Raising Cane’s Soars Towards Top 10 Restaurant Brand Status

Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, the rapidly expanding fast-food chain known for its craveable chicken finger meals and unique culture, is making significant strides toward its ambitious goal of becoming a Top 10 U.S. Restaurant Brand. Fueled by impressive growth in 2024 and the dedication of its "crewmembers," the company is exceeding expectations and accelerating its ascent in the competitive restaurant industry.

Founded in 1996 near Louisiana State University’s North Gates, Raising Cane’s has blossomed into a global phenomenon with 900 locations across the United States and 50 international locations. The company’s unwavering focus on its core values – serving communities, taking care of its customers and crewmembers, and fostering sustainable growth – has been instrumental in its remarkable success.

Record-Breaking Growth and Impressive Sales

In 2024, Raising Cane’s shattered its previous growth record by opening over 100 new restaurants, a testament to the brand’s popularity and expansion strategy. The company served over 473 million customers and generated an impressive $5.1 billion in annual sales, further solidifying its position as a major player in the fast-food sector.

Beyond financial achievements, Raising Cane’s also experienced its lowest crew turnover since 2019, indicating a strong commitment to employee satisfaction and retention. The company’s global flagship restaurant in New York’s Times Square achieved nearly $25 million in annual sales, demonstrating the brand’s appeal in high-traffic urban areas. The newest flagship restaurant in Nashville’s Broadway and a recent San Francisco Bay restaurant hit a record-breaking $600,000 in first-week sales, highlighting the company’s ability to capture market share in diverse locations.

Average Unit Volumes Exceed Expectations

Raising Cane’s impressive sales numbers and average unit volumes (AUV) of $6.6 million place it in a unique class among the nation’s top restaurant companies. This metric, which represents the average annual sales of a fast-food restaurant, underscores the brand’s ability to consistently generate high revenue across its locations.

Ambitious Goals and Future Expansion

In April 2023, Raising Cane’s set a bold target: to become a Top 10 U.S. restaurant brand by 2030. While this goal may seem ambitious, the company’s track record of rapid growth suggests that it is well within reach. Raising Cane’s plans to continue its expansion trajectory, aiming to have 1,600 restaurants, $10 billion in sales, and an average unit volume of $8 million in the coming years.

"Our focus is on opening one great restaurant at a time, and that hasn’t changed after we shared our vision to be a top 10 restaurant brand in the United States," said AJ Kumaran, Raising Cane’s co-CEO, COO, fry cook and cashier. "As we continue to grow, we are entering new markets and bringing new opportunities for crewmembers and managers to start a career with Raising Cane’s, and that helps us accomplish our vision of growing restaurants, serving our customers all over the world and being the brand for craveable chicken fingers meals, a great crew, cool culture and active community involvement."

Continued Growth Expected in 2025

The company anticipates another successful year in 2025, with projected annual sales of $5.8 billion, serving 530 million customers, and increasing AUV to $6.8 million. Raising Cane’s plans to open around 100 new restaurants, including expansion into two new states in the Northeast and further growth in the Pacific Northwest. In California, where the brand recently opened its 100th restaurant, more than 20 additional locations are planned.

Investing in Crewmembers

Raising Cane’s recognizes that its success is directly linked to the dedication and hard work of its crewmembers. The company emphasizes the importance of fostering a unique, fun, and authentic culture that attracts and retains top talent. To support its crewmembers, Raising Cane’s offers a range of industry-leading benefits and incentives.

"Our crewmembers are the reason we have been able to grow and support our communities," said Kumaran. "In addition to industry-leading benefits, we want our crew to have the opportunity to grow with us, so we provide a pathway for career growth in our Restaurants and Restaurant Support Offices. We call it Crew Journey."

Crewmember Benefits and Incentives

Raising Cane’s provides a comprehensive suite of benefits to its crewmembers, including prepaid legal services, cell phone discounts, pet insurance, and tuition reimbursement. One of the most recent additions is a program to assist first-time home buyers with $10,000 toward the purchase of their first home. Initially offered to restaurant leaders, the program has been expanded to include Business Unit and Restaurant Support Office Team crewmembers.

Crew Journey: A Pathway to Career Growth

The Crew Journey program is a cornerstone of Raising Cane’s commitment to employee development. This program creates pathways for crewmembers to advance their careers within the company. In 2024, over 3,000 crewmembers were promoted, demonstrating the effectiveness of the program in fostering internal growth and opportunities. Many of the company’s primary support office members, including senior leadership, began their careers as crewmembers in the restaurants.

Restaurant Partner Program

To develop and retain its restaurant leaders (general managers), Raising Cane’s offers the Restaurant Partner Program. This industry-leading program allows restaurant leaders to become partners in the business without any personal financial investment. Participants in the program have the opportunity to grow their net worth to over $1 million.

The program focuses on education and development to further refine the skills necessary to be successful, taking a holistic approach to wellness including health and financial planning. After completing the program, the leaders become Restaurant Partners with Raising Cane’s and enjoy compensation that exceeds $100,000 annually between base and bonus compensation, as well as long-term incentives.

A Focus on Crew, Customers, and Communities

Raising Cane’s remains committed to taking care of its crew, customers, and communities. This core principle guides the company’s decisions and underscores its commitment to long-term sustainability. As the company continues to pursue its goals, it will prioritize the well-being of its stakeholders and strive to make a positive impact on the communities it serves.

Growth opportunities are unlimited at Raising Cane’s, and as the company continues to pursue its goals, Cane’s core focus will remain on taking care of its crew, customers and communities.