Seafood restaurant chains are expanding throughout the U.S., as the entire restaurant industry is capitalizing on what has been a profitable summer.
The Wee Chippy, which started as a single shop in Venice Beach, California, in 2013, is one such chain, with multiple openings planned for 2024 in several states, founder Joe Gorrie told SeafoodSource.
The restaurant operator recently signed a 30-unit development deal – its first franchise deal – with The Tastebuds Group to open locations across the U.S. states of Texas, Florida, Colorado, and Tennessee. It opened a location in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A. in July and will open another restaurant in Dallas, Texas, U.S.A. in late November.
The Wee Chippy is attempting to satisfy demand for fish and chips, which Gorrie said is not adequately addressed by the fast-casual restaurant market.
“We are filling an opening in the market. Fish and chips is a universally loved dish, yet in the U.S., there is no known successful fish-and-chips brand,” Gorrie, a native of Scotland, added.
The brand differentiates itself by offering gluten-free and vegan options.
"Now everyone can enjoy fish and chips,” Gorrie said. “We also toss our chips with our line of specialty salts, like truffle, garlic, rosemary, and applewood smoked.”
Gorrie also wants to bring The Wee Chippy to Canada, which like the U.S. does not have a national fish-and-chips brand, Gorrie said.
Gorrie declined to reveal the company’s seafood suppliers, but The Wee Chippy “prides itself on sustainability and responsible business practices,” the company said in a press release. The chain aims to produce zero to little food waste and recycles its cooking oil by offering it to biofuel companies. Additionally, it uses all recyclable products in its kitchen and dining rooms.
Another up-and-coming seafood restaurant chain setting its sights on expansion is SEA Crab House, based in Bend, Oregon, U.S.A. The full-service restaurant is planning to open 25 locations by 2025, the company said in a press release.
The restaurant chain, which focuses on seafood boils infused with Southeast Asian flavors, recently opened a location in Boise, Idaho, U.S.A. – the company’s fifth location, and it plans to open a restaurant in Bellevue, Washington, U.S.A., in the fall.
As Americans gravitate toward both seafood, and Cajun flavors in particular, other seafood boil chains are also growing. Four new crab-focused seafood chains broke into the foodservice research firm Datassential’s Top 500 Restaurants list this year: Crab du Jour, Hook and Reel, Red Crab Juicy Seafood, and The Juicy Crab.
Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.-based The Boil Daddy recently added a franchise restaurant in Oregon, following launches in the U.S. states of Georgia, Arizona, and Florida earlier this year.
“It is evident how hard our team has worked this year, reaching so many locations in such a short time frame,” The Boil Daddy Founder and CEO Jun Cho said. “The sales, the momentum, the volume – all of these things are a testament to how delicious our menu is and how seamless our model operates. We are eager to see where our growth takes us next.”
Meanwhile, seafood restaurant powerhouse Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.-based Red Lobster realized “marginal” unit expansion in 2022 and solid sales performance, boosting its sales by 13 percent last year, according to foodservice research firm Datassential.
Although sales were up in 2022, the chain, which has over 650 restaurants in the U.S., contributed significant losses to Thai Union’s bottom line last year, causing Thai Union, which owns Red Lobster, to consider developing exit plans. However, performance has improved in 2023, reinforcing the relationship between Red Lobster and Thai Union for now.
Elsewhere, upscale eatery McCormick & Schmick’s, based in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., realized a sales increase of 19 percent in 2022, while The Capital Grille, owned by Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.-based Darden, also saw 6 percent higher sales year over year.
Photo courtesy of The Wee Chippy
