Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers has cultivated a cult-like following for its craveable chicken tenders. The fast-food chain, founded by Todd Graves in 1996, built its reputation on a simple yet addictive menu centered around never-frozen chicken fingers.
But where exactly does Raising Cane’s source its chicken from? And how does it maintain quality standards across hundreds of restaurants?
I dug into the details to uncover the origins of Cane’s acclaimed chicken fingers. Here’s a deep dive into their sourcing, suppliers, and supply chain management.
The Cornerstone: A Commitment to Fresh, Quality Chicken
Quality chicken is the cornerstone of Raising Cane’s. Unlike many competitors, Cane’s proudly serves fresh, never-frozen chicken fingers. This gives the tenders a crisp exterior while maintaining an irresistibly juicy and tender interior.
From the beginning, founder Todd Graves recognized the importance of sourcing high-quality chicken raised humanely without antibiotics or hormones. This unwavering commitment to freshness and simple, quality ingredients is a key factor in Raising Cane’s signature taste and texture.
Identifying Trusted Suppliers Across the U.S.
To maintain consistency across hundreds of locations Raising Cane’s sources its chicken from a network of carefully selected suppliers across the United States.
Potential vendors undergo a rigorous evaluation process focused on
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Animal welfare – Humane treatment regarding housing, feeding, and healthcare.
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Food safety – Stringent protocols and facility sanitation.
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Traceability – End-to-end tracking from farm to restaurant.
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Sustainability – Environmentally responsible farming practices.
By partnering with reputable vendors like OK Foods, Cane’s ensures the integrity of its supply chain from start to finish.
The Never-Frozen Promise
Freezing chicken would be an easy shortcut to prolong shelf life and reduce costs. But Todd Graves firmly rejected this notion from day one.
The commitment to never-frozen chicken requires close coordination between suppliers and restaurants. Chicken is delivered fresh to locations up to three times per week. Strict temperature controls prevent spoilage during transportation in Cane’s rapid distribution network.
This dedication results in a noticeable difference in texture and flavor that keeps fans coming back for more.
From Farm to Fingers: Understanding the Supply Chain
To deliver the freshest chicken possible, Raising Cane’s manages its supply chain from farm to restaurant.
The Role of Farms
The journey begins on U.S. farms adhering to Cane’s stringent welfare and sanitation standards. Chickens enjoy open housing that allows natural roaming and minimizes stress. Daily oversight from on-site veterinarians protects flock health.
Processing and Distribution
Once chickens reach maturity, they are humanely processed at facilities that meet the highest safety regulations. The fresh chicken is quickly moved into Cane’s fast-paced distribution network for rapid delivery to restaurants.
Quality Control in Restaurants
Chicken arrives fresh, not frozen, at locations up to three times weekly. Restaurant crews marinate and bread chicken daily following exact recipes and procedures that guarantee safety and consistency.
This start-to-finish oversight enables Raising Cane’s to serve exceptionally fresh chicken every time.
12 FAQs Answered About Cane’s Chicken Sourcing
Raising Cane’s dedication to quality chicken raises lots of questions for curious customers. Here are answers to 12 frequently asked questions about their sourcing practices.
FAQ 1: Are Cane’s chicken suppliers USDA certified?
Yes, Raising Cane’s requires its suppliers to be USDA certified, meeting strict standards for food safety and sanitation.
FAQ 2: Does Cane’s use antibiotics or hormones in chicken?
No. Raising Cane’s is committed to reducing antibiotic use and does not allow added hormones.
FAQ 3: Are the chickens raised in cages?
No. Cane’s chickens enjoy open housing that allows natural roaming behaviors.
FAQ 4: How does Cane’s ensure consistent quality?
Through supplier audits, safety protocols, crew training, and supply chain oversight from farm to restaurant.
FAQ 5: Where are the supplier farms located?
Cane’s sources from a network of trusted farms across the U.S. but keeps supplier names proprietary.
FAQ 6: What is in the proprietary marinade?
Cane’s marinade is a secret blend of spices crafted to complement the chicken’s flavor.
FAQ 7: Is Cane’s chicken halal certified?
No, Cane’s restaurants are not halal certified at this time.
FAQ 8: Is Cane’s committed to sustainability?
Yes. Cane’s encourages suppliers to adopt sustainable practices to reduce environmental impact.
FAQ 9: What happens if suppliers don’t meet standards?
Suppliers are immediately suspended or terminated if they fail to meet Raising Cane’s stringent standards.
FAQ 10: Are eggs for Cane’s sauces from cage-free hens?
Cane’s has not publicized its egg sourcing policies, but customers can inquire for more information.
FAQ 11: Where to learn more about Cane’s chicken sourcing?
Check RaisingCane’s.com or contact their customer service team with specific questions.
FAQ 12: Has Cane’s had chicken supply issues?
Proactive supply chain management enables Cane’s to avoid significant disruptions in fresh chicken supply and quality.
The Bottom Line: An Unwavering Commitment to Quality Chicken
By prioritizing freshness and partnering with reputable suppliers, Raising Cane’s has built its brand on exceptionally delicious chicken fingers. Their commitment to quality permeates every stage of the supply chain, from family farms to restaurant fryers. This transparency and oversight allows Cane’s to deliver on its promise of never-frozen chicken raised with care.
So next time you savor a perfect chicken tender, you can feel confident in its origins. From farm to fingers, Raising Cane’s does right by its chicken.
OK Foods Receives 2015 Quality Supplier of the Year from Raising Cane’s
FORT SMITH, Ark. (June 5, 2015) – This week at the 1st Annual Cane’s Partnership Summit, Raising Cane’s honored OK Foods with the 2015 Quality Supplier of the Year Award. Trent Goins, CEO; Randy Meyers, senior vice president of sales; and Shane Calhoun, vice president of quality assurance, accepted the award on behalf of OK Foods.
“It is truly an honor for OK Foods to receive this award, but more importantly this shows the dedication and teamwork of our employees,” said Goins.
For more than 70 years, OK Foods has built its business on a practical philosophy: keeping it simple. As a vertically integrated chicken producer, OK Foods controls its processes from start to finish, including a closely supervised and supported network of family farms and more than 800,000 feet of modern processing facilities.
“Raising Cane’s continues to grow at a rapid rate due to its excellent food quality and its unique focus on customer satisfaction,” said Goins. “OK Foods is proud to supply its high-quality poultry products to Raising Cane’s and looks forward to continuing its relationship with Raising Cane’s as they expand across the U.S.”
About Raising Cane’s®:
Founded by Todd Graves in 1996 in Baton Rouge, La., RAISING CANE’S CHICKEN FINGERS has more than 210 restaurants in 18 states with multiple new restaurants under construction. The company has ONE LOVE®—quality chicken finger meals—and is continually recognized for its unique business model and customer satisfaction. Raising Cane’s vision is to have restaurants all over the world and be the brand for quality chicken finger meals, a great crew, cool culture and active community involvement. More information is available at raisingcanes.com Search for:
OK Foods follows NPIP standards to maintain a clean Avian Influenza status. All of our flocks are tested and declared negative for Avian Influenza before movement off the farm to the processing plants. We are quick to adapt to outbreak changes over time by carefully monitoring and modifying our level of bio-security to match the current state of the disease.