Red Lobster Goes Overseas in Search of Comeback
- Chain has added 21 international locations since Darden split
- Full-service restaurants face challenges operating abroad
This article is for subscribers only.
When Golden Gate Capital acquired Red Lobster in 2014, the restaurant chain was saddled with an aging customer and a concept that had lost allure for many Americans. The solution: go big overseas.
The chain has opened 21 offshore locations since it was acquired from Darden Restaurants Inc. in 2014, with Golden Gate wagering that customers in places like China have an appetite for seafood and cheddar bay biscuits. The expansion has brought the total number of Red Lobster’s overseas restaurants to 51, not including Canada, helping give the distinctly American chain more of an international profile.