{{Short description|American fast food company founder}} {{Infobox person | name = Craig Culver | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1950|6|15}} | birth_place = Neenah, Wisconsin, U.S. | education = University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh | occupation = Co-founder and co-owner of Culver's | spouse = Katie Culver | children = 3 }}
'''Craig Culver''' (born June 15, 1950) is an American businessman who is the co-founder of the Culver's, a United States-based fast casual restaurant. He founded the first Culver's in 1984<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Story {{!}} History of Culver's Family & Restaurant |url=https://www.culvers.com/about-culvers/our-story |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=Culver's |language=en}}</ref> with his parents, George and Ruth, along with his former wife, Lea, in Sauk City, Wisconsin. The Culver's franchise has grown to over 26 states as of March 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Culver's Locations by State |url=https://www.culvers.com/stories/signature-stories/culvers-locations-by-state |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=Culver's |language=en}}</ref>
== Early life == Culver was born in Neenah, Wisconsin.<ref name=family>{{Cite web |date=2010-10-05 |title=Profile: Craig Culver |url=https://foodchannel.com/2010/craig-culver |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=Food Channel |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Craig C. Culver |url=https://www.nndb.com/people/671/000170161/ |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=www.nndb.com}}</ref> In 1961, his parents purchased an A&W fast-food restaurant in the middle of downtown Sauk City. After graduating from the Sauk Prairie High School, Craig decided to go to University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, graduating with a bachelor's degree in biology.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Craig Culver (2018) - Hall of Fame |url=https://wiacsports.com/hof.aspx?hof=69 |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=wiacsports.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=The Culver Story |url=https://cdn.culvers.com/media-documents/Culvers-MediaKit-culversstory.pdf }}</ref> In 1968, Craig's parents purchased the "Farm Kitchen" resort at Devil's Lake State Park. Over his college breaks and during the summer, Craig worked at his parents' resort. He met his wife, Lea, at this resort. They later married and have three daughters together.<ref name=family/>
== Entry into business == {{See also|Culver's}} As soon as Craig Culver graduated from college in 1973, he became a manager at a McDonald's fast-food restaurant.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=BizTimes |date=2024-12-09 |title=Craig Culver – Wisconsin 275 Most Influential Business Leaders |url=https://biztimes.com/craig-culver-wisconsin275/ |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=BizTimes - Milwaukee Business News |language=en-US}}</ref> A few years later, Culver and his parents purchased the same A&W fast-food restaurant that they had owned over 20 years ago. The family renovated the restaurant, painting the walls white and the roof blue, in order to create a distinguished look, different from other fast food restaurants.
The first restaurant was not an immediate success.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allemand |first=Alyssa |title=What's the scoop on the origin of the Culver's franchise? |url=https://www.wisfarmer.com/story/news/2021/12/13/whats-scoop-origin-culvers-franchise/6469641001/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=Wisconsin State Farmer |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Culver's founder inspires young Lakeland entrepreneurs |url=https://lakeland.edu/post/culvers-founder-inspires-young-lakeland-entrepreneurs-2023-04-12 |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=Lakeland University |language=en}}</ref> Culver has an anti-automatized sentiment in his stores, with the idea that personal touch sets Culver's apart from other competitors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yahr |first=Natalie |date=2024-10-04 |title=Culver's co-founder opposes trading workers for screens — for now |url=https://captimes.com/news/business/culver-s-co-founder-opposes-trading-workers-for-screens-for-now/article_583db762-81c9-11ef-a844-8395a3710e83.html |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=The Cap Times |language=en}}</ref> The staple item is a butter burger, which is inspired by other burgers in Wisconsin topped with butter. The company has not changed its technique to make its butter burgers, which involves buttering the top bun.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Culver's Franchise Cost and Requirements for 2025 |url=https://www.ifpg.org/top-franchises/culvers |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=www.ifpg.org |language=en}}</ref> Culver has grown the company from a single store to over $8 billion dollars in revenue.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aug. 06 |first=Jonathan Maze |title=Culver's hits the big time |url=https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/emerging-brands/culvers-hits-big-time |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=Restaurant Business |language=en}}</ref>
== Later life == Craig retired as CEO of the franchise in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Craig Culver to retire as CEO of restaurant chain |url=https://archive.jsonline.com/business/curt-culver-to-retire-as-ceoof-restaurant-chain-b99442425z1-291396971.html |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=www.jsonline.com |language=en}}</ref> His successor was announced to be Phil Keiser.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-02-11 |title=Stepping down: Craig Culver to retire as CEO of the Culver's restaurant chain |url=https://www.fox6now.com/news/stepping-down-craig-culver-to-retire-as-ceo-of-the-culvers-restaurant-chain |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=FOX 6 Now Milwaukee |language=en-US}}</ref> Culver's successor's promotion took place on June 15, 2015, on Culver's 65th birthday.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-02-10 |title=Craig Culver to retire from restaurant chain, Keiser named new CEO |url=https://www.gmtoday.com/business/craig-culver-to-retire-from-restaurant-chain-keiser-named-new-ceo/article_90ea9b66-dc05-58c9-85de-fc8f0ebb8e47.html |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=Greater Milwaukee Today |language=en}}</ref> Culver is still the board chairman at the corporate level, and is still the face of the brand.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hetke |first=Sarah |date=2019-12-09 |title=Craig Culver Receives 'Distinguished Service to Wisconsin Agriculture' Award |url=https://wfbf.com/farm-bureau-news/craig-culver-receives-distinguished-service-to-wisconsin-agriculture-award/ |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation |language=en-US}}</ref> He continues to speak at schools and universities, in which he describes his business journey.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Graves |first=Heather |date=2023-05-17 |title=Craig Culver shares his business know-how with next generation |url=https://thebusinessnews.com/northeast/craig-culver-shares-his-business-know-how-with-next-generation/ |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=The Business News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Staff Writer |title=Culver's co-founder speaks at ISU about entrepreneurship |url=https://www.amestrib.com/story/news/local/2016/04/11/culver-s-co-founder-speaks/27308506007/ |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=The Ames Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Personal life == Culver has donated over $24,000 to several political campaigns and organizations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Donor Lookup |url=https://www.opensecrets.org/donor-lookup/results?name=Craig+Culver&order=asc&sort=N |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=OpenSecrets |language=en}}</ref> Some notable contributions include: a $500 donation to Former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R), a $250 donation to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D), a $1,000 donation to 2024 US Senate candidate for Wisconsin Eric Hovde (R), a $1,000 donation to Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson (R), a $2,500 donation to Former Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle (D), and two $500 donations (one in 1997, one in 1998) to Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson (R).
Culver imposed requirements on franchise owners in order to benefit the community. Owner-operators are required to work in the restaurant, and are also required to give money back to the community. The Culver's corporation founded the "Thank You Farmers Project", which benefits family farms.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Franchise Disclosure Document |url=https://www.restfinance.com/app/pdf/fdd/Culvers-2023.pdf |access-date=6 March 2025}}</ref>
== References == <references />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Culver, Craig}} Category:Fast-food chain founders Category:1950 births Category:Businesspeople from Wisconsin Category:People from Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin Category:Living people