Consumer

Red Lobster Chain Goes Bankrupt After Unlimited Shrimp Deal

  • ‘Ultimate Endless Shrimp’ promotion cost company $11 million
  • Chain will hand control to its lenders as part of bankruptcy

The company had been showing signs of financial stress as its losses mounted.

Photographer: Eric Thayer/Bloomberg
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Seafood restaurant chain Red Lobster filed for bankruptcy, succumbing to onerous leases, high labor costs and a disastrous unlimited shrimp promotion.

The Orlando, Florida-based company filed for Chapter 11 protection on Sunday, listing assets and liabilities of $1 billion to $10 billion each in its bankruptcy petition. The filing allows the company to keep operating while it works out a plan to repay creditors.