MULO Brands With Soul August Pick: Raising Cane’s
A “one love” philosophy may sound more like Woodstock, Burning Man, or a spiritual retreat than a MULO (multi-location) food brand with more than 900 locations. Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers has become known for its corporate culture, which emphasizes the importance of respect, community, teamwork, and having fun as part of every employee’s daily experience with the brand.
That’s what our “Brands With Soul” column is all about, as we highlight companies who are be profitable AND human.
Named one of the top workplaces in the U.S. by USA Today, the brand is able to attract and retain great employees in what has become a challenging ecosystem for MULO restaurant and retail brands.
One of the company’s grandest gestures in support of employees was a multi-day leadership retreat in Cancun, hosted by owner and founder Todd Graves.
But the employee-first philosophy is not just about sunshine and beaches. Graves lays out his personal management philosophy in this short list.
The 28-year old company has leapfrogged (or is it leapbirded?) over other chicken brands to become the #3 restaurant of its kind.
Among the incentives Raising Cane’s offers to keep team members motivated and consumers engaged are:
- Calling employees “crewmembers”
- An emphasis on cross-training (which provides growth opportunities and better customer service)
- Encouragement of work/life balance (a rarity in the industry)
- Health insurance, a 401(k) match, tuition reimbursement, and financial support
- Local Restaurant Support Offices
- Community partnerships, with a focus on education.
Many business leaders do not believe that love and money can coexist, but Cane’s “one love” philosophy is based on direct feedback from crewmembers and prospective crewmembers about what they’re seeking in their roles.
If Raising Cane’s latest financial results are any indication, you CAN enjoy work, wealth (about $6B in sales), and (of course) chicken fingers!
For more insights into the rapidly-changing MULO ecosystem (restaurant, retail, service, c-store, hospitality, and more), please join us at Street Fight LIVE 2025 on September 30th! We’ll even have a Brands With Soul panel!
