Phillips Foods, Inc. and Seafood Restaurants
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Seafood production and restaurant |
| Founded | 1914 |
| Founder | Augustus E. Phillips |
| Headquarters | Baltimore , United States |
Area served | United States, Asia, Europe, Australia |
Key people | Brice Phillips, Shirley Phillips |
| Products | Crab meat, crab cakes, fish dishes, seafood cakes, soups, seasonings, sauces |
| Owner | Family-operated |
Number of employees | 2000+ |
Phillips Foods, Inc. and Seafood Restaurants is a family-operated seafood enterprise headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, specializing in crab meat, crab cakes, as well as various fish and shrimp offerings. Functioning both as seafood producers and restaurant operators, Phillips provides casual dining experiences, buffet options, and takeout services at its dining establishments.
History
The company was established in 1914 by Augustus E. Phillips, who launched a seafood processing facility on Hooper's Island in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay, initially handling seafood sourced from nearby watermen. In 1956, Brice Phillips and his wife Shirley inaugurated the first “crab shack” in Ocean City, Maryland, which they expanded yearly to accommodate up to 1,400 patrons.
In 2002, Phillips was involved in litigation under the Lanham Act due to allegations of deceiving consumers by advertising an original recipe while substituting Asian crab meat for Maryland blue crab.
Currently, Phillips Seafood Restaurants operate five corporate-owned venues along the U.S. East Coast and hold franchise agreements at airports, travel centers, casinos, and sports arenas.
Crab manufacturing
As a prominent global producer of crab meat, Phillips employs over 2,000 staff worldwide and runs ten processing facilities throughout the United States and Southeast Asia. Since 1990, its Southeast Asian plants have guaranteed a continuous supply of swimming crab meat for its restaurant operations. The company maintains international sales offices in Baltimore and Bangkok, focusing mainly on the U.S. market while pursuing growth opportunities in Asia, Europe, and Australia.
Products
Best known for its crab cakes, Phillips offers an extensive selection of items to both retail customers and foodservice providers. Their portfolio includes crab meat, appetizers, fish dishes, seafood cakes, soups, main courses, seasonings, and sauces. Although originally famous for utilizing Maryland blue crab, the majority of their crab supply now originates from Southeast Asia.