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Anyone here familiar with Todd Graves and other co-founder bought out early on?
Posted on 7/11/25 at 11:29 pm
Posted on 7/11/25 at 11:29 pm
I heard from someone that the co-founder was bought out between the 1st and 2nd Cane's store. Probably I'd imagine something like $50k. Graves is worth $17.2 bil today, so that $50k for 50% equity back then would be nearly $9 billion today.
What's even worse is that my friend said that he went back to work at Cane's a decade or more later, the company he founded, to work as a VP in finance and IT. I imagine it would be tough to have a boss with 5 levels above him at Cane's HQ giving you orders when you were the one to originally found the store. I'd imagine making like $100k for a company that he founded.
How much of this is true, what are more details for those who are familiar with this situation? I'd have a hard time sleeping at night if I were him.
What's even worse is that my friend said that he went back to work at Cane's a decade or more later, the company he founded, to work as a VP in finance and IT. I imagine it would be tough to have a boss with 5 levels above him at Cane's HQ giving you orders when you were the one to originally found the store. I'd imagine making like $100k for a company that he founded.
How much of this is true, what are more details for those who are familiar with this situation? I'd have a hard time sleeping at night if I were him.
This post was edited on 7/11/25 at 11:34 pm
17
Posted on 7/11/25 at 11:47 pm to Saunson69
All I know is that Cane's no longer selll chicken strips...they only sell chicken nuggets
Posted on 7/12/25 at 4:08 am to Saunson69
If true, that guy accepted the buy out. It was his choice, as no one held a gun to his head. Todd made the decisions that grew it to the next level.
Not sure what your issue is here
Not sure what your issue is here
Posted on 7/12/25 at 6:36 am to Saunson69
I thought the other guy opened a chicken place across the street Bailey’s chicken or something like that. I remember the place but never ate there.
At least that was the rumor back when I was at LSU.
At least that was the rumor back when I was at LSU.
Posted on 7/12/25 at 6:55 am to LSUSports247
quote:
Bailey’s chicken
Was 100% better than Canes, plus there was a coupon in the Tigerland ad books that allowed you to get a box for like $3.
Damn, I miss those days.
This post was edited on 7/12/25 at 6:57 am
Posted on 7/12/25 at 8:42 am to Saunson69
I actually know an older gent that was part of the startup funding and invested $10k for a very small return % of total profit yearly. Turned away every opportunity to buy him out over the years, and now he is living large and still refusing the buyouts. He has an enormous camp/house on the water in bay st Louis decorated with Cane's stuff everywhere lol.
Posted on 7/12/25 at 8:53 am to Saunson69
Todd Graves and Craig Silvey originally founded Canes - Craig sold out and went to CA I think during the tech boom days before the tech crash. I believe he did come back eventually and work for Canes in some capacity.
Posted on 7/12/25 at 9:16 am to GoAwayImBaitn
quote:this is so over exaggerated on here
All I know is that Cane's no longer selll chicken strips...they only sell chicken nuggets
Posted on 7/12/25 at 9:24 am to Saunson69
Everyone remembers the Canes business plan for a school project that received a C from the professor. Craig Silvey (co-founder) was actually the one who submitted it at LSU, not Graves.
People get that mixed up all the time.
People get that mixed up all the time.
This post was edited on 7/12/25 at 9:32 am
Posted on 7/12/25 at 10:14 am to Saunson69
(no message)
This post was edited on 7/19/25 at 12:44 am
Posted on 7/12/25 at 10:43 am to Saunson69
There was definitely a partner but I don't remember his name.
When the first Canes opened, they used to run ads in the Reveille where I worked, and I used to go pick up a check from him or Todd almost every week. They had some shitty apartment behind the original Canes off of State Street as their office
When the first Canes opened, they used to run ads in the Reveille where I worked, and I used to go pick up a check from him or Todd almost every week. They had some shitty apartment behind the original Canes off of State Street as their office
Posted on 7/12/25 at 10:49 am to Lsut81
quote:
there was a coupon in the Tigerland ad books that allowed you to get a box for like $3.
He did ads with me at the Reveille too. The chicken finger wars of the mid 90s
Posted on 7/12/25 at 11:16 am to Saunson69
quote:
I'd imagine something
quote:
I imagine it
quote:You sure do have a big imagination...
I'd imagine making
Posted on 7/13/25 at 9:14 pm to LSURussian
Craig Silvey
Experienced executive in finance, information technology, and operations. Co-founder of Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers.
Just go to LinkedIn if your really that interested.. or Google him
Looks like a lot of consultant.. start up etc
Lives in Baton Rouge
Experienced executive in finance, information technology, and operations. Co-founder of Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers.
Just go to LinkedIn if your really that interested.. or Google him
Looks like a lot of consultant.. start up etc
Lives in Baton Rouge
Posted on 7/13/25 at 10:32 pm to LSUSports247
quote:
I thought the other guy opened a chicken place across the street Bailey’s chicken or something like that. I remember the place but never ate there.
I actually preferred Bailey's over Canes
This was when Canes only had one location.
I heard something along the lines of that while in college. It could have been him.
Posted on 7/13/25 at 11:18 pm to Saunson69
Very concerning that a company as big as Canes has 1 VP over Finance and IT.
Posted on 7/14/25 at 12:43 am to GoAwayImBaitn
quote:
All I know is that Cane's no longer selll chicken strips...they only sell chicken nuggets
They sell more and more. The smaller fingers and higher prices have not slowed down that juggernaut. Why not? People keeping paying more and more for less and less.
Posted on 7/14/25 at 7:42 am to Thecoz
Criag is doing fine and remains great friends with Todd. Todd is hard man to keep up with--he moves bigly and quickly. It's not for everyone.
Despite this, Todd seems to not burn any bridges and remains friends with almost all of his former associates.
Despite this, Todd seems to not burn any bridges and remains friends with almost all of his former associates.
Posted on 7/14/25 at 10:04 am to LSUSports247
quote:
I thought the other guy opened a chicken place across the street Bailey’s chicken or something like that.
No. Joey Milazo owned Bailey's. There were actually 2 Bailey's one in BR and one in Hattiesburg. In a weird coincidence, the Hattiesburg one closed, opened as something else, and then eventually ended up being a Cane's
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