Darden Adds Two Upscale Seafood Brands

Darden Restaurants, already one of the world’s largest restaurant companies, has gotten a little bit bigger. It has agreed to purchase the Eddie V’s Prime Seafood and Wildfish Seafood Grille restaurant brands, and all related assets for $59 million, from Eddie V’s Restaurants. The luxury seafood concepts will become part of Darden’s Specialty Restaurant Group, comprised of The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52. Orlando, Fla.-based Darden expects to complete the transaction by the end of the calendar year.

Currently, there are eight Eddie V’s and three Wildfish locations in Arizona, California and Texas. Eddie V’s management will join Darden and continue leading the day-to-day operation of the brands.