Todd Graves sits down with Rich Kleiman to discuss how to intentionally scale a successful business, gain the loyalty of some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment, and much more.
These days, amidst appearances as the Super Bowl Parade King in New Orleans and at marquee events throughout NBA All-Star Weekend, Graves has made it a priority to maintain a connection to the workers who make his business thrive. “What I had to do … is constantly be on social media, [create] direct internal crew videos where I can thank them, keep them updated on what we’re doing. … I’ll go into one restaurant and have all the management, all the crew come out and we can talk for 30 minutes thank them and say what can we do better to help support you in this area?” Graves said.
“Look, they know, they know I’m working, so they work hard serving our customers”
The success of creating this sense of connection is undeniable. Last year, Cane’s was ranked one of the top places to work by USAToday. Additionally, the company fosters career pathways, so a job becomes so much more.
As a result of Graves’ savvy approach, Raising Cane’s has become wildly profitable — netting over $2 billion in revenue in 2024. But its not only the loyalty of his employees that Graves has successfully attracted. Through the years, the company has become a favorite of some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment. As Graves reflects on the growth of the business, he can’t help but name-drop some of the brand’s biggest fans who have approached him, trying to figure out a way to be involved with the growing company.
“Hearing that so-and-so is a Caniac, then we’d approach them. I always want it to be authentic and genuine,” Graves reflected. “And so someone that’s a really big fan of the restau rant, most of these things came through friends. We became friends because they wanted to meet the Cane’s guy.”
Jayden Daniels, Chance the Rapper, Jelly Roll. The list goes on and on.
Following this year’s Super Bowl, Graves stood alongside the NFL season’s standout star, Saquon Barkley. Graves was delighted when the victory turned into an impromptu moment for the brand.
“I was just in Philly with Saquon, talking with the press. I mean Saquon’s going, ‘Look, Todd and I are friends … My first time I had Canes was here.’ He’s like, ‘Todd, lead the [E-A-G-L-E-S] chant and those sort of things. It’s invaluable.”
Similarly, Graves found himself alongside NFL Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels as he celebrated his most recent accolade. For Graves and Daniels, the moment was familiar, as just a year prior, the Washington Commanders star celebrated his Heisman win with Raising Cane’s.
“Obviously we knew [he was going to win] and we just got it in the can. As soon as the thing was over relevant, quick, timely. Jayden Daniels: it’s still my victory meal.”
For Graves, these relationships extend beyond simple photos opps. Through his connections with some of the top talent across major sports, he has learned so much from the athlete mindset, motivation and discipline, which serve as staples to the way he shapes his business philosophy.
But it goes beyond sports for Graves. One person in particular was committed to figuring out how to lend more than his likeness to the brand.
“Post [Malone] is a huge Caniac, and that’s is how we met. He wanted to meet the Kane’s guy. … [We became friends and] several years went by before we actually even partnered on something. … He’s like, ‘Hey, can I just own a Canes?’ And I was like, ‘Man, you’re not going to be back there frying the chicken. You’re too busy with music, so lemme figure something out.’
“So what I figured out was like, how about we do some restaurants and they will be Post Malone restaurants. You design ’em, decorate ’em however you want to be, what you guys want to do, and then we’ll just split the profits on it. I said, that’s just owning anyway. There’s no legal stuff behind it. He loved it.”
As the company continues to grow, Graves breaks down his intentional approach to growth, the biggest lessons he’s learned in the business, and so much more.
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