Why In-N-Out is ‘still saying no’ to East Coast expansion
Don't expect to see an In-N-Out Burger on the East Coast anytime soon.
Lynsi Snyder, president and owner of In-N-Out, garnered national attention this week after announcing that she and her family would be relocating to Franklin, Tennessee, where the company is set to open an eastern office to support its growth.
Snyder said country music artist Kid Rock played a role in In-N-Out's expansion into the Southeast, adding he drew a new "map" of locations that included Tennessee as the burger empire's easternmost state.
"I guess I would say, a man plans his ways and God's got his steps. So, we had a plan and then he stuck that in there," Snyder told "Relatable" podcast host Allie Beth Stuckey in a recent interview
Despite the expansion in Tennessee, Snyder said she was not looking to move the burger chain farther east.
"Florida has begged us and we're still saying no," Snyder said. "The East Coast states, we're still saying no."
In-N-Out doesn't want to 'ever' compromise on quality, executive says
While expanding locations is important, Snyder suggest it's not her top priority.
"My No. 1 priority is really keeping the company the same company that my grandparents started," Snyder said. "I want the legacy to continue."
Snyder revealed the company will be able to serve ingredients to its Tennessee locations from its Texas warehouse.
"Texas can reach some other states," Snyder said, potentially hinting that the chain's facility there could supply ingredients to neighboring states.
According to KTLA, In-N-Out restaurants are generally located within 500 miles of its distribution centers.
As Snyder looks toward the future, she is trying to find a balance between giving In-N-Out employees on the management track the space to grow and thrive while also not opening a restaurant on "every corner."
Snyder agreed with Stuckey's assessment that In-N-Out's presence across the West gives the chain a sense of "novelty" that customers are attracted to.
"We don't want to be in every state. And we don't want to ever compromise our values and standards and the cornerstones that my grandparents laid down," Snyder said.