Seafood restaurant chain Red Lobster is looking to shore up sales at its remaining restaurants after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and closing around 135 locations in May.
When news of the chain’s bankruptcy became public, loyal customers took to social media to share their love of the restaurant using the hashtag #SaveTheBiscuits in their posts, referring to the chain’s popular Cheddar Bay Biscuits, which are also sold at retail.
One of those customers was rapper Flavor Flav, who pledged to help Red Lobster. That offer was quickly accepted by the Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.-based chain.
“Together, Red Lobster and Flavor Flav are letting fans everywhere know that Crabfest is back, and when you gotta have seafood, you gotta have Red Lobster,” the company said.
Flavor Flav is now serving as a spokesperson for the chain’s annual Crabfest promotion in which customers can order one pound of wild-caught crab legs – either snow or bairdi – choosing from flavors such as Cajun Butter, Roasted Garlic Butter, or Simply Steamed.
“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 fans we’re here to stay,” Red Lobster Chief Experience Officer Sara Bittorf said. “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.”
As part of the promotion, customers can also choose from other crab dishes starting at USD 20 (EUR 18.50) each. New dishes include Creamy Crab Carbonara, Crab and Lobster Duo, and Snow Crab & Crab-Topped Steak. Red Lobster also introduced a Crab Mac and Cheese side.
Red Lobster’s shedding of over 100 restaurants have helped to thin out its portfolio, which could help to attract a new buyer, according to a report from data firm Debtwire.
