Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers

Founding

Founded by Todd Graves and Craig Silvey, the original restaurant, nicknamed "The Mothership", opened on August 28, 1996. It is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana near the North Gate of Louisiana State University (LSU). The company is named after Graves's dog, a yellow Labrador. Other yellow Labradors have served as company mascots, as well as certified therapy animals.^[5]

Graves and Silvey were studying at different universities when they wrote a business plan for a chicken-finger restaurant which Silvey submitted in a business plan-writing course, receiving a B-minus grade from the professor.^[6] At the time, Graves worked at Guthrie's Chicken Fingers.^[7]

The business plan was rejected numerous times by potential investors, so Graves and Silvey earned the needed money working various manual labor jobs.^[7] They obtained an SBA loan, which they used to open their first restaurant, located in Baton Rouge at the intersection of Highland Road and State Street near the LSU campus.^[8][9][10] Silvey sold his share of the partnership shortly after the second restaurant opened.^[7]

Leadership

Graves was the sole CEO of Raising Cane's after Silvey sold his share of the partnership.^[7] In 2014, AJ Kumaran, a seasoned restaurant executive, joined Cane's as its chief operating officer. Three years later, Kumaran joined Graves as co-CEO.^[11]

Branding

In 1996, while renovating the first Raising Cane’s location near LSU, Graves uncovered an old mural from a former bakery, "Wolf's Bakery", that inspired the restaurant's logo with its red-brick tones, flowing white script, and a yellow tagline declaring "bread at its best". The name "Raising Cane's" pays tribute to his yellow Labrador, Cane. Locations feature custom murals.^[12]

These brand elements can be seen in official merchandise released by Raising Cane's.^[13] In addition, Raising Cane's sells limited-edition merchandise, like the Graduation Plush Puppy released in 2025.^[14]

Expansion

In March 2020, many of Cane's locations switched from dine-in to pick-up and take-out service only due to the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas others closed temporarily. As of July 2020, certain locations had reopened their dining rooms, although Graves said the company was in no rush to do so on a full scale.^[15]

In 2021, in response to a shortage of workers at the time, the company began dispatching hundreds^[16] of its corporate employees to work in its restaurants as cooks and cashiers, in addition to their existing duties regarding the hiring of new employees. The company planned to hire 10,000 new employees.^[17] The company's co-CEO said that the corporate employees are trained in the kitchen and on the register under normal circumstances.^[18]

In 2022, Raising Cane's sued a shopping center in Hobart, Indiana. After the restaurant chain had signed a long-term lease, it was revealed that the shopping center had a non-compete agreement with McDonald's which prohibited other vendors from selling de-boned chicken products in the complex.^[19][20][21]

On June 27, 2023, Raising Cane's opened up their first New York location in Times Square.^[22]

Chicken fingers

The fried chicken is marinated and battered.^[23]

Cane's Sauce

The recipe for the dipping sauce is kept private by company leadership. It likely contains mayonnaise, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, salt, and garlic powder.^[24][25]

Combos

Combos offered by Raising Cane's feature their chicken fingers and signature dipping sauce. Depending on the combo, they will also come with other sides such as crinkle-cut fries, coleslaw, and Texas toast.^[26]

The Mothership – Original Raising Cane's Restaurant Gallery

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  The Mothership, Original Raising Cane's Restaurant Sign
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  The Mothership, Original Raising Cane's Restaurant and Drive-thru
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  The Mothership, Original Raising Cane's Restaurant Counter
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  The Mothership, Original Raising Cane's Restaurant Interior
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  The Mothership, Original Raising Cane's Restaurant – Wolf's Bakery Mural