Executive Spotlight: Craig Culver, Co-Founder & Chairman of Culver's (2027)
Craig Culver is the co-founder and board chairman of Culver's, the Wisconsin-born ButterBurger and frozen custard chain. The first Culver's opened in Sauk City, Wisconsin, on July 18, 1984, and Culver Franchising System, LLC was established in 1987 to grow it through franchising. He retired as CEO in 2015 and has stayed on as chairman since. Culver's reports about 1,000 restaurants in 26 states, and Franchise Times put 2024 system sales at $3.68 billion.
This page covers public professional information only, drawn from Culver's own materials and published coverage.
Current role and company
Culver's materials list Craig Culver as co-founder, and a 2025 conference speaker biography and a November 2025 Franchise Times profile describe him as chairman of the board. Culver Franchising System, LLC is based in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin. Julie Fussner, announced as CEO on April 28, 2025, is the company's fifth CEO and its first woman in the role.
- CompanyCulver Franchising System, LLC (Culver's), Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin.
- TitleCo-Founder and Chairman of the board.
- Served as CEOUntil 2015, when Phil Keiser succeeded him.
- First restaurantJuly 18, 1984, Sauk City, Wisconsin.
Career path
- Early restaurant work. Culver's press kit says he earned a biology degree at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, worked at McDonald's, tried running his own restaurant, and then went back to helping run restaurants owned by his parents.
- Opening the first Culver's. In 1984 the Culver family bought the Sauk City property and opened Culver's Frozen Custard and ButterBurger on July 18, 1984, with Craig running the restaurant, according to the company.
- Franchising. Culver Franchising System was established in 1987, and the first successful franchised restaurant opened in Baraboo, Wisconsin, in December 1990, per Culver's press kit and fact sheet.
- Chief executive until 2015. Franchising.com reported in February 2015 that president and COO Phil Keiser would become CEO on June 15, 2015, with Craig Culver staying on as board chairman.
- Chairman and public face. A 2025 conference biography says he remains board chairman and is still the face of the brand.
What he is known for
- Co-founding Culver's. Culver's says the company was co-founded by Craig and Lea Culver and Craig's parents, George and Ruth Culver.
- The ButterBurger. The company calls the ButterBurger, served on a lightly buttered, toasted bun, the family specialty that started it all. Its press kit quotes him saying fresh beef is essential because frozen beef loses moisture, and with it flavor.
- A franchise model built on owner-operators. Culver's said in April 2025 that it had over 670 owner-operators. In a 2025 Franchise Times profile he said he wants the company to grow the right way rather than chase a store count.
- Industry recognition. The University of Wisconsin-Madison's College of Agricultural and Life Sciences reported that he was inducted into the Wisconsin Meat Industry Hall of Fame in 2019.
Leadership style and philosophy
In the Franchise Times profile from November 2025, he said: "I have a fear of failing," and, on growth, "I'm not here to see how fast we can get to 2,000 or 3,000." He added that he wants to "do it the right way and continue to grow the right way."
In Culver's June 2024 anniversary release he credited the team: "Our people are the reason we've grown this much and why we'll continue to grow." His 2025 conference biography says he describes Culver's as a "people place."
Key numbers
Figures about the company, not about Craig Culver personally, with the period shown.
- Restaurants and statesNearly 1,000 in 26 states, per Culver's June 2024 release; Franchise Times reported the 1,046th opening in November 2025.
- 2024 system sales$3.68 billion, up 12.1% from 2023, per Franchise Times.
- Average unit volumeAbout $4.2 million, per Franchise Times, November 2025.
- Team membersAbout 45,000 and over 670 owner-operators, per Culver's April 2025 release.
- 2015 snapshot535 restaurants and system sales above $1 billion, per Franchising.com, February 2015.
What to watch next
Worth tracking: how CEO Julie Fussner and the leadership team keep opening restaurants while holding to the measured growth pace he described, and how the minority investment Roark Capital made in 2017 shapes the chain.
Questions people ask
Who is Craig Culver?
He is the co-founder and board chairman of Culver's, the restaurant chain known for ButterBurgers and Fresh Frozen Custard.
Is Craig Culver still the CEO of Culver's?
No. He retired as CEO in 2015, when Phil Keiser took over, and remains chairman. Julie Fussner was named CEO on April 28, 2025.
When and where did the first Culver's open?
On July 18, 1984, in Sauk City, Wisconsin, according to Culver's press kit.
When did Culver's start franchising?
Culver Franchising System was established in 1987, and the first successful franchised restaurant opened in Baraboo, Wisconsin, in December 1990.
How big is Culver's?
Culver's reported nearly 1,000 restaurants in 26 states in June 2024, and Franchise Times put 2024 system sales at $3.68 billion.
Who runs Culver's now?
Julie Fussner is CEO, and Craig Culver is chairman. Brad O'Bryan is listed as CFO on the company's fact sheet.
Sources
- Culver's: Culver's announces new CEO (April 28, 2025) · Fussner appointment, past CEOs, owner-operator and team-member counts
- Culver's: 40 years of delicious release (June 24, 2024) · Restaurant count, states, his quote
- Culver's: Complete press kit · Founding history, early career, 1990 first franchise, ButterBurger quote
- Culver's: Fact sheet · Co-founders, 1987 franchising company, current leadership list
- Franchise Times: Craig Culver has a fear of failing (Nov 2025) · Chairman role, quotes, 2024 sales, unit volume, Roark stake
- Franchising.com: Craig Culver names Phil Keiser new CEO (Feb 2015) · 2015 CEO succession, 2015 restaurant count and sales
- Restaurant Finance & Development Conference: Craig Culver speaker profile · Co-Founder & Chairman title, bio, headshot
- UW-Madison CALS: Wisconsin Meat Industry Hall of Fame · 2019 Hall of Fame induction, chairman of the board
Facts were read from the linked pages on November 1, 2026, partly through a fetch tool that returns summaries, so confirm details on the original pages. The hero photo comes from Craig Culver's speaker profile at the Restaurant Finance & Development Conference; its original copyright holder is not stated there. This page covers public professional information only.
Top photo: Restaurant Finance & Development Conference speaker profile (restfinance.com)