U.S. consumer spending on this year’s Mother’s Day, which will take place on 10 May, is expected to reach a record USD 38 billion (EUR 32.3 billion), according to a survey conducted annually by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Prosper Insights and Analytics.
While flowers are the most popular gift category, 63 percent of Americans who are celebrating the holiday are planning special outings such as dinner or brunch.
210 Analytics Principal Anne-Marie Roerink agreed that restaurants will be popular during the holiday but not at the expense of retail sales.
“Mother’s Day remains one of the biggest restaurant holidays of the year, so restaurants are certainly positioned to see strong traffic. At the same time, there are several marketplace dynamics that could give retail seafood sales an extra lift this year as consumers look to balance celebration with value,” she told SeafoodSource.
Another trend benefiting retail sales is rising gasoline prices and broader inflationary pressures that continue to weigh heavily on household budgets, Roerink explained. More than 30 percent of consumers said higher gas prices are forcing them to rethink spending, and dining out ranks as the top adjustment consumers are making, according to a March consumer survey conducted by market research company Circana.
“That creates a meaningful opportunity for retail seafood because consumers increasingly believe they can recreate a restaurant-quality seafood meal at home,” she said.
Specifically benefiting seafood sales at retail this Mother’s Day is the fact that seafood already has a premium and celebratory image.
“Salmon, shrimp, crab, and lobster all fit the ‘special occasion’ mindset consumers are looking for on Mother’s Day. Retailers have also become much better at offering meal solutions that take away the intimidation factor through seasoned seafood kits, stuffed salmon, ready-to-cook skewers, sushi trays and surf-and-turf bundles,” Roerink said.
Nevertheless, this is not an “either/or” year regarding eating out or shopping at retail, Roerink said.
“Some households will absolutely splurge on brunch or dinner out, while others may trade down from restaurant dining but still trade up within retail by purchasing premium seafood items for an at-home celebration,” she said.
Suzy Badaracco, the president of food industry consulting firm Culinary Tides, said she also believes both restaurants and retailers could see strong Mother’s Day seafood sales this year.
“Seafood fits this moment so well. Consumers are still willing to splurge for emotionally important occasions, but many are becoming more selective about how they spend,” she said, adding that seafood delivers “accessible luxury” and “feels celebratory and premium without necessarily reaching steakhouse pricing.”
Restaurants that are likely to perform well this Mother’s Day are the ones packaging seafood as part of a complete experience rather than simply offering expensive entrées, Badaracco explained.
For example, chains like Red Lobster have historically leaned into family-style seafood bundles and shareable platters around holidays because they reduce ordering stress for groups while still feeling celebratory, Badaracco said.
Another example is Bonefish Grill, according to Badaracco, which has also been successful positioning seafood through approachable premium experiences, such as seafood paired with cocktails, brunch offerings, and lighter preparations that feel elevated without becoming intimidating or overly formal.
