# Craig Culver > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Craig_Culver > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Craig_Culver.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Culver > Source revision: 1355977936 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{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](/source/Neenah%2C_Wisconsin), U.S. | education = [University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh](/source/University_of_Wisconsin%E2%80%93Oshkosh) | occupation = Co-founder and co-owner of [Culver's](/source/Culver's) | spouse = Katie Culver | children = 3 }} '''Craig Culver''' (born June 15, 1950) is an American [businessman](/source/businessman) who is the co-founder of the [Culver's](/source/Culver's), a [United States](/source/United_States)-based [fast casual restaurant](/source/fast_casual_restaurant). He founded the first Culver's in 1984{{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}} with his parents, George and Ruth, along with his former wife, Lea, in [Sauk City, Wisconsin](/source/Sauk_City%2C_Wisconsin). The Culver's franchise has grown to over 26 states as of March 2025.{{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}} == Early life == Culver was born in [Neenah, Wisconsin](/source/Neenah%2C_Wisconsin).{{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}}{{Cite web |title=Craig C. Culver |url=https://www.nndb.com/people/671/000170161/ |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=www.nndb.com}} In 1961, his parents purchased an [A&W](/source/A%26W_Restaurants) fast-food restaurant in the middle of downtown Sauk City. After graduating from the [Sauk Prairie High School](/source/Sauk_Prairie_High_School), Craig decided to go to [University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh](/source/University_of_Wisconsin%E2%80%93Oshkosh), graduating with a bachelor's degree in [biology](/source/biology).{{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}}{{Cite web |date= |title=The Culver Story |url=https://cdn.culvers.com/media-documents/Culvers-MediaKit-culversstory.pdf }} In 1968, Craig's parents purchased the "Farm Kitchen" resort at [Devil's Lake State Park](/source/Devil's_Lake_State_Park_(Wisconsin)). 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. == 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](/source/McDonald's) fast-food restaurant.{{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}} 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.{{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}}{{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}} Culver has an anti-automatized sentiment in his stores, with the idea that personal touch sets Culver's apart from other competitors.{{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}} The staple item is a [butter burger](/source/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.{{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}} Culver has grown the company from a single store to over $8 billion dollars in revenue.{{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}} == Later life == Craig retired as CEO of the franchise in 2015.{{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}} His successor was announced to be [Phil Keiser](/source/Phil_Keiser).{{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}} Culver's successor's promotion took place on June 15, 2015, on Culver's 65th birthday.{{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}} Culver is still the board chairman at the corporate level, and is still the face of the brand.{{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}} He continues to speak at schools and universities, in which he describes his business journey.{{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}}{{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}} == Personal life == Culver has donated over $24,000 to several political campaigns and organizations.{{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}} Some notable contributions include: a $500 donation to Former Wisconsin Governor [Scott Walker](/source/Scott_Walker_(politician)) (R), a $250 donation to Michigan Governor [Gretchen Whitmer](/source/Gretchen_Whitmer) (D), a $1,000 donation to 2024 US Senate candidate for Wisconsin [Eric Hovde](/source/Eric_Hovde) (R), a $1,000 donation to Wisconsin Senator [Ron Johnson](/source/Ron_Johnson) (R), a $2,500 donation to Former Wisconsin Governor [Jim Doyle](/source/Jim_Doyle) (D), and two $500 donations (one in 1997, one in 1998) to Former Wisconsin Governor [Tommy Thompson](/source/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](/source/Thank_You_Farmers_Project)", which benefits [family farm](/source/family_farm)s.{{Cite web |title=Franchise Disclosure Document |url=https://www.restfinance.com/app/pdf/fdd/Culvers-2023.pdf |access-date=6 March 2025}} == 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 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Craig Culver](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Culver) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Culver?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.