Who Owns Raising Cane’s?
Founder Todd Graves. He started the chain in 1996 with one restaurant near LSU and still controls it today. Raising Cane’s has never gone public or sold out to a big restaurant group.
How Todd Graves built it
Graves wrote a business plan for a restaurant that only sold chicken fingers while he was a student, and a professor reportedly gave it one of the lowest grades in the class. Banks turned him down too. He raised money by working long shifts at a refinery in California and fishing for salmon in Alaska, then opened the first Raising Cane’s near the Louisiana State University campus in Baton Rouge in 1996. He named it after his yellow Labrador, Raising Cane.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1996, Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| Founder | Todd Graves, still chief executive |
| Ownership | Private, founder controlled |
| Offices | Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Plano, Texas |
| Business model | Mostly company operated, very few franchised restaurants |
| Name | Graves’s yellow Labrador, Raising Cane |
Why it is not franchised
Raising Cane’s runs most of its restaurants itself. That gives the company direct control over the one thing it sells, so every Box Combo tastes the same in Ohio as it does in Louisiana. It also means profits stay with the company instead of being shared with franchise owners, which has funded fast expansion across the country.
How big is Raising Cane’s?
The chain has grown into one of the largest chicken restaurant brands in the country, with hundreds of restaurants in more than 40 states and annual sales above $5 billion. Its restaurants rank among the highest grossing per location in fast food. See every combo and Tailgate price on the Raising Cane’s menu.
Related Questions
Who is the owner of Raising Cane’s?
Founder Todd Graves, who is also the company’s CEO. Raising Cane’s is a private, founder controlled company.
Is Raising Cane’s publicly traded?
No. Raising Cane’s is privately held and not listed on any stock exchange.
Is Raising Cane’s a franchise?
Mostly no. The company owns and operates most of its restaurants itself.
Where is Raising Cane’s headquartered?
It was founded in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and also has a major office in Plano, Texas.
Why is it called Raising Cane’s?
Todd Graves named it after his yellow Labrador, Raising Cane.
When did Raising Cane’s open?
The first restaurant opened in 1996 near the LSU campus in Baton Rouge.
More on Raising Cane’s
About this guide. USA Food Menu is an independent reference site and is not affiliated with Raising Cane’s. Company details come from public sources. See current prices on the Raising Cane’s menu.



