Shrimp Basket, a Gulf Coast seafood chain with locations across Alabama, Florida and Mississippi, is expanding its local sourcing with the launch of its new Gulf to Guest menu — an update emphasizing wild-caught Gulf shrimp and sustainable U.S. seafood.

The menu, which rolled out Monday, May 19, expands the use of Gulf-sourced shrimp beyond the chain's longtime offering of Gulf popcorn shrimp. New items now feature tail-on shrimp caught in Gulf waters and a premium wild-caught flounder from Alaska, aimed at delivering quality and consistency while supporting domestic fisheries.

The company emphasizes that Gulf to Guest is a long-term strategy, not a limited-time promotion. Nagle said the update reflects both guest demand and the company's commitment to local seafood producers.

The menu update comes amid heightened scrutiny of seafood sourcing on the Gulf Coast. In 2023, lawmakers passed the Alabama Seafood Labeling Law, which requires restaurants to disclose whether seafood is wild-caught or farm-raised and where it originated. The Alabama Department of Public Health enforces the law, and customers are encouraged to report violations, with penalties ranging from warnings to fines of up to $1,000 for repeated violations.

In April, SeaD Consulting released findings from a genetic testing study commissioned by the Southern Shrimp Alliance. The group tested shrimp dishes from 44 Baldwin County restaurants that advertised their shrimp as Gulf wild-caught. Of those tested, 25 were confirmed to be serving authentic Gulf shrimp, while 19 were found to be using imported shrimp, despite their menu claims.

The study followed similar findings at the 2024 National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores, where four of five vendors claiming to serve Gulf shrimp were found to be offering imported product instead. According to SeaD, noncompliant restaurants were notified and encouraged to adjust their practices. A follow-up round of testing is planned.

Shrimp Basket was not listed among the restaurants confirmed to be serving Gulf shrimp at the time of the April report, though it's unclear whether the restaurant was included in the study. The company did not comment on the testing at that time but has since responded to Gulf Coast Media regarding the sourcing of its updated menu items.

"Shrimp Basket is going all-in on Gulf seafood," brand president Kevin Nagle said in a news release about the menu update. "We've heard our guests ask for more locally sourced shrimp and seafood that reflects the flavor, heritage and pride of the Gulf Coast, and Gulf to Guest is our answer."

Melissa Elders, senior director at Artistry Restaurants, which owns Shrimp Basket, told Gulf Coast Media that select items under the campaign are verified to use 100% wild-caught Gulf shrimp.

To make that sourcing clear, Elders said all applicable menu items are labeled accordingly.

"To ensure transparency and ease for our guests, all menu items that feature Gulf shrimp are clearly labeled as such on our printed menus, making it easy for guests to see when they're ordering Gulf-sourced shrimp," she told Gulf Coast Media.

Rather than creating new dishes, Elders said several existing favorites are now exclusively made with Gulf shrimp, including the Popcorn Shrimp Basket, Boom Boom Shrimp, Shrimp Po'Boy and Steamed Shrimp. Elders explained that "guests have the option to upgrade to Gulf shrimp on other menu favorites like the Tail-On Shrimp Basket, Seafood Basket, Pick Two Combo, and Grilled Platter."

"This structure allows us to maintain accessible, value-driven pricing on our core menu items — something that remains important to many of our longtime guests — while offering the opportunity to opt for wild-caught Gulf shrimp when preferred," she said.

Additionally, the premium wild-caught flounder from Alaska option appears in the Flounder Basket, Seafood Basket, Pick Two Combo and Grilled Platter.

"This new menu offering is one that we've considered implementing for some time, and we are grateful to be working with amazing providers to deliver what our guests want, while supporting the hardworking fishermen of our region," Nagle said.

Founded in 1993, Shrimp Basket operates 18 locations throughout the Southeast, including four in Baldwin County — Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Foley and Bay Minette — as well as locations nearby in Pensacola. The chain also highlighted its long-running seasonal offering of fresh Gulf oysters. The company reports in the release that their oysters are "served raw and sourced directly from Gulf Coast waters" and that the oysters "have been a Shrimp Basket menu staple for years."