Red Lobster CEO Damola Adamolekun is positioning the seafood chain to become the most AI-forward restaurant company in the industry, leveraging artificial intelligence across operations as the chain continues its recovery from bankruptcy. The 37-year-old executive, who took the helm in 2024, outlined his vision on “The Black Money Tree Podcast” in June 2026, emphasizing that business leaders can no longer ignore AI’s transformative potential.
Adamolekun’s strategy encompasses a broad range of AI applications designed to modernize Red Lobster’s operations. According to reporting, the company plans to use AI for forecasting sales, predicting customer demand, automating food ordering, and improving overall restaurant efficiency. This comprehensive approach marks a significant shift for a legacy brand rebuilding after financial crisis.
One concrete example of the AI rollout involves Chief Operating Officer Larry Konecny, who now uses AI-powered systems to compile relevant restaurant metrics into automated reports before visiting individual locations. This approach eliminates the need for manual presentation preparation by his team, allowing staff to focus on deeper operational analysis. Adamolekun emphasized empowering department heads to innovate independently, saying he envisions them using AI tools like Claude to generate presentations, create training materials, and analyze restaurant metrics.
Red Lobster’s bankruptcy and recovery provide crucial context for this AI-forward strategy. In May 2024, the chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, citing over $1 billion in debt and forced closures of 99 locations. By September 2024, under Adamolekun’s leadership and new ownership, Red Lobster successfully emerged from bankruptcy restructuring. The company currently operates approximately 550 restaurants nationwide, down from roughly 700 locations before the crisis.
Adamolekun’s age and background give him a competitive advantage in the restaurant industry. He is the youngest CEO in Red Lobster’s history and previously led P.F. Chang’s to over $1 billion in sales during the pandemic. Most of his competitors in casual dining—including Texas Roadhouse CEO Jerry Morgan and Darden Restaurants CEO Rick Cardenas—have spent decades in the industry, making Adamolekun’s tech-forward perspective relatively novel at the executive level.
The broader restaurant industry is moving toward AI adoption, though Red Lobster’s ambition to be the most AI-forward chain places it at the forefront of the trend. According to the National Restaurant Association, over 25% of restaurant operators now use AI, though adoption varies widely. As of February 2026, only 6% of restaurants were using AI specifically for customer orders, suggesting significant room for innovation. Industry analysts report that AI is shifting from pilot projects to full-scale deployment across kitchens and customer-facing operations, reshaping workflows and decision-making around staffing, inventory, and pricing.
Adamolekun’s confidence in AI contrasts with some public hesitation. He acknowledged in his podcast appearance that many people are “scared of it or don’t want to deal with it,” but argued that embracing the technology is essential for competitive survival. His approach reflects a broader industry shift, with restaurants increasingly deploying AI to combat rising labor costs and protect shrinking margins.
Sources
- Deseret News — Adamolekun’s vision to use AI for business models and functions, his age, background, and bankruptcy context; reported June 11, 2026
- Yahoo Finance — Red Lobster CEO’s goal to make the chain the most AI-forward restaurant company; reported June 10, 2026
- Dealroom — AI implementation for streamlined operations and automated reporting systems; reported June 12, 2026
- Instagram (AFROTECH) — AI applications including forecasting sales, predicting customer demand, and ordering food; featured snippet from Instagram post
- National Restaurant Association — Over 25% of restaurant operators use AI; industry adoption statistics
- Restaurant Dive — Only 6% of restaurants use AI for customer orders as of February 2026
