Red Lobster Names Barkley as Creative Agency of Record

Red Lobster has named Barkley as its agency of record for creative and strategy for its North America locations.

Barkley will be leading all creative and strategic efforts utilising the agency’s Whole Brand approach, which works with brands to assess everything they do - from sustainability plans, culture, product and service innovation, design and experience and marketing - as creative endeavours. Their work will support Red Lobster’s goal to build brand love and increase cultural relevance.

“We chose Barkley because of their experience with the restaurant industry as well as their success tapping into the essence of iconic American brands and bringing them to life for today’s consumer,” says Patty Trevino, chief marketing officer, Red Lobster.  

The first creative work from Barkley launched earlier this week. The campaign hinges off the truth that seafood is the fanciest of the food groups, and Red Lobster makes it the most fun. The 'Finer Points of Fun Dining' campaign will give casual diners a playful yet elevated instruction manual for how to dine at the restaurant. This campaign will be focused on one of Red Lobster’s most popular promotions of the year - Ultimate Endless Shrimp. It is the first in a series of new creative that will cement the brand's repositioning as a category of one: more elevated than other casual dining, but more approachable than other fine dining restaurants. Red Lobster articulates its unique fun-meets-fancy experience with a new tagline, 'Welcome to Fun Dining.' 

“Red Lobster is a place where people come to celebrate - from first dates, birthdays and anniversaries, to winning the game or just re-connecting. And seafood is a special, celebratory food. But we’re not stuffy or pretentious – we’re fun. Barkley understood that fine line between fancy and fun and has helped us bring that to life,” Patty added.

The multimedia campaign includes two new 15-second television spots, social, digital display, and owned channels. 

“We’re looking forward to working with this legendary brand and bringing the whole brand to life across the marketing spectrum,” says Jason Parks, chief growth officer, Barkley.