New restaurant design and menu innovation propels brand to four consecutive years of sales growth
Captain D’s, the leading national fast casual seafood restaurant, announced today its year-end results, which include a record-breaking average unit volume (AUV) and a fourth-quarter same-store sales increase of 5.7 percent. The company’s AUV growth marks the second year its unit volume has reached an all-time high, and its fourth quarter performance marks the fourth consecutive year of same-store sales growth.
Continuing on a three-year momentum of compounding success, Captain D’s closed 2014 by reporting a 4.1 percent system-wide same-store sales increase for the year. Along with franchise signings and openings, unit growth was further fueled by the opening of one company-owned restaurant; the first in several years. Captain D’s has plans to continue its mounting growth strategy during 2015, the first opening planned for the second quarter in Florida.
“Our significant accomplishments this year are a direct result of our collective team focused on delivering an unmatched experience for our guests nationwide,” said Phil Greifeld, chief executive officer and president of Captain D’s. “Over the past couple of years, we’ve built a tremendous amount of momentum that we intend to leverage into 2015 and beyond.”
Captain D’s attributes the company’s success to its ongoing menu innovation and new restaurant design, which exudes a vibrant coastal atmosphere and enhances the Captain D’s experience. In 2014, 31 franchised restaurants were remodeled, with an additional 57 scheduled for completion in 2015. Captain D’s locations nationwide also upgraded their menu with new fire-grilled items to satisfy guests’ desire for lower calorie options. The company’s award winning “For the Love of D’s” marketing campaign elevated awareness of the new upgrades and drove incremental traffic into its restaurants. With these efforts, Captain D’s has remained true to what it does best – serving high-quality seafood with warm hospitality at an affordable price.
Captain D’s improvements have driven sales growth across the United States with several locations in Tennessee, Georgia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Kentucky experiencing double-digit gains over last year.
“This past year was remarkable for Captain D’s, and our strong unit-level economics continue to make us one of the most attractive fast-casual brands for operators who are looking for a proven, innovative franchise concept,” added Greifeld.
Captain D’s intends to leverage this momentum to continue growth across the country, specifically in the Southeast and Midwest. For more information about becoming a Captain D’s franchisee, visit www.captaindsfranchising.com.
Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Captain D’s has 520 restaurants in 25 states, plus military bases around the world. Captain D’s is the nation’s leading fast casual seafood restaurant and was named the #1 seafood chain in the QSR 50, ranked by AUV. Founded in 1969, Captain D’s has been offering its customers high-quality seafood at reasonable prices in a welcoming atmosphere for 45 years. Captain D’s serves a widely variety of seafood that includes freshly prepared entrees and the company’s signature hand-battered fish, which is cooked to order to ensure freshness. The restaurants also offer premium-quality, grilled fish, as well as shrimp, chicken, shrimp and beef kabobs, hushpuppies, desserts and freshly brewed, Southern-style sweet tea, a Captain D’s favorite. For more information, please visit www.captainds.com.
