Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.-based fast casual seafood restaurant chain Captain D’s recently announced it was establishing a presence in the U.K. and is eyeing other markets for expansion, opening new opportunities for seafood suppliers in the process.
The operator of 530 restaurants in 23 U.S. states signed a 20-unit franchise agreement in the U.K. in mid-January, marking its first foray into Europe and its second global expansion.
Captain D’s began its international expansion efforts early last year, announcing its first franchise development agreement in Canada to bring five of its restaurants to the greater Toronto, Ontario, metropolitan area.
"Entering the U.K. with experienced restaurant operators underscores our commitment to our thoughtful international growth. This is just the beginning of our expansion of Captain D's quality seafood and hospitality to seafood lovers around the world,” Captain D’s CEO Phil Greifeld said.
The U.K. is a “key market with immense potential,” Captain D’s Senior Vice President of International Operations and Development Hair Parra added.
“By working closely with our master franchisees, we're confident that we'll deliver exceptional results,” he said. “This agreement is a testament to Captain D's readiness to bring its proven model to the global stage.”
The restaurant company has also said it eventually plans to expand to Central and Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain, the Philippines, Singapore, and Indonesia.
Parra, who Captain D’s brought on board in early 2024 to oversee its international expansion plans, said in February 2024 that one of the keys to Captain D's international growth is the popularity of its dual seafood and chicken menu offerings.
”People around the globe love fish and chicken, and Captain D's offers an extensive menu of both batter-dipped and grilled fish options alongside an ever-popular chicken menu," Parra said. "As we expand into new countries, we will pair the high-quality seafood and hospitality Captain D's has been built on with a creative and adaptable approach to understanding and respecting cultural variations. That's the way we'll deliver on our brand promise to new fans worldwide.”
Besides its menu, Captain D's executives also believe the company will be successful internationally due to its variety of flexible prototypes – including 22- and 44-seat dining rooms and an express model for to-go customers only.
Parra said that the adaptable footprints will be key for a variety of real estate opportunities, including strip malls and nontraditional options such as airports and larger malls that are popular in such markets as Southeast Asia.
