The Cheesecake Factory

The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated operates a portfolio of casual dining restaurants across the United States and Canada, anchored by its flagship The Cheesecake Factory brand alongside North Italia, Flower Child, and Fox Restaurant Concepts. As of April 2025, the company operates over 300 restaurants generating approximately $3.5 billion in annual revenue with a net income of roughly $150 million in fiscal year 2024.

The company's story begins in 1972 when Evelyn and Oscar Overton opened a small bakery operation in Los Angeles. Their son David Overton recognized an opportunity to showcase his mother's signature cheesecakes in a full-service restaurant setting, opening the first Cheesecake Factory in Beverly Hills in 1978. That single location grew into what is now a publicly traded company on NASDAQ under the ticker CAKE, with headquarters in Calabasas, California.

At its core, The Cheesecake Factory delivers an extensive menu featuring diverse cuisine options alongside its signature cheesecake offerings. The brand maintains over 30 cheesecake varieties available at any given time, with the Fresh Strawberry flavor holding its position as the most popular variety for over 45 years. The company's operating philosophy centers on guest satisfaction through high-quality food, excellent service, and memorable dining atmospheres. This approach has translated into measurable results, with the main Cheesecake Factory brand reporting $921 million in comparable sales in fiscal 2024, up from $877 million the previous year.

Expansion remains a core strategic priority. In fiscal year 2024, The Cheesecake Factory opened 15 new restaurants including 5 Cheesecake Factory locations, 7 North Italia restaurants, and 3 Flower Child restaurants. The company has announced plans to open up to 25 new locations in fiscal 2025, with growth focused on key markets in the United States and Canada alongside international market penetration. This multi-concept approach allows the company to diversify its market presence and appeal to different customer segments while leveraging operational expertise across formats.

Beyond restaurant operations, The Cheesecake Factory also operates bakeries that produce cheesecakes and baked products for restaurants, international licensees, third-party bakery customers, external foodservice operators, retailers, and distributors. David Overton, age 77, continues to serve as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, maintaining the family's leadership legacy established nearly five decades ago. The company's demonstrated ability to scale multiple dining concepts, maintain strong financial performance, and execute consistent expansion activity positions it as a significant multi-unit operator in the casual dining sector.