Darden Restaurants Inc. is the largest publicly traded casual dining restaurant company in the world. It serves over $320$ million meals annually from more than $1500$ restaurants in the United States and Canada. Its well$-$known flagship brand$-$Olive Garden $$ generates sales of U$.$S$.$ $$3\mathrm{.}6$ billion annually.

Darden's other brands include Bahama Breeze, Seasons $52,$ Capital Grille, and LongHorn Steakhouse. The firm employs more than $150000$ people and is the $33$rd largest employer in the United States.

"Operations is typically thought of as an execution of strategy. For us it is the strategy," Darden's former chairman, Joe R$.$ Lee, stated.

In the restaurant business, a winning strategy requires a winning supply chain. Nothing is more important than sourcing and delivering healthy, high$-$quality food; and there are very few other industries where supplier performance is so closely tied to the customer.

Darden sources its food from five continents and thousands of suppliers. To meet Darden's needs for fresh ingredients, the company has developed four distinct supply chains: one for seafood; a second for dairy$/$produce$/$other refrigerated foods; a third for other food items, like baked goods; and a fourth for restaurant supplies $($everything from dishes to ovens to uniforms$).$ Over U$.$S$.$ $$2$ billion is spent in these supply chains annually. $($See the Video Case Study at the end of this chapter for details.$)$

Darden's four supply channels have some common characteristics. They all require supplier qualification, have product tracking, are subject to independent audits, and employ just$-$in$-$time delivery. With best$-$in$-$class techniques and processes, Darden creates worldwide supply chain partnerships and alliances that are rapid, transparent, and efficient. Darden achieves competitive advantage through its superior supply chain.

What is Darden's sourcing strategy?

$2.$ Describe the type of procurement system

$3.$ How many types of supply chains does Darden have? How do they compare with those of other industries, such as Dell Computers or Renault Nissan?