“Last year, Red Lobster reported $11 million in operating losses following its flubbed ‘Ultimate Endless Shrimp’ deal, which backfired when it reeled in too many customers after the limited-time promo became a permanent menu fixture last June. The restaurant chain later reported $12.5 million in losses in the fourth quarter of 2023.”

  • Cyborganism
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    90
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    7 months ago

    Filing bankruptcy over 11 million? Really? Doesn’t seem like a lot for a big restaurant chain.

    • wreckedcarzz@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      91
      arrow-down
      3
      ·
      7 months ago

      Well considering that I’m a “millennial” and literally not a single person I know has ever visited, requested, or mentioned Red Lobster as a restaurant choice… they might have deeper trouble than some shitty shrimp. Can’t run a business forever when your largest potential market is 65+…

      • protist@mander.xyz
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        55
        ·
        7 months ago

        The “endless shrimp” excuse seems like a marketing ploy. Doesn’t hit as hard as “no one’s coming to our restaurants to eat our shitty food.”

      • turmacar@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        26
        ·
        7 months ago

        The biscuits are the best part and they sell the mix, so not a lot of reason to visit if there’s any other options for seafood.

      • Malle_Yeno@pawb.social
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        14
        ·
        7 months ago

        I live in Saskatchewan, which is as land locked as it gets in Canada. And for some reason, my city has a Red Lobster. I don’t think I’ve heard anyone talk about going to it because who would expect a seafood restaurant all the way out here to be good? I have no clue how they’re making enough money to operate.

        (Also, nice pfp! 🐾 )

        • Wrench@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          22
          arrow-down
          3
          ·
          7 months ago

          Everything in red lobster is frozen anyway.

          But then again, all fish is frozen before being served to kill parasites. Even the most delicious sushi will be flash frozen first. I’ve had high end raw fish in Las Vegas, a literal dessert.

          That said, yeah, Red Lobster isn’t going to be top notch on the coast, let alone butt fuck nowhere.

      • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        8
        ·
        7 months ago

        Once their cheddar biscuits became purchasable on a store shelf, I imagine that decreased the impetus to visit the actual restaurant.

        Their biscuits are the best part.

      • stoly@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        7
        ·
        7 months ago

        In the late 90s I mentioned never having tried lobster. This resulted in a dangerous u-turn and a drive to the closest red lobster. Only time I went and I forgot until your comment.

      • brygphilomena@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        5
        ·
        7 months ago

        They always had the perception of expensive for me. So growing up, they were a special occasion place to get seafood. I’ve been a few times in the last few years. Their food was good, but not great and the places were never packed.

        Between Red Lobster and almost any other seafood place, the other one would win out for taste and quality.

        They had a huge marketing issue, offering “cheap” all you can eat, but making the place look and try to feel like a upscale option when it was basically a seafood Applebee’s.

        • stoly@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          7 months ago

          It’s like Panera or Olive Garden. Just boring flavorless food that is only attractive to people who don’t know better.

      • Cyborganism
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        6
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        7 months ago

        For me it’s just not really an option because there are no locations in Québec. The closest one is in Ottawa, two hours away.

        It’s one of our favorite places to go eat when we go to Ottawa. It’s honestly not as bad as people say it is. The food is always great at that location.

        • wolfkin@mastodon.social
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          10
          arrow-down
          2
          ·
          7 months ago

          @cyborganism @wreckedcarzz If you take internet reviews there are only three types of restaurants.

          1. Excellent places that deserve their Michelin Stars

          2. Excellent places that should have Michelin Stars

          3. Diarrhea fuel garbage pits. With food so disgusting you shouldn’t even feed it to the stray dog that bit your baby.

          On our national deal hunting website you can see all the “It gives you diarrhea comments” every time there’s a coupon for McDonalds or franchised Shawarma

          • Serinus@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            4
            ·
            7 months ago

            Chain restaurants also have a ton of variance. Most Olive garden is shit these dates, but A. They were great in the mid 90s before they enshittified, and B. I’m sure there’s still a great Olive Garden out there somewhere.

      • wolfpack86@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        4
        ·
        7 months ago

        It is peak 90s restaurant culture.

        And then in some areas seen as luxury. Same goes for Olive Garden.

      • wolfkin@mastodon.social
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        5
        arrow-down
        2
        ·
        edit-2
        7 months ago

        @wreckedcarzz @cyborganism

        this is hilarious fellow millennial, because I just went to Red Lobster today and had a great time.

        Of course this was the first time I’ve been in 20+ years so it’s not like I’m a regular.

      • Fermion@mander.xyz
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        7 months ago

        I’ve been to red lobster once and spent a very uncomfortable period of time on the porcelain throne shortly after. The news of bankruptcy does not surprise me.

      • iegod@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        arrow-down
        2
        ·
        7 months ago

        Millennial here hooked on their biscuits. It’s just you.

        • AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          7 months ago

          You can make them at home. Sam’s Club, and Costco both sell the dough mix. It also allows you to use white extra sharp cheddar to make them that much yummier

      • CrazyEddie041@kbin.social
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        7 months ago

        I actually went a few months ago because my parents got me a Red Lobster gift card for some reason. It was actually pretty freaking good. Honestly, I’d go back, but it’s kind of expensive even for how much I liked it.

    • The_v@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      30
      ·
      7 months ago

      The previous owners purchased the company via a leveraged buyout. It’s not one quarters losses, it’s the massive long-term debt on it’s books.

      This is a handy excuse to fuck over employees and suppliers.