Darden Restaurants FY2025 Form 10-K (Darden Restaurants, Inc.)