While the Red Lobster seafood chain closed 93 “non-performing” restaurants last month and filed for relief under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code, it’s still very much business as usual at approximately 570 operating outlets. The Orlando, Florida-headquartered company has joined forces with rapper, hype man and TV personality Flavor Flav to kick off Crabfest in style.
“Yoooo,” Flav (AKA William Jonathan Drayton Jr.) told his many followers. “I use my platform to help others and now I wanna use it to help save one of America’s greatest dining dynasties.”
Yeah, boyeeeeee!
“We love seeing our fans show up and rally for us, so when Flavor Flav reached out, we answered the call and invited him to join us in reminding customers we’re here to stay,” said Sara Bittorf, Red Lobster’s chief experience officer.
The Crabfest 2024 limited time lineup features the largest variety of crab dishes offered all year. As part of Crab Your Way promotion, guests can choose a full pound of steamed wild-caught crab legs (Snow or Bairdi) and then select flavor options including Cajun Butter, Roasted Garlic Butter, or Simply Steamed. The menu’s Bairdi crab is sustainably caught off the coast of Alaska in cold Bering Sea waters.
“Crabfest has been a guest-favorite event for years and we’re excited to bring the flavor, along with a variety of wild-caught crab for our guests to enjoy, now and for generations to come,” added Bittorf.
But the flavor doesn’t stop there. With craveable crab creations starting at $20, customers can choose from three new offerings: Creamy Crab Carbonara, Crab & Lobster Duo, and Snow Crab & Crab-Topped Steak. For those looking to level up their meal, newly offered Crab Mac & Cheese (pictured above) is an option, and the new Big Breezy Hurricane is available for guests to sip straight into summer.
Meanwhile, Red Lobster has been working with vendors to ensure that operations are unaffected and has received a $100 million debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing commitment from its existing lenders.
CEO Jonathan Tibus recently stated: “This restructuring is the best path forward for Red Lobster. It allows us to address several financial and operational challenges and emerge stronger and re-focused on our growth. The support we’ve received from our lenders and vendors will help ensure that we can complete the sale process quickly and efficiently while remaining focused on our employees and guests.”
