The Cheesecake Factory

What The Cheesecake Factory does

The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated (NASDAQ: CAKE) operates a full-service upscale casual dining restaurant chain headquartered in Calabasas Hills, California. Founded in 1978 by David Overton to showcase his mother Evelyn's cheesecake recipes, the company now operates more than 370 company-owned restaurants across the United States and Canada under multiple brands including The Cheesecake Factory, North Italia, Flower Child, The Henry, and Grand Lux Cafe. The chain is differentiated operationally by its from-scratch cooking model in which more than 250 menu items are prepared daily at each location, supported by two dedicated bakery production facilities in Calabasas Hills and Rocky Mount that produce its 30-plus cheesecake varieties.

The company's revenue model is anchored in dine-in and takeout sales from company-operated restaurants, supplemented by an exclusive delivery partnership with DoorDash (which accounts for approximately 22% of total sales), retail products sold through a partnership with Bimbo Bakehouse at Kroger and other grocers, gift cards sold across physical and digital channels, and international royalty income from licensing agreements covering the Middle East, Latin America, Asia, and most recently India. Customer engagement is driven by the Cheesecake Rewards loyalty program (offering a complimentary birthday slice, reservation access for parties up to six, and linked DoorDash discounts), a newly launched mobile app enabling reservations and online ordering, and digital marketing campaigns. The company's geographic footprint extends to 16 countries, though the vast majority of revenue is U.S.-domestic, with international growth pursued through capital-light licensing arrangements rather than corporate-owned units.

The business is led by founder-Chairman and CEO David Overton, who retains an indirect equity stake valued north of $200 million, supported by President David Gordon, CFO Matthew Clark, and an experienced operating team. Capital structure is conservative for a mature public restaurant operator, with $354 million of record adjusted EBITDA in fiscal 2025, $301 million of operating cash flow, and a $400 million revolving credit facility executed in March 2026 alongside a $500 million convertible notes offering priced in February 2025. The company has returned meaningful capital to shareholders through dividends (raised to $0.30 quarterly from $0.27) and stock repurchases ($206+ million returned in 2025), while continuing to invest in unit growth across its core and acquired concepts.

Name

The Cheesecake Factory

Legal name

The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated

Website

https://thecheesecakefactory.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

The Cheesecake Factory operates 370+ company-owned upscale-casual restaurants across the U.S. and Canada under multiple brands, serving consumers with 250+ made-from-scratch menu items and signature cheesecakes, supplemented by DoorDash delivery and international licensing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Casual Dining Restaurants

NAICS

Frozen Cakes, Pies, and Other Pastries Manufacturing (311813), Retail Bakeries (311811), Bread and Bakery Product Manufacturing (31181)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Bakery Products (2050)

akta.pro primary industry

Cake Shops & Custom Celebration Cakes (THAFAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dessert & Bakery Catering (Cakes, Pastries, Candy) (HSACAGAI), Dessert Cafes (Coffee + Desserts) (THAFADAH), Pastry, Cakes & Desserts Wholesale (AFAIAFAB)

Keywords

• Casual dining restaurants
• Full-service dining
• Signature cheesecakes
• Restaurant loyalty program
• Food delivery services

Headquarters

HQ city

Calabasas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Restaurant Dining and Takeout Sales: The primary revenue stream comes from company-owned restaurant sales across The Cheesecake Factory, North Italia, Flower Child, and other brands. This includes dine-in service, takeout orders placed directly through the app or website, and catering orders.
2. Delivery Services: DoorDash serves as the exclusive delivery partner, representing approximately 22% of total sales. Orders placed through DoorDash are fulfilled by the restaurant chain.
3. Retail Products: The company sells cheesecake and bakery products through retail channels including Kroger stores (partnership with Bimbo Bakehouse), and The Cheesecake Factory At Home products sold at major retailers.
4. International Licensing: The company licenses its brand to experienced operators for international expansion. Currently has three licensing agreements for Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. Opened first India bakery in Bengaluru with plans for 55 stores.
5. Gift Cards: Physical and digital gift cards sold online, in restaurants, and through retail/grocery stores. Bulk purchases available for businesses and charities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Cheesecake Factory operates a full-service casual dining restaurant chain with approximately 370 company-owned locations in the U.S. and Canada, preparing more than 250 menu items from scratch daily across cuisines including American, Italian, Asian, and Mexican. The company sells signature cheesecakes (30+ flavors), gift cards, retail bakery products, and runs the free Cheesecake Rewards loyalty program plus an exclusive DoorDash delivery partnership. It also owns North Italia, Flower Child, Grand Lux Cafe, The Henry, and other Fox Restaurant Concepts brands, and licenses its brand internationally.

Product overview

The Cheesecake Factory operates as a full-service casual dining restaurant chain with over 370 locations in the United States and Canada, offering freshly prepared dishes from scratch across more than 250 menu items. The company's product portfolio centers on its namesake restaurant concept supplemented by the Cheesecake Rewards loyalty program (offering free birthday slices, reservations access, and personalized surprises), a mobile app enabling ordering and reservations, gift card products, and its signature cheesecakes (30+ varieties including seasonal flavors). The menu includes diverse cuisines from pasta and steaks to Asian bowls and Mexican dishes, with supporting sub-brands like SkinnyLicious for lighter options and nearly 70 vegetarian selections. The company also offers at-home recipes inspired by restaurant dishes and maintains a DoorDash delivery partnership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• North Italia: Italian cuisine restaurant chain featuring handmade pastas and Neapolitan-style pizzas, acquired in 2019 along with Fox Restaurant Concepts.
• Flower Child
• Grand Lux Cafe
• The Henry
• Fox Restaurant Concepts
• The Cheesecake Factory At Home
• Cheesecake Rewards

Products and services

• The Cheesecake Factory Restaurant Full-service casual dining restaurant chain offering freshly prepared dishes from scratch daily, featuring over 250 menu items including pasta, steaks, seafood, and signature cheesecakes. Available for dine-in, pickup, and delivery across approximately 370 U.S. and Canada locations.
• North Italia Italian cuisine restaurant chain featuring handmade pastas and Neapolitan-style pizzas, wholly owned under the company's portfolio.
• Flower Child Health-conscious fast-casual dining concept offering grain bowls, salads, and healthy options, wholly owned under the company's portfolio.
• Grand Lux Cafe Upscale casual dining restaurant concept offering an extensive menu in a higher-end setting.
• The Henry Full-service restaurant concept under Fox Restaurant Concepts serving American cuisine.
• Cheesecake Rewards Free loyalty program providing members access to restaurant reservations, a complimentary birthday slice of cheesecake with any purchase, personalized surprises throughout the year, and exclusive DoorDash offers.
• The Cheesecake Factory Mobile App Mobile application enabling reservations, online ordering, order history, favorites, rewards tracking, and push notifications for Cheesecake Rewards members. Available on iOS and Android.
• Gift Cards Physical and digital gift cards available for purchase online, in restaurants, and at retail locations. Includes bulk corporate gift card ordering with $500 minimum purchase.
• The Cheesecake Factory At Home Retail baked goods product line featuring cheesecakes and bakery items sold at grocery and retail stores including Kroger, in collaboration with Bimbo Bakehouse.

Quantifiable outcome

• Q1 fiscal 2026 comparable restaurant sales up 1.6% year-over-year, outperforming broader casual dining industry
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Feeding AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2026Longstanding partnership with Feeding America, the largest hunger-relief organization in the U.S. Since 2008, The Cheesecake Factory has donated more than $7 million through featured cheesecake sales. Currently donating 25 cents to Feeding America for every slice of the new Brownie Crunch Choc-a-Lot Cheesecake sold through July 29, 2027. The company also supports through its Nourish Program donating excess food and has donated over 1 million pounds of food to local Feeding America food banks.
• CBL PropertiesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 4 June 2026CBL Properties announced The Cheesecake Factory as a new tenant at West County Center in St. Louis, Missouri, opening in the mall's Restaurant Village fall 2026. The mall operates at 98% occupancy with 7.1 million annual visitors.
• DoorDashcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 April 2026Exclusive delivery partnership where DoorDash handles all delivery orders from The Cheesecake Factory restaurants. Off-premise sales through DoorDash represent approximately 22% of total company sales. Rewards members can link accounts for exclusive offers including 20% off up to $10 through June 30, 2026.
• India Local PartnercoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 24 February 2026Partnership for bakery expansion in India with the first bakery opening in Bengaluru in February 2026. Plans target 55 stores across India and revenue of ₹250 crore. This represents the company's debut in the Indian market.
• Bimbo BakehouseminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 November 2025Partnership with Bimbo Bakehouse (division of Bimbo Bakeries USA) to launch retail baked food products including slider buns and bakery buns at Kroger stores across the United States starting November 2025.
• Middle East LicenseecoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensing agreement providing for development of The Cheesecake Factory restaurants in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon with opportunity to expand to other markets in the Middle East and North Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, Russia and Turkey. Restaurants open in UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain.
• Latin America LicenseecoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensing agreement for development of The Cheesecake Factory restaurants throughout Mexico with potential to expand to Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. First location opened in Guadalajara in 2014.
• Asia LicenseecoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensing agreement for development of The Cheesecake Factory restaurants in Chinese Mainland, Taiwan, and Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau, with opportunity to expand to Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. First Asia location opened in Shanghai Disneytown in 2016.
• Licensing Expo PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe company participates in licensing industry events and partnerships. David Lee of MARS Snacking, Richard Cox of Pacsun, and Allison Ames of CAA Brand Management were featured panelists discussing food-as-identity branding at Licensing Expo 2026, with The Cheesecake Factory referenced as a case study in brand extension success.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Darden Restaurants: Darden is the most direct U.S. multi-brand casual dining operator, owning Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar's, Yard House, and The Capital Grille. Comparable to The Cheesecake Factory as a publicly traded full-service restaurant portfolio company with a sub-brand acquisition strategy and ~370+ unit core footprint.
• Texas Roadhouse: Texas Roadhouse is a publicly traded full-service casual dining chain known for made-from-scratch operations and consistently strong AUVs. Directly comparable to The Cheesecake Factory on casual dining positioning, scratch-prepared menu, and large-unit restaurant operations.
• Brinker International: Brinker owns Chili's Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy, operating as a multi-concept casual dining company. Closely comparable to The Cheesecake Factory's portfolio of full-service brands serving broad demographic occasions.
• Bloomin' Brands: Bloomin' Brands operates Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, and Fleming's Prime Steakhouse. Comparable multi-brand casual dining operator focused on broad U.S. footprint and full-service experiences.
• Cracker Barrel Old Country Store: Cracker Barrel is a publicly traded casual dining chain with a distinct menu positioning and gift/food retail component. Comparable to The Cheesecake Factory on full-service casual dining, gift card demand, and off-premise retail extension.
• Dine Brands Global: Dine Brands franchises Applebee's and IHOP, both of which overlap with The Cheesecake Factory's casual dining occasion. Comparable on full-service scale, broad demographic appeal, and franchised/licensed growth model.
• BJ's Restaurants: BJ's Restaurants operates a casual dining chain known for an extensive, diverse menu and deep-dish pizza signature items. Directly comparable to The Cheesecake Factory on menu breadth strategy, signature item differentiation, and full-service casual positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Inspire Brands: Inspire Brands is a Roark Capital-controlled multi-brand restaurant platform owning Arby's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sonic, Dunkin', Jimmy John's, and Baskin-Robbins. Comparable as a broad restaurant portfolio operator and Roark Capital ecosystem peer, though more QSR/fast-casual oriented.
• Yum! Brands: Yum! Brands franchises KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and Habit Burger, operating thousands of units globally. Relevant as a broad incumbent franchise platform and international licensing operator, although more QSR than casual dining.
• Restaurant Brands International: RBI franchises Burger King, Tim Hortons, Popeyes, and Firehouse Subs. Relevant as a broad multinational multi-brand restaurant incumbent; useful as a structural comp on international licensing model rather than core casual dining.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cheesecake
• Facebookfacebook.com/thecheesecakefactory
• Instagraminstagram.com/cheesecakefactory
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-cheesecake-factory

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Cheesecake Factory