How Chicken Tenders Made Him A Millionaire 🍗

How is it that a restaurant that only does chicken strips has been rapidly expanding all over the United States and even into the Middle East? (Raising Cane's) And how did the person who came up with this multi-million dollar business get started when he had no money, and no funding? (Todd Graves) Well, it involves risking his life in Alaska to catch salmon, and trying to prove his business professor wrong who told him the business idea would never work. This is the crazy underdog business success story of Raising Cane’s fast food company, and how the entrepreneurial CEO of Raising Cane’s made so much money from selling chicken fingers (despite competitors who already had the same product, and lots more funding). Well, it all begins with a guy named Todd Graves and a dream of opening his own restaurant, and a business class at university where Todd’s business professor told him his business plan would never work. In fact, the banks said the same thing - Todd couldn’t get credit / investments / venture capital to fund his business enterprise, so he realized he’d have to earn the money himself…

00:00 Raising Cane's Intro
00:34 The Beginning
02:58 Funding
05:21 The First Raising Cane's
07:48 The Business of Raising Cane's
11:41 Legal Trouble
13:34 The Biggest Challenge

The Chicken Tenders Millionaire: An Inspiring True Story
How a broke guy made millions from chicken tenders
The King of The Chicken Fingers
The Chicken Finger King
The Chicken Finger KING: A Ridiculous True Story

[samplautz]

The fact that he didn’t take a salary during Covid just so he could make sure his employees got payed is amazing. That alone deserves him all of his success

[ChrisCardenDrums]

Any restaurant turning a profit in its first month, even if it's only 30 bucks, is remarkable

[fcbsmokerunner]

Silly to think no one thought a strictly quality Chicken Fingers place wouldn't work. Works all the time with sushi and sandwiches/hot dog places all the time. All about the experience and quality.

[gregoryedwards]

I used to work for Canes, absolutely loved it and their whole motto. Coming from design school, I’ve always been obsessed with branding and making something without making too much waste.

In and Out does this. Everything will be used eventually. Unlike Jacks or McDs where some may not buy a certain item so it gets wasted.

Blizzard also USED to do this by releasing ONE insanely quality game every 3 or 4 years.

Raising Canes follows this same method and it is BRILLIANT.

Learn to work smarter my friends, not harder. Great documentary!

[Jagzin]

I like that he had to work his ass off to get the funding to start. Really shows his determination and will to succeed.

[toakongu]

Former Canes employee and avid chicken enjoyer here. You really can't do this story proper justice. Todd has a simple menu that doesn't change and it absolutely works. I worked at McDonalds before Canes and the difference is night and day. When I worked for McDonalds I used to dread going in to work, but at Canes I was always happy to go to work. My coworkers were great, customers were always friendly and the food is just amazing. And the location I worked at was across the street from a Slims Chicken and right next to a KFC lol

[rohitbachan]

This is undoubtedly one of the best entrepreneurship stories I've ever heard.

[arundpm]

It's always refreshing to know about Bosses who are friendly towards Employees! This case is even more overwhelming given the fact that Todd faced a very tough working condition in Alaska.. Normally, the bosses would have passed on a harsh working environment but Todd hasn't! Kudos to him & that's even more a reason to root for him..

Thank you MagnatesMedia for introducing me to yet another fascinating story 🙏😇

[Penelope]

I love working at Cane's. It's fast paced but it's so simple. 5 combo items to choose from and the king of substitutions.

Fun ideas people might not know:
You can request to butter both sides of the bread.
You can request your sandwich bun be replaced with two pieces of toast.
They have honey mustard (best on the fries)

The restaurant is a well oiled machine that gets detail cleaning twice a day.

[jnb]

Caine's isn't inexpensive but the quality is exactly the same every time you get your order - it never varies - the chicken is always crispy and tender, the Texas toast is always yummy and the fries rank with the best of any other place to eat so having to pay a little more doesn't bother me and I hope they never change.

[Aquafeenaa]

Much respect to him! Sounds like an awesome CEO/Boss! He followed his passion!!

[ericguillot]

Company I worked for, got the contract to build a bunch of these in Louisiana. It was around 20-ish years ago I believe, give or take a couple. Although it was pretty repetitive, I enjoyed it. Almost never had to stand around waiting for an answer. Staying focused and busy makes for some quick days.

[PartyboyDanny]

Todd Graves is an absolute legend and Raising Cane’s is a top tier chicken chain here in Texas. Yes even better than Chick Fil A!

[ird]

This is the best place to work for. The training is why his business will always flourish! I love the location I am at & if I move, I’m moving where there’s a Cane’s ❤

[sillysquat]

Actually, Todd and Craig went to different schools. Craig went to LSU while Todd went to UGA. Todd got the idea after working at a chicken finger place in Athens Ga.

[jon]

i work at canes and I genuinely love it. The people, the motto, the mission its all just such a great place to work.

[Samuel-erbf]

you can just tell the ceo loves the business when you go in there. Every location i’ve been to has great employees, fast service, quality food. It’s not like other places where sometimes you get goood service.

[orenjirenji]

One day magnet media has to do a story on his own channel!! Great videos man

[mateowinata]

We should all try to be like Tod. People over profit.

[kitetsu_]

First time seeing a business being so good