The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated (NASDAQ: CAKE) has once again earned national recognition for its commitment to employees, communities, and the environment. PEOPLE magazine and Great Place to Work® announced that The Cheesecake Factory® has been ranked among the 2025 PEOPLE Companies That Care®, securing the No. 46 spot on the prestigious list. This marks the fifth year in a row that the company has been honored, underscoring its long-standing focus on fostering a strong workplace culture and giving back to the communities it serves.
The PEOPLE Companies That Care® list is determined largely by confidential employee surveys that evaluate organizational culture, employee trust, and the company’s contributions to society. To be recognized, companies must meet strict benchmarks that measure not only how they treat their employees, but also the scale and authenticity of their impact on local communities and the planet.
A Legacy of Culture and Care
“For more than forty-five years we have strived to create a very special company culture of doing the right thing and giving back to the communities we serve, and this award is such a wonderful acknowledgment of what we continue to work to create,” said David Overton, Founder, Chairman and CEO of The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated.
Founded in 1978, The Cheesecake Factory has grown from a single restaurant in Beverly Hills to a household name with more than 320 locations worldwide. While the brand is best known for its extensive menu and iconic desserts, its leadership emphasizes that the company’s culture of care and community engagement has been central to its growth and success. Overton noted that being named to the PEOPLE list for five consecutive years is a testament to the dedication of the company’s 47,500 staff members who embody these values daily.
Signature Programs Making a Difference
One of the company’s hallmark initiatives is its Nourish Program, designed to redirect excess food from restaurants to local nonprofits. In 2024 alone, the program donated more than 820,000 pounds of food to over 600 nonprofit partners across the United States. These donations not only provided vital meals for families and individuals in need, but also contributed to environmental sustainability by reducing food waste and limiting greenhouse gas emissions.
Another cornerstone of The Cheesecake Factory’s community engagement is its ongoing partnership with Feeding America®, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization. Since 2008, the company has raised more than $6.8 million through the sale of specially designated cheesecakes, with proceeds going directly to Feeding America’s nationwide network of food banks and meal programs. This support has helped provide millions of meals to food-insecure individuals across the country.
In addition, the Give Back Program, operated through The Cheesecake Factory Oscar and Evelyn Overton Charitable Foundation, empowers employees to make a direct difference. Through this initiative, staff members are encouraged to volunteer their time and talents to fundraising and community service projects that align with their personal passions. Each year, team members collectively contribute thousands of volunteer hours, benefiting hundreds of charities and nonprofits nationwide.
Recognition Beyond PEOPLE
The Cheesecake Factory’s consistent recognition is not limited to PEOPLE’s Companies That Care list. In 2025, the company was also named to the Fortune “100 Best Companies to Work For®” list for the twelfth consecutive year. This dual recognition places The Cheesecake Factory among an elite group of companies that have successfully maintained employee trust and satisfaction over a sustained period.
Great Place to Work®, which compiles both the PEOPLE and Fortune lists, evaluates workplace culture based on surveys that gauge employee experiences of respect, fairness, credibility, pride, and camaraderie. The Cheesecake Factory’s continued presence on these rankings demonstrates its ability to sustain employee engagement across an organization of tens of thousands, even in the highly competitive restaurant and hospitality sector.
A Broader Impact on the Industry
The recognition of The Cheesecake Factory highlights a growing trend within the restaurant industry: the increasing importance of social responsibility and employee well-being in defining long-term business success. In an industry often challenged by high turnover rates and labor shortages, The Cheesecake Factory’s ability to maintain employee loyalty and satisfaction serves as a model for peers.
By coupling a strong employee culture with community engagement programs, the company has demonstrated that doing good can align with strong business performance. In fact, industry analysts often cite The Cheesecake Factory as an example of how socially conscious practices can strengthen brand reputation and customer loyalty while also delivering tangible benefits to local communities.
