Who bought Red Lobster from Darden Restaurants?
STORY. of. RED LOBSTER. Before there was Red Lobster, there was Bill Darden, a man passionate about making delicious, high-quality seafood available and affordable to everyone, including people who lived far from the coast and regardless of race, gender, religion or economic means. What was once a single, family-owned restaurant in Lakeland …
Who is the current CEO of Red Lobster?
Aug 31, 2020 · The Red Lobster located at 3552 E. Colonial Drive, in Orlando, photographed Wednesday, August 12, 2020. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Red Lobster stakeholder Thai Union and a group of investors …
Who founded the first Red Lobster?
We started off as a single, family-owned restaurant in Lakeland, Florida, but our goal of sharing our passion for seafood didn’t stop there. Find our history here.
Who is red lobster owned by?
Dec 30, 2020 · Red Lobster Management LLC offers delicious, freshly prepared seafood, including fresh fish, live Maine lobster, jumbo shrimp and steamed crab legs. The company was founded by William B. Darden in …

Who currently owns Red Lobster?
Type | Private |
---|---|
Number of employees | 55,000 |
Parent | Darden Restaurants (1995–2014) Golden Gate Capital (2014–present) |
Website | RedLobster.com |
Footnotes / references |
Are Olive Garden and Red Lobster owned by the same company?
Who bought Red Lobster 2020?
Why did Darden sell Red Lobster?
Who owns Outback?
Is Texas Roadhouse a Darden company?
…
Darden Restaurants vs Texas Roadhouse.
63% | Promoters |
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23% | Detractors |
Does Thai Union Own Red Lobster?
Who owns Red Lobster in Canada?
Who owns Bonefish restaurants?
What companies does Golden Gate Capital own?
- JAB Holding Co.
- TPG Growth.
- Brentwood Associates.
- Sentinel Capital Partners.
- KarpReilly.
- Landry’s Inc.
- Roark Capital.
- Sun Capital Partners.
Why is Red Lobster not part of Darden?
Does Red Lobster still take Darden gift cards?

Business Booms
Red Lobster catches the attention of General Mills. Backed by their resources, Red Lobster restaurants rapidly multiply from coast to coast.
Shrimp Becomes Snack-Worthy
Red Lobster debuts Popcorn Shrimp. People go crazy for it, and rightfully so.
Lobster Lovers, Rejoice
We have our first Lobsterfest — and a Valentine’s Day tradition is born.
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Behold Biscuit Mania
Cheesy garlic goodness comes together to create our legendary Cheddar Bay Biscuits ™.
Red Lobster Charts a New Course
General Mills spins-off its restaurant division as Darden Restaurants, Inc.
Taking Care of Our Own
We establish an Employee Emergency Assistance Fund, now called RL Cares, to help fellow employees facing financial hardship.

Feeding the Hungry
We start donating unused food to local food banks and homeless shelters through a program we now call RL Shares. Since its launch, we’ve donated about 20 million meals.
Who bought Red Lobster?
Red Lobster stakeholder Thai Union and a group of investors have acquired the rest of the Orlando-based restaurant chain from the private equity firm that bought it in 2014. San Francisco’s Golden Gate Capital, which bought the seafood chain from Orlando’s Darden Restaurants for $2.1 billion in 2014, announced Monday it had agreed to sell …
Is Red Lobster publicly traded?
San Diego-based restaurant analyst John Gordon said it was a positive development that Red Lobster will be backed by a publicly traded company , Thai Union, that can raise capital.

Where is Red Lobster located?
The Red Lobster located at 3552 E. Colonial Drive, in Orlando, photographed Wednesday, August 12, 2020. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Red Lobster stakeholder Thai Union and a group of investors have acquired the rest of the Orlando-based restaurant chain from the private equity firm that bought it in 2014. San Francisco’s Golden Gate Capital, …
Our Sourcing Story
Our commitment to bringing you the best means that all of the seafood we serve is sourced in ways that are traceable, sustainable, and responsible.
OUR HERITAGE
We started off as a single, family-owned restaurant in Lakeland, Florida, but our goal of sharing our passion for seafood didn’t stop there.

Who was the first Red Lobster boss?
Joe R. Lee, who managed the first Red Lobster in 1968 and replaced his former boss as vice chairman of General Mills and head of Darden Restaurants, said on the founder’s death, ”I know of no other person who has touched so many lives in a positive way as Bill Darden.”.
Who invented the salad bar?
Along with Norman Brinker, the founder of the restaurant-management company Brinker International and the man credited with inventing the salad bar, Bill Darden was a pioneer in changing the way people eat out.
Where did Bill Darden start his luncheonette?
Bill Darden’s Beginnings. In 1938, when he was just 19 years old, he opened a luncheonette in his hometown of Waycross, Georgia. At the time, fast food was not pervasive. Lunch counters, diners, soda fountains and candy stores were then seen as the way to go. Darden took this path, naming his luncheonette The Green Frog, …

Who made cheap food accessible to the masses?
While men like Ray Kroc of McDonald’s and Harland Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken made fast, inexpensive food accessible to the masses, Darden saw the benefits of bridging the gap between the desire to eat at a fancy restaurant and the need to keep costs reasonable.
When did General Mills start Olive Garden?
General Mills started the Olive Garden chain of Italian-themed restaurants in 1982, and it became nearly as successful as Red Lobster. Bill Darden died in 1994, but General Mills established Darden Restaurants to run both chains the following year, so that his name, as well as his ideas, could live on. Not all of General Mills’ experiments worked, …
Who owns Red Lobster Seafood?
Red Lobster Seafood Co. has a new ownership group. Golden Gate Capital, a San Francisco-based private equity firm that has owned Orlando-based Red Lobster since 2014, announced it sold its remaining stake in the seafood company to existing Red Lobster investor Thai Union Group, Seafood Alliance and Red Lobster management, said a Aug.

Who is the CEO of Seafood Alliance?
Specifics of the deal were not disclosed, but the company is expected to remain headquartered in Orlando and continue to be led by CEO Kim Lopdrup and the existing management team.
Who bought Red Lobster?
Golden Gate, a California-based private equity firm, purchased Red Lobster from Darden Restaurants in 2014 for $2.1 billion. The deal is likely to strengthen the influence on the chain of Thai Union Group, a seafood supplier that invested $575 million in Red Lobster in 2016 for a 25% stake.
Who owns Chicken of the Sea?
Thai Union, which pegs its annual sales at $4.1 billion annually, is the parent of such well-known retail seafood brands as Chicken of the Sea and King Oscar. Joining Thai Union in the purchase of Golden Gate’s stake is a newly formed investment group called Seafood Alliance.

Who owns MK restaurant?
Thirakomen is CEO and principal owner of MK Restaurant Group, a Thai operation. Today’s announcement did not reveal which Red Lobster executives are participating in the deal. The chain is led by Kim Lopdrup, who remained CEO after Red Lobster was acquired by Golden Gate.
How much does Luby’s sell Fuddruckers?
Luby’s sells Fuddruckers to a franchisee for an estimated $18.5M. Subway’s royalty fees place it among the country’s most expensive franchises. Inspire Brands names Kate Jaspon CFO. McDonald’s CEO expects dine-in to come back, but it could take a while.
Who owns Red Lobster?
Golden Gate Capital sold its remaining equity stake in Red Lobster to existing investor Thai Union Group, a group of investors under the banner Seafood Alliance consisting of global restaurateurs and hospitality executives, and Red Lobster management, according to a press release. Golden Gate Capital bought the chain from Darden in 2014 for $2.1 billion.

Why is Red Lobster so easy to veto?
William Fahy, vice president and senior credit officer for Moody’s, told the publication that Red Lobster, with its seafood-centric menu, makes it an easier for groups to veto because if one person doesn’t want seafood, the whole group would have to nix it.
Who bought Thai Union?
Golden Gate Capital bought the chain from Darden in 2014 for $2.1 billion. Thai Union is a publicly traded global seafood supplier and previously invested $575 million in the chain in 2016 for a 25% stake in the company and another 24% stake that it will be able to convert in 2026.
When did Red Lobster become a chain?
Under General Mills ownership, Red Lobster expanded into a chain of almost 400 locations by 1985. The company underwent several restructurings and transformed itself from an inexpensive fast-food seller into a chain of casual dining seafood restaurants by 1988.

When did Darden sell Red Lobster?
On December 19, 2013, Darden announced plans to sell or spin-off the Red Lobster brand, citing pressure from stock investors. This was in direct response to the company spending US$100 million on a new digital platform. At the time, the project was already at least one year behind schedule and above budget. A large number of layoffs occurred in its marketing department, and the company’s second in command also left.
What is Darden Restaurants?
Darden Restaurants, Inc. is an American multi-brand restaurant operator headquartered in Orlando. As of April 2017, the firm owns two fine dining restaurant chains: Eddie V’s Prime Seafood and The Capital Grille; and six casual dining restaurant chains: Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, Yard House and Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen. Until July 28, 2014, Darden also owned Red Lobster. Darden has more than 1,500 restaurant locations and more than 150,000 employees, making it the world’s largest full-service restaurant company. As of 2018, Darden is the only Fortune 500 company with its corporate headquarters in Greater Orlando.
How many restaurants does Darden have?
Darden has more than 1,500 restaurant locations and more than 150,000 employees, making it the world’s largest full-service restaurant company. As of 2018, Darden is the only Fortune 500 company with its corporate headquarters in Greater Orlando.

Where did Darden’s Red Lobster start?
He later founded the Red Lobster Inns of America and opened the first Red Lobster restaurant in Lakeland, Florida in 1968. Red Lobster which grew quickly, formed the basis of the organization that later became known as Darden Restaurants. Darden chose Lakeland because he wished to see how a seafood restaurant would fare in a non-coastal region, …
Why did Darden choose Lakeland?
Darden chose Lakeland because he wished to see how a seafood restaurant would fare in a non-coastal region, and Lakeland was the innermost city in Florida.
When did Darden’s restaurant become successful?
The restaurant became successful and by 1970 had expanded to three locations in the state with two more under construction. While the locations were profitable, the company lacked the resources to expand further. As such, Darden sold the company to food giant General Mills that year.
Overview
Red Lobster Hospitality LLC is an American casual dining restaurant chain headquartered in Orlando, Florida. The company has operations across most of the United States and Canada, as well as in China, Ecuador, Guam, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates; as of June 23, 2020, the company had 719 locations worldwide. Gold…
History
The first Red Lobster restaurant was opened on January 18, 1968, in Lakeland, Florida, by entrepreneurs Bill Darden and Charley Woodsby. The oft-quoted date of March 1968 is based on the March 27, 1968 incorporation of Red Lobster Inns of America, Inc. (now GMRI, Inc.) in the Florida Secretary of State’s Office.
Originally billed as a “Harbor for Seafood Lovers”, the first restaurant was follo…
Promotions
Red Lobster has offered an endless snow crab leg promotion twice in its history (as of September 2003). However, in 2003, the promotion resulted in its parent company, Darden Restaurants’, taking a $3 million charge to third-quarter earnings, resulting in president Edna Morris’ departure from the company.
The ill-timed promotion was launched amid high wholesale crab leg prices. Th…
Menu
The brand specializes in seafood, including crab, fish, lobster, mollusks, and shrimp. It also serves chicken, desserts, pasta, and steak.
In February 2016, Inside Edition reported that Red Lobster used a mix of less expensive langostino along with Maine lobster in their lobster bisque recipe.
Locations
As of June 23, 2020, the company had 719 locations worldwide. These locations span 44 US states, China, Canada, Ecuador, Guam, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
• Red Lobster on 7th Avenue, in Times Square, New York City, New York
• Red Lobster in Yonkers, New York
See also
• Food portal
• List of casual dining restaurant chains
• List of seafood restaurants
External links
• Official website
• Official website