U.S. restaurants and retailers are promoting seafood specials ahead of Father’s Day on 15 June, which is projected to generate record spending.
Total Father’s Day spending is predicted to reach a record USD 24 billion (EUR 20.7 billion), compared to the USD 22.4 billion (EUR 19.4 billion) that consumers spent last year, according to an annual survey conducted by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics.
Even with consumer concerns about grocery inflation and tariffs, Americans seem willing to splurge for special occasions and holidays, according to the survey.
“Americans are embracing meaningful traditions and holidays, and this Father’s Day, spending on gifts and other holiday items is expected to reach record levels,” NRF Vice President of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen said in a press release.
Similarly, Daisy Berg, the seafood program and category manager for Portland, Oregon, U.S.A.-based grocery chain New Seasons Market, which operates 22 stores in the Pacific Northwest region, has seen consumer “belt-tightening” that has resulted in flat to lower seafood sales so far this year, but she said shoppers are willing to spend more on seafood for special occasions and holidays such as Father’s Day.
Over half (53 percent) of Americans surveyed are planning a special outing to celebrate the day, NRF found, while research firm Numerator’s consumer survey found that 25 percent plan to eat out. Just over 40 percent will gather with family and friends, 34 percent will grill or barbecue, and 28 percent said they will cook at home, according to Numerator.
For the holiday, New Seasons typically runs surf and turf specials.
“Steak is a hard one to compete with, but having shrimp or lobster tail on the plate is a real good accompaniment,” Berg told SeafoodSource.
The grocer is offering Aquaculture Stewardship Council-certified Ultra brand 31/40 cooked shrimp for USD 15.99 (EUR 13.80) per pound, marking a savings of USD 2.00 (EUR 1.75) per pound off their normal price. Additionally, the chain is touting sustainably farmed Atlantic salmon fillets from Norway for USD 15.99 a pound, which are also discounted USD 2.00.
Similarly, Modesto, California, U.S.A.-based The Save Mart Companies is running specials on fresh Atlantic salmon whole fillets and 13/15-count colossal raw shrimp, peeled and deveined, along with wild-caught lobster tails, Save Mart Vice President of Meat & Seafood Bill Booth told SeafoodSource.
Save Mart, which operates more than 200 stores across California and Nevada, has emphasized offering shoppers a value option, announcing in April that it would cut costs on more than 4,000 grocery items in its Save Mart and Lucky stores.
Online retailers are also offering specials and touting gift boxes for those cooking special meals at home.
ButcherBox, for example, is touting its gift boxes such as Surf & Turf Box, Seafood Sample Box, and Wild-Caught Box for Father’s Day. The company also offers a large assortment of seafood, including Alaskan sockeye salmon, halibut, sablefish, cod, scallops, shrimp, and Maine lobster.
The company sait it views Father’s Day not as just a singular holiday but as the kickoff to grilling season and summer, ButcherBox Chief Commercial Officer Reba Hatcher told SeafoodSource.
Customers buy grills, aprons, grill tools, and other grill gadgets as gifts for Father’s Day and begin stocking up on their “grilling favorites” ahead of the holiday “to ensure they have all the essentials to kick off the summer season,” Hatcher said.
Seafood items in particular are “hot” because seafood and summer go hand in hand, Hatcher added.
“There is absolutely some consumer psychology about that. A Maine lobster roll, for example, is the epitome of summer to some. For our customers who don’t live in coastal communities, we’re able to deliver the ocean to them,” she said.
While many consumers cook and grill at home for Father’s Day, restaurants are also banking on Americans going out to eat.
Bonefish Grill, operated by Tampa, Florida, U.S.A.-based Bloomin’ Brands, is touting a special Father’s Day menu that includes a Coconut Shrimp starter, Bourbon Glazed Ribeye, and Baja Sea Bass.
