Ruths Hospitality Group, Inc.: management transactions · United States · SEC (Form 4)

About Ruths Hospitality Group, Inc.

Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. was a U.S. upscale restaurant company best known for its flagship brand, Ruth’s Chris Steak House. The business was founded in 1965 in New Orleans by Ruth Fertel, who purchased a 60-seat steakhouse and turned it into one of the most recognized names in the premium steakhouse category. Before being taken private, the stock traded on the NASDAQ under the ticker RUTH, making it a familiar name for investors tracking U.S. consumer discretionary and restaurant equities. The company was organized as a Delaware corporation, and its operational headquarters were in Winter Park, Florida. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000156459018005966/ruth-10k_20171231.htm?utm_source=openai)) Its business model centered on operating company-owned restaurants and franchising the Ruth’s Chris Steak House brand. The concept is built around high-end steaks, seafood, wine, and full-service dining at a premium price point, with demand driven by business dining, special occasions, and affluent consumers. That positioning gave the brand a clear niche in the fine-dining steakhouse market, a segment that can be relatively resilient versus casual dining, but remains exposed to food inflation, labor pressure, and shifts in discretionary spending. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000156459022006647/ruth-10k_20211226.htm?utm_source=openai)) Geographically, Ruth’s Chris was primarily U.S.-based, with additional franchise exposure outside the United States at various points. The brand benefited from strong name recognition, a consistent culinary identity, and a standardized guest experience, all of which are important in premium dining. Competitively, it sat alongside other upscale steakhouses and fine-dining operators, differentiating itself through brand heritage, service execution, and a premium guest proposition rather than through scale alone. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1324272/000156459022006647/ruth-10k_20211226.htm?utm_source=openai)) The most important recent development was the change of ownership. Darden Restaurants completed its acquisition of Ruth’s Hospitality Group on June 14, 2023, paying $21.50 per share in cash. Following that transaction, Ruth’s Chris Steak House became part of Darden’s Fine Dining segment, meaning Ruth’s Hospitality Group no longer trades as an independent public company. For equity investors, the legacy company remains relevant as a case study in premium brand value, restaurant margin structure, and strategic consolidation within the U.S. dining industry. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/940944/000094094424000035/dri-20240526.htm?utm_source=openai))