logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2025
40m 46s

What Killed Red Lobster? | Caught in the...

Wondery
About this episode

Red Lobster redefined American dining habits by making seafood accessible to people living outside the coasts. But its heyday didn’t last. Casual observers believe Red Lobster’s demise was an open-and-shut case of an all-you-can-eat deal backfiring. But there are plenty of other suspects. And as America’s #1 seafood restaurant chain fights to keep its head above water, it must reckon with whether it can trust Wall Street’s offer of a lifeline.

Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter

Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/business-wars/ now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Aug 21
Can Southwest Airlines Survive? | Bumpy Skies Ahead | 3
Southwest Airlines announced some big changes recently, and customers of the “Love Airline” are not feeling it. Joe Guinto, a business reporter who wrote this season, joins David to discuss the airline’s next steps, and what it’ll take to keep fans and employees loyal. Later, Ban ... Show More
39m 52s
Aug 20
Can Southwest Airlines Survive? | Excess Baggage | 2
It’s 2023 and Southwest Airlines’ stock is in a nosedive. With costs ascending, Southwest CEO Bob Jordan freezes hiring and slashes spending. Amid all that, a crisis at Boeing has left Southwest short on jets. With Southwest weakened, an unwelcome, activist investor rushes on boa ... Show More
42m 14s
Aug 13
Can Southwest Airlines Survive? | Hard Landing | 1
It's 2021 and for the first time in nearly 50 years, Southwest Airlines posts an annual net loss. Amid the crisis, thousands of Southwest workers head for early retirement. The next year, Southwest is short on staff as Americans return to the skies. Pilots and flight attendants c ... Show More
40m 29s
Recommended Episodes
May 2024
The Drowning of Red Lobster
Today is Wednesday, May 29, and we're looking at Red Lobster vs. Olive Garden.Listen to Business Wars Daily on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to all episodes ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start ... Show More
4m 13s
Jul 10
Breaking Bell | Stuck in a Quagmire | 3
AT&T bosses throw everything at the wall in the hope of getting a federal antitrust lawsuit dismissed. But as the case finally reaches court, the lawyers and politicians going up against AT&T prove to be unreliable negotiators.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, ... Show More
33m 23s
Oct 2024
Concorde: Sonic Boom and Bust | The Crash | 4
At the turn of the century, a tragic accident leads Concorde to suffer a dramatic fall from grace.Listen to Business Movers on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early ac ... Show More
36m 14s
Jul 17
Breaking Bell | The Deal | 4
As AT&T moves closer to being forcibly dismantled by the courts, bosses consider a radical alternative. But even when they press the button for the nuclear option, there’s no guarantee that their plan will succeed.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated reco ... Show More
34m 47s
Jun 26
Breaking Bell | The Decision to Decide | 1
After almost a century of controlling the telecommunications industry in the United States, AT&T’s dominance is threatened by new competition. It’s a challenge that “Ma Bell” has weathered before, but this time is different—the political climate has changed, and the powerbrokers ... Show More
35m 38s
Mar 2025
Making the News - Ted Turner and CNN | Two Giant Egos | 1
Media mogul Ted Turner shakes up the television industry with the launch of a 24-hour channel dedicated solely to breaking news.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to Bu ... Show More
33m 26s
Oct 2024
The Missing Mogul | Three Strikes | 2
Robert Maxwell is repeatedly frustrated in his attempts to break into the newspaper industry by an equally ruthless rival: Rupert Murdoch.Listen to Business Movers on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the ... Show More
37m 14s
Apr 2025
Virgin Territory: Richard Branson’s Business Beginnings | Sowing the Seeds | 1
British teenager Richard Branson finds his true calling as an entrepreneur, but it doesn’t take him long to ruffle a few feathers.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to ... Show More
33m 12s
Jul 3
Breaking Bell | Wheelin' & Dealin' | 2
Deals to secure the future of AT&T fall apart as the fight for the future of America’s telephone system turns increasingly fractious, and the continuing crisis forces John deButts to make the most difficult decision of his career.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcas ... Show More
33m 48s
May 8
Virgin Territory: Richard Branson’s Business Beginnings | Flight Path | 4
Virgin Atlantic takes to the sky and upends the aviation industry, but the new venture also throws Richard Branson into battle with one of Britain’s biggest corporations.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https: ... Show More
34m 30s