Christine Blank

Year-over-year sales totals at U.S. restaurants rose significantly in January, but foodservice operators continue to remain plagued by sky-high food, labor, and energy prices.

Sales at U.S. eateries soared 24 percent in January to USD 95.5 billion (EUR 90 billion) on a seasonally adjusted basis in January, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The figure is also up over both November and December 2022, which each saw roughly

More U.S. restaurant chains and retailers are utilizing shrimp and other fish in their seafood specials during Lent, and Alaska pollock is gaining popularity. 

Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) CEO Craig Morris told SeafoodSource he’s predicting the 2023 Lenten season will be a banner year for the species. 

“I think wild Alaska pollock sales this year will exceed those of Lent last year,” GAPP. More than half of

Continued food inflation causing shoppers to trade down to cheaper items is expected to impact U.S. grocery seafood sales this year, and Walmart’s concerns about shoppers and Lidl’s corporate layoffs also signal trouble ahead for overall grocery sales.

Walmart reported higher Q4 revenue and an 8.3 percent increase in U.S. comparable store sales, but CEO Doug McMillon warned that shoppers are more cautious and the retailer lowered its

As part of the seafood restaurant chain’s efforts to turn around lagging restaurant sales, Red Lobster is teaming up with Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods on a Red Lobster-branded frozen seafood line.

The new frozen line is part of the restaurant chain’s multi-pronged turnaround plan, which includes a focus on selling packaged retail products. After success with its frozen Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits, rolled out last year, it is

Major seafood restaurant chain Captain D’s is adding several new locations this year, as are several other seafood-focused restaurants chains. In addition, Chipotle Mexican Grill announced a new concept that includes seafood dishes.

Nashville, Tennessee-based Captain D’s, which operates more than 540 restaurants, said it will open seven restaurants in early 2023. The company’s growth is being propelled by new smaller

Convenience store chain 7-Eleven is bringing back its Alaska pollock fish sandwich it featured during the 2022 Lenten season.

Via a partnership with Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers, Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.-based Trident Seafooods is supplying the fish for the sandwiches, the company's vice president of communications, Alexis Telfer, confirmed to SeafoodSource. The sandwich will feature garlic- and herb-flavored Alaska pollock fillet

Seafood has continued to see lower inflation rates than many other foods, but price hikes continue to impact its sales across the United States.

Frozen seafood prices jumped 6.3 percent in January to USD 10.44 (EUR 9.74) per unit on average compared to January 2022, according to IRI and 210 Analytics. Ambient seafood inflation rose 7.4 percent to USD 2.14 (EUR 2.00) on average, and fresh seafood experienced the lowest inflation at 3.3 percent to

Restaurants are most likely to benefit from Valentine's Day seafood sales as a majority (74 percent) of 1,000 adults surveyed by Popmenu said they will dine out or order takeout/delivery from restaurants this year. Of those participating in the holiday activities, 49 percent plan to dine at a restaurant, 25 percent plan to order takeout/delivery, and 26 percent plan to cook at home or enjoy another activity.

The U.S. Pacific Northwest

Despite several tumultuous years caused by Covid-19 restrictions,, U.K. restaurants continue to face a battle for survival amid soaring food, energy, and materials costs.

U.K. businesses expect a 101 percent increase in energy bills in Q1 2023 compared to the same period last year, according to a quarterly survey released by UKHospitality, the British Beer and Pub Association, the British Institute of Innkeeping, and Hospitality