U.S. seafood restaurateurs and retailers are stepping up their promotional efforts to attract more customers around Thanksgiving.
In addition to their regular menus, Portland, Ore.-based McCormick & Schmick’s is offering a special Thanksgiving menu that features turkey, mashed potatoes and seasonal soup, while Boston-based Legal Sea Foods is menuing stuffed turkey and other traditional Thanksgiving fare.
The upscale seafood chains are banking on the fact that many restaurant-goers will choose seafood dishes instead of turkey when they dine out on Thursday. Legal Sea Foods sent a cheeky e-mail to its guests last week that said, “What do you think the Pilgrims ate on the Mayflower?”
Quick-service seafood chain Captain D’s is also promoting seafood this holiday season with coupons and gift-card promotions. One of its specials, good through 29 November, offers guests an eight-piece batter-dipped fish value pack for USD 9.95, while another coupon is for USD 3.50 off two three-piece fish dinners. The Nashville, Tenn.-based company operates 535 restaurants in 25 U.S. states and at military bases worldwide.
Rod’s Steak & Seafood Grille in Morristown, N.J., is combining traditional Thanksgiving fare with seafood. Its Thanksgiving buffet includes Vermont turkey, roast prime rib, a raw bar and New England Seafood Newburg, for USD 49.95.
While supermarket chains are focusing on turkey this week, they are also offering seafood specials. Meijer, which is based in Grand Rapids, Mich., is promoting seafood heavily this week, with specials on 28 different seafood products and sauces. Discounted seafood items include snow crab clusters for USD 8.99 a pound, Meijer brand tilapia fillets for USD 3.49 a pound and shrimp platters for various prices depending on the size.
Hannaford Bros., which is headquartered in Scarborough, Maine, is also discounting a number of its seafood items during the week of Thanksgiving, including 1- to 1.25-pound live lobsters for USD 6.99 a pound, 41/50 cooked cocktail shrimp rings for USD 7.99 a pound and fresh pollock fillets for USD 3.99 a pound.
Editor’s note: SeafoodSource is not publishing its e-newsletter on Thursday in observance of Thanksgiving. The e-newsletter will return on Friday. Thank you.
