Lobster Gram

What Lobster Gram does

Lobster Gram is a Chicago-based direct-to-consumer e-commerce business that ships premium lobster and seafood to U.S. customers via FedEx. Founded in 1987 as America's original lobster delivery service and now operating under D'Artagnan, the company sells live Maine lobsters, lobster tails from multiple global origins (Maine, South African, Tristan, North and West Australian), surf & turf combinations, crab, scallops, shrimp, clams, mussels, steaks, sausages, sides, and desserts. Orders are delivered using custom insulated coolers with frozen gel packs and dry ice, with customer-selected delivery dates supported by 2-Day, Overnight, and Saturday FedEx shipping.

Name

Lobster Gram

Legal name

Lobster Gram

Website

https://lobstergram.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lobster Gram is a Chicago-based direct-to-consumer e-commerce brand, founded in 1987 and operated under D'Artagnan, that delivers premium lobster, seafood, surf & turf, meats, and gourmet gifts nationwide via FedEx to individual consumers and corporate gifting customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: One-time purchase of lobster, seafood, and gourmet food products sold directly to consumers and businesses. Products include live Maine lobsters, lobster tails, surf & turf, seafood, meats, sides, and desserts. Also includes gift baskets, gift cards, and corporate gift solutions.
2. Subscription Program (Subscribe and Save): Recurring subscription model offering free shipping on subsequent deliveries and exclusive 10% discount on regular prices for the life of the subscription. Customers select delivery frequency and manage subscriptions through their accounts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Lobster Gram is a direct-to-consumer specialty food retailer that sells premium live Maine lobsters, lobster tails, surf & turf combinations, and a wide assortment of seafood, meats, sides, desserts, and gourmet gift baskets. Products are shipped nationwide via FedEx with custom insulated packaging to maintain freshness, and orders can be scheduled for specific delivery dates. The company also offers corporate gifting solutions and a subscription program with recurring delivery discounts.

Product overview

Lobster Gram is America's original lobster delivery service, founded in 1987 and operated under D'Artagnan. The offering is a single unified e-commerce platform selling premium lobster and seafood products delivered directly to customers. The core portfolio centers on live Maine lobsters and lobster tails from multiple global origins, complemented by Surf & Turf combinations, lobster meat dinners and rolls, and an extensive seafood category (crab, scallops, shrimp, fish, clams, mussels). The business has expanded beyond lobsters to include steakhouse-quality meats (pork, sausages, steaks, hamburgers), sides (soups, chowders, seafood cakes, sauces), and desserts (cakes, pies). Supporting offerings include Gourmet Gram gift collections, Business Gifts corporate programs, and add-on products like soups, appetizers, desserts, and cooking accessories. The company also provides subscription services with recurring delivery discounts, gift cards, and educational resources including cooking guides, videos, and recipes. Products are shipped via FedEx with custom insulated coolers to maintain freshness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Goldbelly: Goldbelly is a DTC marketplace that ships curated gourmet and specialty foods (including seafood, meats, and gift assortments) nationwide from artisan producers. Highly comparable business model to Lobster Gram: e-commerce, cold-chain shipping, gift-occasion focus, and curated premium assortment.
• Vital Choice Wild Seafood & Organics: Vital Choice is a DTC retailer of premium wild-caught seafood (salmon, shellfish, etc.) and related gourmet items shipped directly to consumers. Comparable in e-commerce channel, premium positioning, and nationwide cold-chain fulfillment.
• Lobster Anywhere: Lobster Anywhere is a direct-to-consumer live lobster and seafood delivery service operating online with overnight shipping. Closely comparable in product mix, customer base (home delivery and gifting), and fulfillment model.
• The Lobster Guy: The Lobster Guy is a Maine-based DTC lobster and seafood shipper selling live lobsters, lobster tails, and seafood online. Comparable direct competitor on product, sourcing region, and online ordering with overnight delivery.
• Maine Lobster Now: Maine Lobster Now ships live Maine lobsters and lobster products directly to consumers nationwide, competing head-to-head with Lobster Gram's core live lobster offering with a similar e-commerce, cold-chain shipping model.
• Chicago Steak Company: Chicago Steak Company is a premium DTC meat and seafood shipper headquartered in Chicago offering steaks, lobster tails, and surf & turf combos for gifting and home consumption. Comparable in geography, assortment, and DTC premium positioning.

Broad incumbents

• FreshDirect: FreshDirect is a large online grocer offering fresh seafood, meats, and prepared foods with home delivery. Overlaps with Lobster Gram in DTC seafood fulfillment but operates a much broader grocery assortment and primarily serves regional Northeast markets.
• D'Artagnan: D'Artagnan is Lobster Gram's parent company and a premium DTC brand for meats, poultry, foie gras, and gourmet foods. Operates an overlapping e-commerce platform, customer base, and supply chain that feeds Lobster Gram's assortment.
• Omaha Steaks: Omaha Steaks is a long-established direct-to-consumer premium meat and seafood brand with nationwide shipping and corporate gifting. Highly comparable go-to-market model (DTC, gifting, recurring promotions, broad assortment including lobster tails and surf & turf).

Emerging players

• Cape Cod Shellfish & Seafood Co. Cape Cod Shellfish & Seafood Co. is a smaller specialty retailer shipping New England shellfish (clams, mussels, oysters, lobsters) directly to consumers. Comparable in niche sourcing, direct-to-consumer channel, and gift/occasion use cases, though smaller scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LobsterGram
• Facebookfacebook.com/lobstergram
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lobster-gram

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Lobster Gram