Mason’s Lobster

What Mason’s Lobster does

Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls is a Maryland-based fast-casual restaurant chain founded in 2014 by Dan Beck, a former seafood buyer with more than 20 years of experience in the restaurant and seafood industries. The company operates a network of approximately 42 locations across the United States and Italy, delivering authentic Maine-style lobster rolls (Classic, Connecticut, Lobster Salad, BLT, Shrimp Roll, and the premium Bar Harbor with 50% more lobster meat) sourced directly from Maine lobstermen through a New England purchasing syndicate. The core product architecture is intentionally minimal — a tight menu of rolled sandwiches, soups (lobster bisque, New England clam chowder), and specialty items (lobster mac & cheese, lobster grilled cheese) — supported by a small-format footprint of 700–1,200 square feet, a digital ordering platform, and integrations with DoorDash, Grubhub, and Deliveroo.

Mason's revenue model combines four streams: (1) retail food sales at the point of sale across company-owned and franchised stores, (2) franchise fees and ongoing royalties from new and existing franchisees, (3) corporate and event catering requiring minimum 12-roll orders, and (4) third-party marketplace commissions via DoorDash, Grubhub, and Deliveroo. Pricing is unit-based and accessible relative to premium seafood competitors — Classic and Connecticut rolls priced at $24.95 and the Bar Harbor premium at $30.95 at the Rehoboth Beach location. Customer segments are horizontally distributed across individual consumers (primary), corporate catering clients, and franchisees/investors; there is no enterprise-anchor customer concentration.

Growth is driven by franchising and international master licensing. Italian franchisee Pietro Funaro holds the European and Middle East commercial licence and currently operates three Italian outposts (Milan, Florence, Via Vespucci), with Venice and London launches planned for the first half of 2026. The company has built a senior franchise-development bench — including Lou Termini (Director of Franchise Sales, 40+ years in retail/food service), Dane J. Cherry (VP New Store Development, 30+ years in franchising with multiple Franchisee-of-the-Year awards), Kevin Bastedo (Director of Operations), and Alefiya Dhilla (CMO, partner in Austin TX franchise). The legal entity is Mason's Lobster Franchising LLC, incorporated in Maryland, USA. There is no disclosed AI, proprietary software, patents, or technology stack of note; this is fundamentally a food-service and franchise brand business rather than a technology company.

Name

Mason’s Lobster

Legal name

Mason's Lobster Franchising LLC

Website

https://masonslobster.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls is a Maryland-based fast-casual restaurant chain founded in 2014, operating approximately 42 locations across the United States and Italy via a franchise model. The company serves authentic Maine-sourced lobster rolls, shrimp rolls, and chowders to individual consumers, corporate catering clients, and franchise operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fast-Casual Seafood Restaurant

NAICS

Limited-Service Restaurants (722513), Mobile Food Services (72233), Caterers (722320)

akta.pro primary industry

Seafood Fast Casual (THAFABAJ)

Keywords

• Fast casual dining
• Lobster roll restaurant
• Seafood franchise
• New England cuisine
• Restaurant chain

Headquarters

HQ city

Annapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Retail Food Sales: Revenue from direct sales of lobster rolls, shrimp rolls, and other menu items at restaurant locations. Customers pay at point of sale for food items consumed on-premises or taken out.
2. Franchise Fees and Royalty Income: The company generates revenue by selling franchises to operators. Franchisees pay an initial fee and ongoing royalties for the right to use the Mason's brand, recipes, and operational model. The company has franchisees in Austin TX, Western Market DC, Long Branch NJ, and international locations managed by Pietro Funaro.
3. Catering Services: Corporate and event catering generates additional revenue. The company offers catering packages for parties, team meetings, and corporate events with menu options including minimum quantities of rolls and sides.
4. Third-Party Delivery Commissions: Orders placed through DoorDash and Grubhub generate revenue through these marketplace channels, with the company receiving payment for food orders fulfilled through third-party delivery platforms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls operates a fast-casual restaurant chain serving authentic Maine lobster rolls and complementary seafood items at company-owned and franchised locations. The menu centers on multiple lobster roll preparations (Classic, Connecticut, Lobster Salad, BLT, and the premium Bar Harbor with 50% more lobster) along with shrimp rolls, crab rolls, soups, and specialty entrées, supported by in-store dining, online ordering, third-party delivery, catering, and a franchise program.

Product overview

Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls operates as a fast-casual restaurant chain offering authentic Maine lobster rolls. The core product portfolio centers on lobster rolls (Classic, Connecticut, Lobster Salad, BLT, and the premium Bar Harbor with 50% more lobster), complemented by shrimp rolls and crab rolls. Additional menu items include soups (Lobster Bisque, Clam Chowder) and specialty entrees (Lobster Mac & Cheese, Lobster Grilled Cheese). The company supports its restaurant operations with a loyalty rewards program (Mason's Rewards), catering services for events, an online ordering platform, and a franchise program for expansion. The business model emphasizes simplicity with lobster sourced from Maine fishermen, targeting the fast-casual dining segment with premium seafood.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Classic Lobster Roll Signature chilled lobster roll made with big, hearty chunks of fresh Maine lobster, served with mayo and lemon butter on a split roll; priced at $24.95 at the Rehoboth Beach food truck. Target customer: diners seeking authentic New England-style lobster rolls.
• Connecticut Roll Warm lobster roll tossed in butter, representing the Connecticut-style preparation as an alternative to the chilled Maine-style roll; priced at $24.95 at the Rehoboth Beach food truck. Target customer: lobster roll diners who prefer the warm, buttered Connecticut tradition.
• Lobster Salad Roll Chilled lobster roll featuring big chunks of lobster meat tossed with celery, mayo, and lemon dressing for added crunch. Target customer: diners wanting a lobster roll with extra texture and a salad-style dressing.
• The Bar Harbor Premium upgrade to any lobster roll filled with 50% more Maine lobster meat, including the tail; the brand calls it the ultimate lobster roll experience. Priced at $30.95 at the Rehoboth Beach food truck. Target customer: lobster enthusiasts willing to pay for a larger portion.
• The BLT Lobster Roll Lobster roll combining bacon, lettuce, and tomato with lobster for a BLT-style preparation. Target customer: diners looking for a fusion of classic BLT ingredients with premium lobster.
• Shrimp Roll Roll featuring jumbo shrimp tossed with mayo, celery, and lemon, offering variety for customers not ordering lobster. Target customer: diners seeking a non-lobster seafood roll option.
• Warm Crab Roll Lump crab with butter and Old Bay seasoning, served warm as an alternative to lobster rolls; available at the Rehoboth Beach food truck location. Target customer: diners wanting a Maryland-style crab roll option.
• Lobster Bisque Rich lobster soup topped with lobster meat, served as a side or add-on to lobster rolls at the Annapolis, MD location. Target customer: diners wanting a warm accompaniment to a lobster roll.
• New England Clam Chowder Traditional New England-style clam chowder available as a side dish at the Annapolis, MD location. Target customer: diners wanting a traditional New England soup pairing.
• Lobster Mac & Cheese Comfort food entrée combining lobster with macaroni and cheese, available at the Annapolis, MD location. Target customer: diners seeking a heartier lobster entrée beyond the roll format.
• Lobster Grilled Cheese Premium grilled cheese featuring lobster as the primary ingredient, available at the Annapolis, MD location. Target customer: diners wanting a premium comfort-food style lobster sandwich.
• Catering Service Catering service for corporate events, private parties, and team meetings, offering lobster rolls and sides with flexible options; minimum 12 rolls per item. Target customer: businesses and organizations hosting events.
• Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls Franchise Program Franchise opportunity offering expansion of the Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls brand to operators, with training and support for entrepreneurs without prior restaurant experience; positioned at approximately half the cost of typical fast-casual openings. Target customer: aspiring restaurant franchisees and investors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Industry reports suggest lobster roll segment averages over $1 million in sales per store
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Maine Lobster FishermencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMason's sources lobster straight from Maine's expert fishermen through a purchasing syndicate. These partnerships ensure sustainable, environmentally-friendly fishing methods and maintain the authenticity and quality of the lobster used in Mason's rolls.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Red Lobster: Largest US casual-dining seafood chain. Broad incumbent in the same seafood category with overlapping menu items; vastly larger scale and full-service format rather than fast-casual lobster-roll niche.
• Legal Sea Foods: Established New England seafood restaurant group with sit-down locations. Overlaps with Mason's on premium New England seafood positioning but at full-service price points and format.
• Captain D's: National seafood-focused QSR chain. Operates broadly in seafood fast food; overlaps with Mason's category but at lower price points and broader menu.
• Long John Silver's: Iconic seafood QSR chain specializing in fried fish. Broad incumbent in the seafood fast-food category; comparable as a category player but with a fried/battered seafood mix rather than premium lobster rolls.
• Bonefish Grill: Casual-dining seafood chain owned by Bloomin' Brands. Operates in the same seafood-casual category as Mason's but at full-service price points and a broader menu.

Direct peers

• Cousins Maine Lobster: Maine-rooted lobster roll brand operating primarily through food trucks and brick-and-mortar shops, also franchising. Directly comparable to Mason's in product focus and target consumer seeking authentic Maine lobster.
• Luke's Lobster: NYC-founded lobster roll chain with multiple US and international shops offering a nearly identical menu (Classic, Connecticut, lobster/shrimp rolls). Closest direct comparable to Mason's in category, customer, and price point.

Regional players

• The Clam Shack: Iconic Kennebunk, Maine seafood shack famous for its lobster roll. Comparable as a single-location or small-chain lobster roll specialist, but limited geographic footprint.
• Skipper's Pier: Mid-Atlantic seafood casual restaurant known for crab and seafood platters. Comparable as a regional seafood casual player with overlapping customer base in the markets where Mason's has built density.
• McLoons Lobster Shack: Maine-based lobster shack serving lobster rolls and seafood on the water. Comparable authentic New England lobster-roll competitor at a small regional scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/masonslobster

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mason’s Lobster