Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers is one of America’s fastest growing companies with more than 800 restaurants in 40 states. The company has a goal to operate a chain of 1,800 restaurants by 2030.
This year, the local stores cooperated with research company Energage, Inc. to conduct in-house surveys of their employees for the Nevada Top Workplaces 2024 competition.
Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers placed first in the category of 500 or more employees of 11 participants, edging Panda Restaurant Group which had won the top honor for the previous three years.
“We’re proud of our culture,” said Jason Zwerin, division leader of restaurants. “Our success is driven by our hardworking crew in our restaurants. We create a place where people want to work. This survey is great recognition for them and helps us gauge their responses.”
This year, 100 new Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers restaurants have been under construction nationwide, including a site that recently broke ground at 106 E. Lake Mead Parkway near the Water Street District in Henderson.
“In addition to great food, this location will bring fresh jobs to our community and attract new visitors to downtown Henderson,” said Henderson Mayor Michelle Romero. “We look forward to their grand opening next year.”
The new store is expected to bring more than 100 jobs to the area when it opens in the spring. It will feature a drive-thru and a display of local artifacts inside the store that will pay homage to the area’s history.
Raising Cane’s operates 16 restaurant locations across the Las Vegas/Henderson region and 19 total within Nevada. Besides the new Henderson store, three more additional locations are planned to open within the Las Vegas region during 2025.
“We love Las Vegas,” Zwerin said. “We want to be a neighborhood restaurant.”
Each restaurant features images of local celebrities, as well as nearby school teams and community history.
The restaurant chain was founded in 1996, with a home office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; headquarters in Plano, Texas; and administration from the Dallas support office.
Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers restaurants employ 52,000 people worldwide. About 50,000 of them are located within the United States. The state of Nevada is home to 1,431 crew members.
Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers restaurants focus on one main dish that uses the highest-quality ingredients coupled with a handmade, cook-to-order system. Crew members create “craveable” chicken finger meals that are served hot and fresh with Cane’s special sauce. Tailgate menus are popular with local sports fans and community events.
The company cultivates a “work hard, have fun” culture that is shared by loyal customers. Festive restaurant decorations feature disco balls, classic memorabilia and even velvet Elvis paintings.
Founder Todd Graves was encouraged by a friend to name the first restaurant after his dog, a yellow Labrador named Raising Cane.
Company employees are called “crew members” and the company culture tries to ensure that their loyalty runs deep. Every new employee goes through restaurant training to earn the title of fry cook and cashier, allowing all of the crew members to experience the core mission and values of Raising Cane’s.
The company offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes casual uniforms with free crew gear, flexible hours and schedules, paid holidays, vacation time, tuition reimbursement and education benefits.
A Restaurant Partner program trains and rewards top Restaurant Leaders by providing multiple opportunities for hourly crew to earn more dollars-per-hour though training premiums and certification. Employees receive a paycheck every week.
Restaurant leaders and restaurant support office teams also receive extensive insurance coverage benefits. Health insurance includes a generous company-paid portion of the premiums. Other insurance coverage available includes dental, vision, life insurance and a 401(k) retirement plan. Restaurant leaders can even receive $10,000 toward closing costs on the purchase of a home.
The company’s Crewmember Assistance Program provides inclusive services ranging from professional counseling to financial planning. In honor of the company’s mascot, Cane III, the company even offers pet insurance to cover furry family members.
“These benefits attract people to our culture and work environment. Benefits are a reward for our employees’ hard work.” Zwerin said. “They deserve it.”