Captain D's

{{Infobox company

| name = Captain Ds, LLC.

| trade_name = Captain D's

| logo = CaptainDsLogo2018.png

| image= Captain D's on North Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida.jpg

| image_caption= Captain D's in Tallahassee, Florida

| type = Private

| industry = Restaurants Franchising

| former_name = Mr. D's Seafood and Hamburgers
(1969–1975)

| genre = Fast casual

| foundation = {{start date and age|1969|8|15}} in Donelson, Tennessee, U.S.

| founder = Raymond L. Danner, Sr.

| location_city = Nashville, Tennessee

| locations =

| num_employees = 6,000

| area_served =

| key_people = Phil Greifeld (President & CEO)
Nan Ward (COO)
Jeff Wilson (CFO)
Bindi Menon (CMO)
Brad Reed (CBDO)

| products =

| services =

| revenue = {{increase}} {{US$|544.43 million}} (2016)

| operating_income =

| net_income =

| assets =

| equity =

| owner = Centre Partners

| divisions =

| subsid =

| footnotes =

| intl =

| location_country = U.S.

| homepage = {{url|captainds.com}}

}}

Captain Ds, LLC. is an American fast casual restaurant chain that specializes in seafood and is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. The chain was founded as Mr. D's Seafood and Hamburgers by Raymond L. Danner Sr. on August 15, 1969, in Donelson, Tennessee. The chain is currently owned by private-equity firm Centre Partners. Captain D's currently has more than 500 locations in the United States.{{cite web |title=Our Story |url=https://www.captainds.com/our-story/ |website=Captain D's |access-date=14 July 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nrn.com/finance/sentinel-capital-partners-buys-captain-d-s |last=Thorn |first=Bret |date=December 18, 2017 |title=Sentinel Capital Partners buys Captain D's |work=Nations Restaurant News |access-date=November 29, 2019}}

History

Mr. D's Seafood and Hamburgers opened in 1969 after entrepreneur, owner of Danner Foods and KFC franchisee Raymond L. Danner Sr. was unable to expand the territory of his Shoney's Big Boy Restaurants franchise. The franchise was limited to 11 states in the Southeast. In 1971, Danner and his Shoney's co-founder Alex Schoenbaum completed a merger between Shoney's and Danner Foods and named their new company Shoney’s Big Boy Enterprises. In 1975, Danner was president of the company, which announced the renaming of Mr. D's Seafood and Hamburgers as "Captain D's" and the launch of a national franchising program. By this time, Captain D's menu was edited to focus on seafood and side dishes, and the chain had expanded to 32 locations that earned more than $10 million annually. In 1976, Captain D's was held by the rebranded Shoney's Inc., after Danner and Schoenbaum sold the Big Boy trademark to Marriott Corporation.{{cite book |last1=Edge |first1=John T. |title=The potlikker papers : a food history of the modern South 1955-2015 |date=2017 |publisher=Penguin Publishing Group |location=New York City |isbn=9780698195875 |page=121 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GT_jDAAAQBAJ |access-date=14 July 2021}}{{cite book |last1=Jakle |first1=John A. |title=Fast food : roadside restaurants in the automobile age |date=1999 |location=Baltimore |isbn=9780801869204 |page=238 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0nYcgnWKWXgC |access-date=14 July 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Stephen |title=Hands-On Restaurateur Built Shoney's on Family-Style Food |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122126817873531035 |access-date=14 July 2021 |date=13 September 2018 |ref=wsj}}{{cite news |title=Founder of Shoney's Chain Started Small |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-01-11-fi-10671-story.html |access-date=15 July 2021 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=11 January 1994}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31382636/the_tennessean/|title=Shoney's Launches Seafood Franchise|last=Cason|first=Albert|date=March 25, 1975|work=The Tennessean|access-date=14 July 2021|department=Nashville Business|location=Nashville|page=19|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |title=FOOD, AMERICAN STYLE: SHONEY'S BUFFET SERVES UP CLASSIC FAMILY FARE |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1994-01-14-9401140429-story.html |access-date=16 July 2021 |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=14 January 1994}}{{overcite|date=March 2024}}

Throughout the 1970s, the company grew rapidly and added special programs like the Kids' Birthday Club and children's comic books. During the 1980s and 1990s, the company's logo and building design evolved.{{Cite web|url=http://www.captainds.com/our-story|title=Captain D's {{!}} Our Story|website=www.captainds.com|access-date=April 23, 2018}}

On September 13, 2010, Phil Greifeld was appointed CEO of Captain D's.{{Cite web|url=https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/foodservice-retail/captain-d-s-lands-huddle-house-ceo|title=Captain D's lands Huddle House CEO|date=August 24, 2010|website=www.seafoodsource.com|access-date=October 23, 2017}}

Throughout 2016, Captain D's experienced a surge of franchise and corporate development, with 13 new locations opened, along with numerous development agreements signed to open additional restaurants. This ongoing growth expanded the brand's presence, including in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Michigan, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.{{Cite news|url=http://www.captaindsfranchising.com/blog/captain-ds-franchise-achieves-20th-consecutive-quarter-system-wide-growth/|title=Captain D's Franchise Achieves 20th Consecutive Quarter of System-Wide Growth|date=2016-10-03|work=Captain D's|access-date=October 23, 2017|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024043418/http://www.captaindsfranchising.com/blog/captain-ds-franchise-achieves-20th-consecutive-quarter-system-wide-growth/|archive-date=October 24, 2017|url-status=dead}}

=Acquisitions=

In January 2005, Sagittarius Brand, Inc. acquired Captain D's for $150 million. To gain capital, the holding company sold Captain D's to buyout firm Sun Capital Partners, Inc in 2010.{{cite news |title=Captain D's owner brings in new CEO |url=https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/retail/captain-ds-owner-brings-in-new-ceo/article_80f550cb-cc7f-5eed-81bf-c203e52aeba0.html |access-date=16 July 2021 |work=Nashville Post |date=26 January 2005}}{{cite news |last1=Al-Muslim |first1=Aisha |last2=Cooper |first2=Laura |title=Friendly's Owner Hastens Exit From Restaurants With String of Sales |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/friendlys-owner-hastens-exit-from-restaurants-with-string-of-sales-11606991401 |access-date=14 July 2021 |work=Wall Street Journal |date=3 December 2020}}{{cite news |title=Sagittarius Sells Captain D's, Divests Del Taco |url=https://www.bluemaumau.org/story/2010/05/21/sagittarius-sells-captain-ds-divests-del-taco |access-date=16 July 2021 |work=Blue Maumau |date=21 May 2010}}{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

After Spectrum Restaurant Group Inc. filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2006, Captain D's bought its restaurant chain Grandy's as a subsidiary.{{cite news |last1=Hirsch |first1=Jerry |last2=Colker |first2=David |title=Troubled Spectrum Files for Chapter 11 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-aug-30-fi-spectrum30-story.html |access-date=16 July 2021 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=30 August 2006}}{{cite web |title=Captain D's Acquires 65-Unit Grandy's |url=https://hospitalitytech.com/captain-ds-acquires-65-unit-grandys |website=Hospitality Technology |access-date=15 July 2021}}

In 2013, Sun Capital Partners Inc. sold Captain D's to its affiliate, Centre Partners Management.{{cite news |last1=Kreutzer |first1=Laura |title=Centre Partners More Than Triples Its Money on Captain D's Sale |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/centre-partners-more-than-triples-its-money-on-captain-ds-sale-1513634644 |access-date=15 July 2021 |work=Wall Street Journal |date=18 December 2017}}

In 2017, Centre Partners sold the chain to Sentinel Capital Partners.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrn.com/finance/sentinel-capital-partners-buys-captain-d-s |last=Thorn |first=Bret |date=December 18, 2017 |title=Sentinel Capital Partners buys Captain D's |work=Nations Restaurant News |access-date=November 29, 2019}}

In 2022, Sentinel Capital Partners sold Captain D's back to Centre Partners.{{cite web |last1=McNulty |first1=John |title=Ahoy Matey! Centre Back at Captain D's |url=https://peprofessional.com/blog/2022/06/07/ahoy-matey-centre-returns-to-captain-ds/ |website=peprofessional.com |access-date=11 July 2024}}

Products

Captain D's offers fried fish, shrimp, lobster, crab and chicken meals, platters and sandwiches. The fish and shrimp options come grilled or fried. The appetizers include fried mozzarella sticks, jalapeño poppers, clam strips and butterfly shrimp. The side dishes include coleslaw, French fries, green beans, okra, broccoli, baked potato, corn, mac & cheese and hush puppies. The dessert menu includes cheesecake and funnel cake stix.{{cite web |title=The Menu |url=https://www.captainds.com/menu/ |website=Captain D's |access-date=15 July 2021}}

In 2019, PepsiCo announced that it would partner with Captain D's as its only beverage supplier.{{cite press release |author= |title=The Nation's Leading Fast Casual Seafood Restaurant Captain D's Selects PepsiCo As Exclusive Beverage Provider to Help Usher in a New Era on Its 50th Golden and Crispy Anniversary

|url=https://www.pepsico.com/news/press-release/the-nations-leading-fast-casual-seafood-restaurant-captain-ds-selects-pepsico-as05212019 |location=Purchase, NY and Nashville, TN, USA |publisher= |agency= |date=21 May 2019 |access-date=15 July 2021}}

As of 2021, Captain D's restaurants are sourced by 60 food suppliers.{{cite web |title=CMX to Drive Food Quality and Safety Across Captain D's Global Supply Chain |url=https://www.restaurantdive.com/press-release/20210616-cmx-to-drive-food-quality-and-safety-across-captain-ds-global-supply-chain/ |website=Restaurant Dive |access-date=15 July 2021}}

Operations

In 2020, Captain D's announced its Express prototype, a 960-square-foot building model with drive-thru and walkup windows only. The first Express unit was set to open in College Park, Georgia, in 2021.{{cite news |title=Captain D's 'Express' model reduces start-up costs |url=https://www.fastcasual.com/news/captain-ds-express-model-reduces-start-up-costs/ |access-date=15 July 2021 |work=Fast Casual |date=11 November 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Lalley |first1=Heather |title=FAST CASUALS RE-IMAGINE THEIR FUTURES |url=https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/operations/fast-casuals-re-imagine-their-futures |access-date=15 July 2021 |work=Restaurant Business |date=4 December 2020}}

In 2021, Captain D's announced the debut of its double drive-thru in Tupelo, Mississippi.{{cite news |last1=|first1=|title=Capt D's debuts double drive-thru

|url=https://www.fastcasual.com/news/capt-ds-debuts-double-drive-thru/ |access-date=15 July 2021 |work=Restaurant Business |date=4 December 2020}}

Controversies

In April 1989, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund filed a class-action lawsuit against Danner and more than 200 other Shoney's Inc. officials for allegedly implementing discriminatory policies against black people who sought employment or were then employed with Shoney's Inc. restaurants—Shoney's, Captain D's, Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken, Pargo's and the Fifth Quarter. Nine former employees and job applicants of Shoney's Inc. restaurants sought more than $500 million as well as an affirmative action plan authorized by the court to prevent discriminatory policies in the future. In November 1992, Captain D's was involved in the $105 million settlement of the racial discrimination case against then-parent company Shoney's Inc. and Danner agreed to contribute $65 million of the company's stock toward the settlement amount. The settlement was awarded to the more than 40,000 former, then-current and prospective restaurant employees who claimed they were discriminated against or were ordered to engage in discriminatory practices between February 1988 and April 1991.{{cite magazine |author= |title=NAACE LDEF/Sues Shoney's|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n14EAAAAMBAJ&dq=captain+d%27s+restaurant+shoney%27s+history&pg=PA20 |magazine=Black Enterprise |location= |publisher= |date=August 1989 |access-date=16 July 2021}}{{cite book |last1=Watkins |first1=Steve |title=The black O : racism and redemption in an American corporate empire |date=2012 |publisher=University of Georgia Press |location=Athens [Georgia] |isbn=9780820344034 |pages=4–5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rfEAAgAAQBAJ |access-date=14 July 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Smothers |first1=Ronald |title=Bias case settlement compels Shoney's to aid blacks |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1993-01-31-1993031026-story.html |access-date=16 July 2021 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=31 January 1993}}{{cite news |title=Shoney's to Pay $105 Million to Settle Discrimination Lawsuit |url=https://apnews.com/article/32b8eb71327344d943b03038ce293952 |access-date=16 July 2021 |work=Associated Press News |date=3 November 1992}}{{cite news |last1=Duke |first1=Lynne |title=SHONEY'S BIAS SETTLEMENT SENDS $105 MILLION SIGNAL |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1993/02/05/shoneys-bias-settlement-sends-105-million-signal/50c24475-3027-475e-bc97-09d7f57124bf/ |access-date=16 July 2021 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=5 February 1993}}{{overcite|date=March 2023}}