Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers joined the ranks of the Top 100 this year, jumping from 109th place to 95th, with a 23.5-percent increase in domestic systemwide same-store sales, to $415 million. It opened a net 31 restaurants in the Latest Year, giving it a total of 208 locations, of which 51 units are franchised.
The success of the Baton Rouge, La.-based LSR/Chicken chain is an indication that a varied menu and a slew of limited-time offers isn’t the right approach for every restaurant. Raising Cane’s menu consists entirely of various combinations of batter-fried chicken tenders, crinkle-cut fries, coleslaw, Texas toast and the chain’s signature tangy-spicy Cane’s Sauce. Customers can choose from ordering three, four or six chicken fingers, or they can put three chicken tenderloins on a Kaiser roll for a sandwich, but that’s about it.
Kids’ meals have two tenders, no Texas toast and a prize. “Tailgate” catering orders can be made in increments of 25 tenders; Cane’s Sauce is included.
Restaurant management maintains that, by sticking to their knitting, they can do what little they do very well, making the batter, cole slaw and Cane’s sauce in-house and focusing on cleanliness, customer service and giving back to the community. 
Keys to growth
Keeping it simple. With only around 100 SKUs, including plateware, cups and so on, Raising Cane’s operators can focus on making their tenders, fries and coleslaw well, rather than managing inventory.
Community involvement. Each restaurant is responsible for giving back to the community it serves, including education, feeding the hungry, pet welfare, and inspiring active lifestyles and entrepreneurship.
Customer loyalty. Raising Cane’s outscored Chick-fil-A in the chicken category when it came to customer loyalty, as measured by Boulder, Colo.-based research agency Market Force Information. The company asked 6,197 consumers to rate their satisfaction of restaurants based on their most recent visit, and likelihood to recommend to family and friends.
Contact Bret Thorn at [email protected]
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