# Red Lobster chief executive plans to integrate artificial intelligence across operations to drive post-bankruptcy recovery > Red Lobster is deploying AI across its 544 locations to restore profitability after bankruptcy. The chain secured $60 million in new funding to support this strategy. - Type: AI news - Page: https://completeaitraining.com/news/red-lobster-chief-executive-plans-to-integrate-artificial/ - Published: 2026-06-14 - Updated: 2026-06-22 - Author: Jeroen Erne - Jobs: Executives and strategy - Reading time: 2 min Red Lobster CEO Damola Adamolekun is deploying artificial intelligence across forecasting, scheduling, and operations as the seafood chain attempts to stabilize after emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2024. The strategy represents a calculated bet by the 37-year-old executive that data-driven efficiency can restore profitability for the 544-location brand, which recently secured $60 million in fresh funding from Fortress Investment Group. #### Embedding AI across operations Adamolekun outlined his strategy on The Black Money Tree Podcast, emphasizing the need for immediate adoption. "AI is changing the game in a tremendous way," Adamolekun said. "You have to engage with it rather than ignore it." The company is applying these tools to sales forecasting, employee scheduling, and inventory management, reflecting a broader push toward [AI for Operations](https://completeaitraining.com/tag/operations/). Chief Operating Officer Larry Konecny already uses an AI-driven process to compile restaurant metrics into reports before visiting individual locations. This eliminates the need for his team to build presentations by hand, providing immediate access to critical performance data. #### Executive adoption and departmental autonomy The push extends beyond executive dashboards. Adamolekun personally uses Claude AI for coding assistance and presentation creation, a level of direct technical engagement often highlighted in an [AI Learning Path for CEOs](https://completeaitraining.com/learningpath/ai-for-chief-executing-officers-ceos/). He is also encouraging individual departments to develop their own use cases. "Everybody's got ideas if you give them the empowerment to come up with them," he said. "So, I'm letting each department come up with their own ideas, and I'm just encouraging it and letting them do it." This approach mirrors a broader industry trend. According to the National Restaurant Association, 26 percent of restaurant operators reported using AI-related tools as of February 2026. The Food Institute noted that the technology is shifting from pilot projects to full-scale deployment, directly reshaping kitchen workflows and pricing strategies. Adamolekun suggested his relative youth gives him an advantage over competitors who have spent decades in the industry, such as Texas Roadhouse's Jerry Morgan and Darden Restaurants' Rick Cardenas. #### Reviving core promotions The technology rollout coincides with the return of Red Lobster's Endless Shrimp promotion. The company previously credited this offering with contributing to its financial troubles before the bankruptcy. The 2026 version is priced at a minimum of $24.99 in most locations, an increase from the $20 price point that preceded its removal. In a concurrent giveaway, one winner will receive "Endless Endless Shrimp"-one shrimp dish per month for 25 consecutive years-or a $15,000 cash prize. #### Why this matters for executives and strategy Legacy restaurant brands face mounting pressure from rising food costs, lease obligations, and shifting consumer preferences. Red Lobster's aggressive tech adoption signals a refusal to cede market share to digital-native competitors. For corporate leaders, the takeaway is clear: survival in the casual-dining sector now requires treating artificial intelligence not as a peripheral IT project, but as a core driver of operational efficiency and financial restructuring. --- This is the Markdown form of https://completeaitraining.com/news/red-lobster-chief-executive-plans-to-integrate-artificial/. The whole site is mapped at https://completeaitraining.com/llms.txt.