Red Lobster, Pizzana, Popeyes
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June 29, 2026
Red Lobster’s former owner force-fed the company shrimp. That’s according to a lawsuit filed by a group of the restaurant’s creditors. The suit accuses seafood supplier Thai Union Group of treating Red Lobster as a distribution arm for its products, culminating with the infamous Ultimate Endless Shrimp promotion in 2023. The bargain-priced deal generated tens of millions of dollars in shrimp orders for Thai Union while hammering Red Lobster’s profits, the suit says.
The eight-unit pizza chain Pizzana has a new CEO. Actually, it’s not so new. Dan Harmon, the former CEO of Playa Bowls, stepped into the helm at Pizzana in December, but he has been quietly readying the full-service concept for a next level of growth. The chain has moved its headquarters from Los Angeles to Dallas. And Pizzana is preparing to launch franchising later this year. Harmon said he is building a team and working on building systems and optimizing the menu to grow the brand while maintaining the quality that has earned Pizzana Michelin Bib Gourmand status.
Bankrupt Popeyes franchisee Sailormen Inc. has found buyers for 97 of its 136 locations across Florida and Georgia. Fifty of those locations will be acquired by Pulse Restaurant Group, which was established by Sailormen CEO David Damato. Fifty-two of Sailormen’s restaurants failed to attract buyers during this week’s auction process, and the operator asked the court for permission to reject those leases, noting they were contributing to financial losses and could impact court-approved bankruptcy funding. Most of those restaurants are likely to close by the end of this month. Sailormen filed for bankruptcy in January, citing inflation, debt, and consumer behavior changes since the pandemic. By mid-March, 20 of the franchisees' restaurants had already closed.
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About the Authors
Leigh Anne Zinsmeister
Managing Editor
Leigh Anne Zinsmeister is a managing editor for Informa’s Foodservices Vertical, specifically Nation’s Restaurant News, Restaurant Hospitality, and Foodservice Director. Leigh Anne works on all of the brands’ special reports, including Nation’s Restaurant News’ annual Top 500 report and Restaurant Hospitality’s Best Cocktails and Best Sandwiches contests. She also manages the group’s digital engagement team, and was the managing editor for Supermarket News until December 2024.
Leigh Anne lives in New York City, but also claims Phoenix, Dallas and Cleveland as hometowns. Leigh Anne holds a bachelor’s degree in print journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, where she also studied European history.
Email Leigh Anne at [email protected]
Leigh Anne Zinsmeister’s experience:
Group Managing Editor, Informa’s Foodservices Vertical (Aug. 2021-present)
Group Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (Feb. 2020-Aug. 2021)
Digital Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (April 2018-Feb. 2020)
Digital Content Producer, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (June 2016-April 2018)
Community Moderator, Mail Online (March 2014-June 2016)
Wire Editor, Gannett’s Phoenix Design studio (The Arizona Republic, The Reno Gazette-Journal, The Statesman Journal, The Great Falls Tribune, The Visalia Times-Delta, The Tulare Advance Register, The Salinas Californian, The St. George Spectrum, The Desert Sun, The Coloradoan) (Jan. 2012-March 2014)
Group Managing Editor, Informa’s Foodservices Vertical (Aug. 2021-present)
Group Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (Feb. 2020-Aug. 2021)
Digital Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (April 2018-Feb. 2020)
Digital Content Producer, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (June 2016-April 2018)
Community Moderator, Mail Online (March 2014-June 2016)
Wire Editor, Gannett’s Phoenix Design studio (The Arizona Republic, The Reno Gazette-Journal, The Statesman Journal, The Great Falls Tribune, The Visalia Times-Delta, The Tulare Advance Register, The Salinas Californian, The St. George Spectrum, The Desert Sun, The Coloradoan) (Jan. 2012-March 2014)
Lisa Jennings
Executive Editor, Restaurant Business
Lisa Jennings is a veteran restaurant industry reporter and editor who covers the fast-casual sector, independent restaurants and emerging chain concepts. Her experience includes other industry publications as well as the daily newspaper The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tenn., where she was Food Editor. Her work has been cited in the Los Angeles Times, Business Insider, FoodBeast, The Huffington Post, Time.com and more.
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Source: This story originated with Nation's Restaurant News.
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