Todd Graves, the head honcho of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, and now the wealthiest guy in Louisiana (thanks to a cool $3.1 billion to his name, making headlines in November 2023), is shaking things up on the rich list and in the fast-food world. He’s not just sitting pretty among the globe’s top 500 loaded folks; he’s also steering his chicken empire into the fast lane with a hefty national ad blitz featuring NASCAR’s up-and-comer, Toni Breidinger. This big move, rolling out across all of Cane’s joints through April, is one of the splashiest shout-outs.
With over 750 spots to grab a bite, both in the States and around the world, Raising Cane’s is more than just a chicken spot; it’s a billion-dollar behemoth, raking in $3.3 billion in sales and $647 million in pure profit last fiscal year, Bloomberg spills. And let’s not skip over how this place has caught the eye of the Gen Z crowd. Last year, Piper Sandler’s stats threw Cane’s into the spotlight as the fifth fave food stop for the teen scene.
Toni Breidinger will be spotlighted on billboards and digital ads
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After teaming up with Toni Breidinger for some ARCA Menards Series action last year, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers is cranking up the heat. They’re not just sticking to the small stuff; they’re going big, putting their support behind Breidinger in national races, too. Thanks to her knack for tearing up the track and killing it on social media with a cool 2 million followers, this partnership is hitting the jackpot for both sides. Breidinger’s name is getting bigger by the day, and Cane’s is riding that wave all the way to the bank.
And even though she’s not a regular face in the NASCAR big leagues yet, her star power’s through the roof. She’s blending racing with modeling and Instagram fame, making waves in a sport that’s been a boys’ club for way too long.
Now, Raising Cane is going all in. They’re putting Breidinger’s face everywhere – on billboards, across their stores, and even on their menus, not to mention a ton of online ads. This kind of spotlight is usually reserved for the heavy hitters of racing, making it a big deal that they’re rolling out the red carpet for someone who’s carving out her path in the lower tiers. It’s a bold move that screams they believe she’s the next big thing.
.@RaisingCanes' new in-store/billboard marketing campaign around @ToniBreidinger will be at all of its locations in the U.S. through April, in one of the larger activations around a NASCAR driver in years.
🔲 It has more than 750 stores U.S. + globally. https://t.co/69kDYE68M9
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) February 21, 2024
It’s not just Cane’s getting in on the NASCAR action; McDonald’s and Wendy’s are circling the track too. And with places like Chili’s and Golden Corral making some noise at Daytona, the fast-food world is getting revved up about racing. But as Sports Business Journal’s Roman puts it, Todd Graves and his crew are playing a whole different game, especially when it comes to appealing to the Gen Z crowd and boosting female athletes.
Raising Cane’s is all about lifting women in sports, and pushing for a level playing field. And Toni? Seeing her face on those billboards probably feels like she’s already won the race.
Thankful Venturini Motorsports driver reacts to the Raising Cane’s billboards
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Toni Breidinger was over the moon when she spotted those billboards featuring her. She hit up X to share her excitement, giving a big shout out to the folks at Raising Cane’s. “Very grateful to partner with a brand who supports and uplifts women. thank you @raisingcanes @ToddGraves for believing in not only me but female athletes. proud to represent Canes♥️ stop by your local Raising Cane’s to cop a box combo and send me a photo of it!”
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Meanwhile, Megan Sprague, the mastermind behind Cane’s PR, dropped a line saying, “We love Toni’s story and what she stands for, and she has a real passion for the brand, which made the partnership a no-brainer.”
very grateful to partner with a brand who supports and uplifts women. thank you @raisingcanes @ToddGraves for believing in not only me but female athletes. proud to represent Canes♥️ stop by your local Raising Cane’s to cop a box combo and send me a photo of it! pic.twitter.com/OiX4JgVzTd
— Toni Breidinger (@ToniBreidinger) February 20, 2024
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So, what’s the secret sauce behind Toni getting the limelight and not others? Well, it boils down to her killer social media game. Like Hailie Deegan, another powerhouse on the NASCAR scene, points out, it’s not just about who’s got the fastest car anymore. Brands are lining up for a slice of their social media action. Deegan, who’s a big deal on Instagram and the queen of TikTok in NASCAR, knows firsthand that brands are itching to tap into their online following more than anything else.