Beiruting News

Todd Graves, founder and CEO of Raising Cane's, visited Lebanon, and Beiruting.com team were very lucky to have the chance to interview him.

1. How did you decide to pursue a career in the restaurant business?

Food always symbolized love for me, my mother and I spent time cooking in the kitchen together. My grandmother used to make a chocolate pie and I used to enjoy serving people. When we used to go to family vacations I'm usually the one cooking, pouring drinks, cleaning up after. If you have this kind of thing in your blood you can succeed in such a business. That's why we say cane's spreading love through chicken fingers. Anyway, it became natural to me, I like this kind of business, meeting gratification, doing something good, cooking for somebody and them liking the product.

2. Why did you choose this specific name for your restaurant?

I didn't have a name for my restaurant, and I had a dog named Raising Cane's and a friend of mine suggested that I name the restaurant after my dog. The dog made a big deal, he was always with me, and when he passed away, the second Raising Cane's showed up.

3. How did Raising Cane's grow to become an international brand instead of a local restaurant?

So we grew a lot over the United States, we have almost 400 restaurants - actually we are the fastest growing restaurant concept and the highest rated. And I set a vision in 2000 and I wanted locations all over the world, and know Z brand for quality chicken finger meals breakthrough, cool culture, and active in the involvement because it's nice to be open up to an area with good partners. I didn't know when or where but I knew that we will grow someday.

So I came to the region and then saw people able to always love the good food and they are accepting of different concepts from around the world, I didn't have to change what I do - this is the exact same menu as in the US. I was happy about it because I don't like changing anything I do since I work with love.

4. Are you considering opening new branches in European countries?

Eventually yes. For us to do this we should do it right; this is why I'm here making sure things were good. I don't want to grow too quickly and not do quality. For me I love to travel and coming here seeing this community, understand it and be a part of it - this takes a lot. So eventually we got to find a good region and a good partner- but Europe is definitely on the list.

5. What's your secret to keeping customers coming in?

Just keep delivering all this quality, and consistency, and that friendly crew. When you ask people what do you like the most about Cane's, they say the chicken is light - not greasy and your people are so nice. I think when you a caring founder involved in everything, that's what you get.

6. So you think, this is what differentiates you from the competition?

Yeah, I think our quality is really exceptional. And I think when you focus on only one thing you can make it the best. I spent years getting that blend right - our sauce are freshly made. In addition to that you have the engagement, all you can see at Cane's are friendly happy people.

7.To all the people who didn't believe in the concept of this restaurant back then, what do you tell them now?

I tell them thank you, because what they did was a motivation for me. When you tell an entrepreneur that this is not a good idea, you make them have this fire inside that they want to prove you wrong.

8. Finally what do you like to say to Lebanese people

One thing I have been really proud of and happy about being here, Beirut has been very accepting of us, so this hospitality makes you feel good.