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Swot Red Lobster

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Submitted By makirsh
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SWOT Analysis for Red Lobster Case 9-511-052
Strengths
-Red Lobster accounts for 43% of market share, highest among casual dining seafood chains
-Largest casual dining seafood chain
-Computerized point of sale system is top of the line
-Strong supply chain-Leader in casual dining seafood category for distribution
-Certified suppliers direct to restaurants through overnight deliveries
-690 Locations
-Top quality seafood that was still affordable
-First casual dining chain to achieve national scale
-Developed the first national seafood distribution system in the 1970’s
-Part of the Big 7casual dining chains which accounted for 33% of the 22,000 chain casual dining restaurants in America
Weaknesses
-Outdated restaurants
-No clear vision of who their consumers are
-Perception of food
-Despite the higher price point Red Lobster was not put in a premium category because it was only priced higher because of the cost of seafood
-Red Lobster was lagging the quality of the seafood and the taste/preparation of seafood
Opportunities
-Expand product line, broaden food items and wine selection
-Expand of target new customer base to increase profits
-Expand geographic reach
Threats
-Supply chain pressure due to high cost of seafood
-Economic state causing more consumers to eat home
-Disease in aquaculture led to dramatic declines in the cost of some types of seafood
-Intense competition in category
-World population-growing population puts excess demand on seafood industry
-Unstable prices
-In 2004, Red Lobster had become mature and stagnant
-Other chains in the big 7 like Applebee’s, Chilis and Outback all had salmon and shrimp on their

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