Graves joins the show as a “Guest Shark” while his chain targets exponential growth in the coming years
Todd Graves, owner/founder of Raising Cane’s, will join Season 16 of ABC’s Shark Tank as a “Guest Shark,” premiering Oct. 18 at 8 p.m. and streaming on Hulu. Graves has led the fast-growing chicken fingers concept from the time it first opened 28 years ago on the LSU campus to its more than 830 restaurants across 40 states now.
The chain is targeting more than 1,600 locations and more than $10 billion in sales by the end of 2029. Raising Cane’s finished 2023 with nearly $3.8 billion in sales, a 20.5% year-over-year increase, according to Technomic. It also had 727 locations, a 12.5% year-over-year jump. In 2019, the company had 457 locations and nearly $1.5 billion in sales. Average unit volumes were nearly $5.7 million last year, outpacing its categorical peers by over $3.1 million, according to Technomic Ignite.
“As a long-time viewer and fan of the show, I’m excited to bring my restaurant and business experience to entrepreneurs and help guide them as they build their brands,” Graves said in a statement. “At my core, I love business and helping people succeed; and at the end of the day, it’s not about what you make, it’s about what you give. I know how it feels when someone takes a chance on you and it changes your life, and I’m looking forward to doing that on the show.”
Graves will star alongside Shark Tank judges Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Kevin O’Leary, Daymond John, Barbara Corcoran, Robert Herjavec, and the newest judge, founder of KIND Snacks Daniel Lubetzky, and returning guest judges Kendra Scott, IT Cosmetics’ Co-Founder Jamie Kern Lima, and venture capitalist Rashaun Williams.
In addition to leading Raising Cane’s, Graves also has made more than 60 investments across a variety of industries.
“I’m not just investing in products and ideas, I’m investing in people and their stories. I relate to so many of them and am looking forward to guiding them based on my past successes and failures as an entrepreneur,” Graves added.
Contact Alicia Kelso at [email protected]
