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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Beyonce performed during halftime of NFL Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, Calif. on Sunday. Red Lobster said in a statement that its sales surged after Beyonce mentioned the chain in a Formation lyric. The seafood chain known for its cheddar biscuits says sales surged 33 percent on Sunday from a year ago.
NEW YORK » Red Lobster says it’s feeling the “Beyonce Bounce.”
The seafood chain known for its cheddar biscuits says sales surged 33 percent on Sunday, compared with last year’s Super Bowl Sunday. The increase came after the release of “Formation,” in which Beyonce says she took a man to Red Lobster after sex. Red Lobster says it’s sure the mention is responsible for at least part of its sales jump.
The pop culture spotlight is no doubt a welcome change for Red Lobster, which was sold by Darden Restaurants in July of 2014 after it suffered ongoing declines in sales. The chain, which is now privately held by investment firm Golden Gate Capital, says it has posted sales gains every quarter since the separation.
And after the mention by Beyonce, it says it was also a trending topic on Twitter for the first time.
“It’s clear that Beyonce has helped create some Red Lobster fans, and we are very grateful to her for that,” Red Lobster CEO Kim Lopdrup said in a statement.
Erica Ettori, a Red Lobster representative, said she could not “confirm or deny” whether the chain has reached out to superstar, but noted that things were “moving fast.”
Regardless, the chain is already trying to make the most of its moment. It tweeted that, “‘Cheddar Bey Biscuits’ has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?” The chain is also noting that lobster is considered a romantic food.
Red Lobster, based in Orlando, Florida, has more than 700 locations in the U.S. and Canada.
Bruno Mars was the Real Halftime Shaker!
Bruno should just do the whole halftime show. Don’t need the other acts.
I’ll go when they offer lobster “booty” burgers
Show business and politics must have something in common. There seem to engaged lobbyist to help promote their images. The more the merrier. Why then would the stellar performances of Bruno Mars verses Beyoncé and Coldplay gathered less publicity than the latter two! Bruno Mars gave an extraordinary enjoyable and spectacular show. Without him Beyoncé and the dull Coldplay wouldn’t have a ghost of a chance to shine! Yet the publicity focus on Beyoncé and her upcoming World Tour!