Todd Graves (entrepreneur)

Todd Graves
Todd Graves with his yellow lab, Raising Cane II, who is also the namesake of Graves' restaurant chain.
Born	(1972-02-20) February 20, 1972
Occupation	Entrepreneur
Net worth	$150 million
Children	2
Website

Todd Graves (born February 20, 1972)^[1] is an American entrepreneur and the founder, chairman and CEO of Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, a fast food restaurant that offers fried chicken fingers as its only main course. Graves, along with Craig Silvey, founded the restaurant in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on August 28, 1996. Graves graduated from Episcopal High School in Baton Rouge, LA.

Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers

Graves had a vision for a quick-service restaurant focusing on a simple menu item, chicken fingers. Unable to gain financing, Graves decided to raise his own capital and worked as a boilermaker in Louisiana. and a commercial sockeye salmon fisherman in Naknek, Alaska.^[2] On August 28, 1996, Graves opened Raising Cane's for business. Over the next 12 years, Graves would oversee the company expansion to more than 100 restaurants^[3] and more than $100 million in annual sales.^[4]

Awards & recognition

The Baton Rouge Business Report, a local business news magazine, named Graves the Young Businessperson of the Year in 2002.^[5] Additionally, the Business Report named Graves to their 2000 Top 40 Under 40 list,^[6] a recognition given to young businessmen and women in the Baton Rouge Capital Region for their achievements before the age of 40. Graves has also been named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2008 award winner.^[7]

Secret Millionaire

Graves was selected to participate in the Fox Broadcasting version of the reality television show, Secret Millionaire. The show follows a group of individual millionaires from across the country who leave their affluent, luxurious lifestyle to go undercover to experience life in some of the most impoverished communities that need help the most.^[8] Graves's restaurant chain, Raising Cane's, maintains an active community involvement through volunteering and monetary donations. They are active in aiding schools, food banks, pet welfare and active lifestyle programs. Graves has stated that Raising Cane's has given over 27% of earnings back to its communities.^[9]

References