IN-N-OUT BURGER

'In-N-Out Burger' is a privately owned and operated fast food restaurant chain in the Western United States. Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Irvine, California, In-N-Out Burger has since expanded to Arizona and Nevada, and has announced plans to build in southern Utah. The Secret Behind A Burger Cult
The restaurant chain has developed a loyal customer base^[2][3][4] by maintaining a simple menu of high-quality hamburgers and french fries made to order with fresh ingredients. It is one of the few fast-food chains in the United States to pay its employees significantly more than federal and state mandated minimum wages.^[5]

Contents

History

Turbulence in 2006

Menu items

Store Operations

Corporate culture

Advertising

Popularity

In-N-Out in popular culture

Bible references

References

Further reading

External links

History

In-N-Out's first location was opened on October 22, 1948 by Harry and Esther Snyder at the northwest corner of what is now the intersection of Interstate 10 and Francisquito Avenue in the Los Angeles suburb of Baldwin Park, California. It was almost three years before a second location was opened in the San Gabriel Valley. At the time of Harry's death in 1976 the company had only expanded to 18 stores located exclusively in Southern California. Rich Snyder became the company president. From 1976 until his death in 1993 they grew to 93 stores.^{[6] [7]}
In 1984, the company established In-N-Out University for the purpose of training its management-level employees in a "real world" setting. As the university was a full service restaurant, its operations were similar to that of any other In-N-Out restaurant and to the casual observer it was like any of the others except for its larger size (floor area). In 2004 the original university was demolished and a new, "state of the art training facility" along with a new restaurant with a 75-seat indoor dining area was constructed. After its completion, the original location was closed. The original kitchen is planned to be preserved as part of an upcoming In-N-Out Museum.
In 1992, In-N-Out opened its first non-Southern California restaurants in Las Vegas (one at Sahara Avenue west of Interstate 15 and the other on Nellis Boulevard just north of Charleston Boulevard). Expansion then began into Northern California, including one location in San Francisco, at Fisherman's Wharf, and with additional Las Vegas-area restaurants opening. By 2000, locations in Arizona were established. In-N-Out opened other Nevada restaurants in Reno, Sparks, and Carson City in fall of 2004. The Tucson In-N-Out holds the company record for most burgers sold in a day and week.^[8] The company is planning expansion into Utah in 2008.^[9] In June 2007, In-N-Out filed suit against an American Fork, Utah restaurant named "Chadders" for trademark infringement, claiming that the "look and feel" of the restaurant too closely mimicked the In-N-Out style and that the restaurant was serving menu items, such as "Animal Fries", with trademarked names.^[10]. A judge issued a temporary restraining order against the look-alike, but the issue has yet to be definitively resolved.
On December 15 1993, In-N-Out's president, Rich Snyder, son of the founders, and four other passengers died in a plane crash on approach to John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California after opening store #93 in Fresno.^[11] Snyder was aboard a charter plane. The charter aircraft followed in a Boeing 757 for landing, became caught in its wake turbulence, rolled into a deep descent and crashed near the intersection of California State Route 55 and Edinger Avenue. The crash investigation led to the FAA requirement for an adequate period between heavy aircraft and following light aircraft to allow wake turbulence to diminish. As a result of this crash Rich's brother, Guy, assumed the presidency.
In 1999, Guy died of an overdose of Vicodin. Esther Snyder, the matriarch of the founding family, subsequently held the presidency until she died August 4, 2006 at the age of 86. Mark Taylor, former Vice President of Operations and brother-in-law to Lynsi Martinez (Harry and Esther Snyder's only grandchild through Guy and company heir), became the company's fifth president.^[12][13]
Due to relatively few locations (compared to other fast food chains), a business model where the food is made to order (rather than precooked then reheated), and the high quality -- and popularity -- of the food, the drive-through and in-store lines can be long. A wait 15 minutes or longer is sometimes common to receive one's order. However, the wait time is often due to the length of the line more than the preparation time for the burgers.
The In-N-Out model is in stark contrast to its traditional rival, McDonald's (which began at about the same time in nearby San Bernardino). This is reflected in In-N-Out advertising, which focuses on the food, compared to McDonalds' ads which promote the "experience." Other major competitors include Carl's Jr., Burger King, Dairy Queen and A&W, but none have inspired the customer loyalty of In-N-Out.^[14]
All locations are company-owned. The privately owned corporation does not currently plan to franchise or to take the company public.

Turbulence in 2006

On January 5, 2006 a lawsuit exposed a possible family feud over the chain's corporate leadership. Richard Boyd, one of In-N-Out's vice presidents and co-trustee of two-thirds of the company stock, accused sole heir Lynsi Martinez and allied corporate executives of trying to force out Esther Snyder and attempting to fire Boyd unreasonably. Pre-empting the suit, Martinez and Snyder appeared in a special December video message to employees with Operations VP Mark Taylor telling employees not to believe everything they hear.
The company responded with a lawsuit of its own alleging that Boyd had construction work done on his property and charged it to the company, as well as favoring contractors with uncompetitive bids. This escalated into a defamation lawsuit against accounting firm Grant Thornton and its employee Lawrence A. Rosipalja over alleged intimidating and misleading statements made to In-N-Out employees about the corporate dispute.^[15] Boyd was suspended from his role as co-trustee of 65% of the company stock and Northern Trust Bank of California took Boyd's place as co-trustee until a hearing on May 10, 2006.
In April the judge dismissed two of In-N-Out's claims against Boyd. A trial date of October 17, 2006 was set.^[16] This trial never occurred, as a settlement was reached in early May. Most terms were private under a confidentiality agreement between all parties. Boyd was permanently removed from his role as an employee and co-trustee.^[17]

Menu items

Main articles: In-N-Out Burger menu items

Store Operations

In-N-Out restaurant in Pinole, California with one drive-through lane and an indoor dining area.

Many In-N-Out stores are based on one of a set of templates or "cookie-cutter" blueprints (chosen based on available space and expected traffic levels) that have changed over the years. Other stores are designed to be unique to fit into the surrounding architecture, or to stand out. Notable "unique" In-N-Out locations include the store on Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, the restaurant in Westwood in Los Angeles and the restaurant in Valencia mimics the interior of a McDonald's. The typical location's interior layout includes the following:

★ customer service counter with several computers and registers

★ indoor dining room (benches and fixed chairs)

★ kitchen (called the stand)

★ food preparation area (where tomatoes, onions, etc. are processed)

★ storage areas for the paper goods (napkins, bags, etc.)

★ storage areas for the "dry" food goods (potatoes, buns, etc.)

★ walk-in refrigerator (no freezers) for the perishable goods (Lettuce, cheese, spread etc.)

★ A separate meat refrigerator for the patties

★ mechanical/electrical rooms

★ restrooms

★ employee locker rooms
The exterior layout includes the following:

★ one or two drive-through lanes with corresponding service windows

★ outdoor dining area (tables and benches, and overhead canopies)
Variations of this layout exist depending on the age of the restaurant, physical lot size, city zoning ordinances, and the restaurant's relationship to neighboring structures or its proximity to the street.
All of the designs encourage customers to watch the food being prepared. In-N-Out's success is based on the quality of the food. They proudly show that the fries start as whole clean potatoes only minutes before, that the lettuce is hand-leafed rather than sliced, the burgers and buns are grilled together, and everything comes together to be served without the use of heatlamps or microwave re-heaters.
As a result of a larger restaurant site, newer restaurants now include an indoor dining area in addition to the outdoor dining area. Conversely, because of the greater ability to serve 'dine-in' customers, these stores will have only one drive-through lane. Because the kitchen is larger, there are generally multiple registers, two or three grills, larger countertops, multiple fryers, etc. Depending on the location, and particularly if it is in a heavily developed or densely built area, a few locations with indoor dining areas will not have drive-throughs.
The In-N-Out located in Barstow, California, is fitted with four grills and ten fryers, queue, and cavernous dining room. The majority of this location's business is a result of those traveling between Southern California and Las Vegas on Interstate 15, putting Barstow at the middle of a long trip. It is common for the restaurant to be incredibly busy during the day; the announced order numbers will cycle past 100 between the time a customer joins the line and finishes their meal. Many customers are long haul truck drivers who walk as far as a mile from the truck stops where their big rigs are parked.
The signature colors for In-N-Out are white, red, and yellow. The white is used for the buildings' exterior walls and the employees' (associates') basic uniform. Red is used for the buildings' roofs and associates' aprons and hats. Yellow is used for the decorative band on the roof. Variations in the application of the colors on the building will occur depending on the architecture of each restaurant.

In-N-Out Burger on Sepulveda Boulevard, Los Angeles from a Boeing 757 on approach to LAX

The first few In-N-Outs (such as those in Pasadena, Baldwin Park, Covina, and Azusa) had a common design, placing the kitchen "stand" between two lanes of cars. The "front" lane is nearest the street, and the "back" lane away from the street. A metal awning provides shade for several tables for customers desiring to park and eat, but there is no indoor dining. A walk-up window faces the parking area. This feature made In-N-Out very popular with law enforcement and emergency services personnel, avoiding the possibility of being trapped in line when a radio call came through. The customers in cars waiting in line have a clear view of the kitchen interior through large windows. Storage of food and supplies is in a separate building, which is connected to the kitchen only by sharing the roof, so it is common for a driver to be asked to wait a moment, while workers carry replenishments to the kitchen across the rear lane.
Due to their size, the kitchens at these classic stores are limited to a single customer service register, one cooktop grill, a countertop, two sets of fryers (for the french fries) with two fry baskets each, one set of soda and shake dispensers, a sink, and a "spinner" that is used to centrifugally remove excess water from the freshly diced potatoes.
This simpler design is a popular image on In-N-Out ads and artwork, which often shows classic cars such as 1965 Mustangs and 1968 Firebirds visiting the original stores. The original Covina store, located on Arrow Highway west of Grand Avenue, was forced to close in the early 1990s due to re-engineering and development of the area. A modern design, drive-up/dining room restaurant was built only a few hundred feet away, but staffers at the new location frequently hear nostalgic references to the original. The new building is much larger (approximately half the size of the entire lot upon which the earlier restaurant sat), and is often filled to capacity.
In-N-Out also offers a ''cookout trailer'' that can be hired for private or corporate events. This trailer offers hamburgers, cheeseburgers, double-doubles, grilled cheese, 21 oz. fountain drinks, and potato chips (instead of fries). A hot oil vat is unsafe in a moving vehicle, hence the potato chips. Trailers are occasionally used at grand openings to lessen the store's load.

Example of palm trees crossed in an 'X' that can be found in front of many In-N-Out Burger restaurants.

A subtle element of the franchise is the frequent appearance of crossing palm trees in front of many of the stores. This is an allusion to founder Harry Snyder's favorite movie, Stanley Kramer's ''It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World'' in which individuals look for a hidden treasure and find it under "the big W" made by four palm trees, with the middle two forming an 'X'. This is also in keeping with In-N-Out's traditional palm tree logo, which reflects the chain's Southern California roots.

Corporate culture

The In-N-Out Burger at the corner of Gayley and Le Conte in Westwood, Los Angeles

In-N-Out pays its employees significantly more than the federally mandated minimum wage of $5.85 per hour and California's minimum wage of $7.50 per hour — currently starting pay is a minimum of $9.50 per hour.^[1] For its full-time associates, the company offers complete employee benefits,^[19] and provides 'fringe' benefits in the form of annual company picnic, gifts at Christmas, the opportunity to participate in a variety of other company-sponsored activities, as well as paid holidays and paid vacations. On average, each of their 200+ store managers earn just under $100,000 annually, and have been with the company for 13 years. The restaurants are closed on Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter. It is one of the few chains to receive a positive mention in the book ''Fast Food Nation''.
In-N-Out is active in the communities it serves. Every year the company provides free burgers to participants marching in the Rose Parade, provides cans for donations, matches customer donations 3-to-1 in April for National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and underwrites various fundraisers to support local charities and non-profit organizations.^[20]

Advertising

A company motto of "Quality you can taste".

In-N-Out generally relies on positive 'word of mouth' for its advertising. Television advertisements are sporadic; for the most part, when the ads do appear, the hamburger, or product, is the focus of the commercial. In-N-Out rarely relies on spokespersons or actors for its commercials, although at one time John Cleese voiced a radio spot. Radio advertisements are equally rare and are generally limited to the characteristic jingle: "In-N-Out, In-N-Out. That's what a hamburger's all about." which was created by advertising mogul Wayne E. Smith, of Wayne E. Smith and Associates. In the past the Snyders have sponsored Christmas music programming and given voiceovers expressing the meaning of the holiday. In addition to the jingle, there are several In-N-Out slogans including: "Quality You Can Taste" and "Cleanliness You Can See".
In-N-Out uses billboards strategically located on roads leading to individual restaurants, such as "2.5 miles ahead", and the board will have a large replica of a Double-Double on it. At one time, some of the billboards released "steam", making the hamburgers appear hot.
In-N-Out's use of the occasional radio spot and billboard, simultaneously echoing the sequential billboard ads of the 1950s and appraising West-Coasters traveling through spacious California that a precious In-N-Out is nearby--an oasis in the wilderness--may be the ideal campaign for an establishment that wants to both evoke the burger joints of the 1950s and has almost no need whatsover for advertising due to the continually immense demand for In-N-Out burgers.
The business enjoyed a free endorsement when Heisman Trophy winner and Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith went into a passionate description of the restaurant at the BCS National Championship Game podium. The company was delighted, Executive Vice President Carl Van Fleet being quoted, "It doesn't get much better than that for us, we're kind of a small company, and we don't have any celebrity endorsers. But I think we just got the best one we could have."[1]

Popularity

The burger chain, with its reputation for adhering to the notions that fast food should be made from scratch, has achieved widespread popularity and, in areas that it serves, has become favorite among celebrities (an early example being Bob Hope). ''Vanity Fair'' has even served In-N-Out burgers at its post-Oscars parties. Angelina Jolie confessed that she left the 2003 Academy Awards ceremony early, and, dressed in her glamorous outfit, stopped at an In-N-Out on the way home.^[21] Actor Tom Cruise is also known to be a big In-N-Out fan to such an extent that most of his films will often have the company's van providing unofficial craft services. Paris Hilton, spokesperson for Hardee's and Carl's Jr. in 2005, was arrested for DUI in 2006 claiming, "I was just really hungry, and wanted to have an In-N-Out Burger."^[22] PGA TOUR golfer Phil Mickelson is also a well-known and sometimes frequent customer.
Soccer star Landon Donovan and actress Bianca Kajlich reportedly served In-N-Out burgers at their wedding on December 31, 2006.
The chain has also become an anti-corporate alternative to fast food restaurants such as McDonald's (which was founded the same year as In-N-Out in nearby San Bernardino). When the location at San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf opened, local business leaders said that they opposed every other fast food chain except In-N-Out because they wanted to maintain the flavor of family owned, decades-old businesses in the area.
Even the opening of a new In-N-Out location becomes an event. When one opened in Scottsdale, Arizona, there was a four-hour wait for food, and news helicopters whirled above the parking lot.^[23] A similar popular response took place at the opening of an In-N-Out in Tucson, Arizona.
In 1999, after Sergeant Andrew Ramirez, who had been a POW for a month in Serbia, was released, his first request was for a Double-Double (his mother got one to him).
In-N-Out has even inspired famous chef Thomas Keller (owner of the French Laundry), a fan of the chain, to open a hamburger restaurant. ^[24]
Julia Child, in an interview for her 90th birthday, and one of the first celebrity chefs to publicly champion the chain, admitted to carrying a list in her purse of all In-N-Out establishments in Southern California. This article said that she knew the location of every In-N-Out between Montecito (her home) and San Francisco.
Some soldiers from 1-32 Infantry, 10th mountain division, who are native Californians, have placed In N Out stickers all over Afghanistan during 2006 and 2007. Mainly in the Konar Province, Camp Blessing, Korengal Valley, Pech Valley, Jalalabad Air Field, and Bagram.
Internationally acclaimed Chef Gordon Ramsay of Pétrus at the Berkeley Hotel, The Savoy Grill, and the UK/US TV programmes "Hell's Kitchen" was asked by Jay Leno of "the Tonight Show" on Friday, August 10th, 2007 if he ever ate fast food. His brief response was to mention that he quite liked In-N-Out burgers.
The In-N-Out in Westchester, Los Angeles is particularly popular among plane spotters, as it is located next to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and you can watch the airplanes flying very low above the restaurant and the adjacent park, a few seconds before they land on runway 24R.

In-N-Out in popular culture

In-N-Out has been referenced in several movies and TV shows, including:

★ In the "Mayored to the Mob" episode of ''The Simpsons'', Homer refers to the special treatment received at a Krusty Burger, saying "I ordered the double-double, but they gave me the double-double-double-double!"

★ In Tucker Max's book I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell, he states that he has fallen in love three times and one of those times was the first time he tasted a double-double.

★ In the movie ''The Big Lebowski'', a house is referred to as being "near the In-N-Out burger," to which Donnie says "those are good burgers, Walter," angering Walter because Donnie didn't listen to the whole context of the conversation. After they drive home from the house they were at (silently mad at each other because the car was busted up by a neighbor,) Walter and Donnie are seen eating In-N-Out burgers in the car while the Dude drives.

★ In the movie ''Fletch Lives'', Fletch asks a co-worker if she's interested in lunch at the In-N-Out Burger. When she declines he responds with "forget the burger, how about just the in-n-out?"

★ In the movie ''Swingers'', actor Jon Favreau wears an In-N-Out Burger t-shirt in a key scene.

★ In the ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' episode #803, Mike says,"Look, it's an In-N-Out Burger", when a lost underground civilization shows their insignia to be an inverted 'V' similar to the In-N-Out logo.

★ In a '' episode "Fur And Loathing", Nick Stokes interrogates a murder suspect whose alibi was that he was at the In-N-Out Burger. Later in the same episode, CSIs Sidle and Stokes make a bet in which the loser must buy the winner a Double-Double Animal Style.

★ In the "Pickles" episode of SpongeBob SquarePants, a large fish named Bubble Bass orders a "Double Triple Barfie Deluxe, on a raft, 4x4 animal style, extra shingles with a shimmy and a squeeze, light axle grease, make it cry, burn it and let it swim".

★ ''South Park'' co-creator Matt Stone was interviewed by Michael Moore in ''Bowling for Columbine'' at the In-N-Out Burger in Westwood

★ The chain was mentioned in the ''Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip'' episode which aired on November 27, 2006.

★ In the ''Weeds'' episode "Cooking with Jesus", Nancy, Dean, Sanjay, Doug, Andy and Alejandro visit a Mexican ''fast food'' restaurant. Doug mentions that he hates chain restaurants. When Dean questions Doug's liking of In-N-Out, Doug responds : "In-N-Out is independently owned by religious nuts that put biblical citations on the bottoms of the cups. They don't franchise and they use fresh ingredients. They cook with Jesus."

★ In the ''Arrested Development'' episode Key Decisions, Michael Bluth is seen clearly with an In-N-Out cup while talking to Marta on the stair car.

★ On ''The OC'' during Season 1 many characters are seen eating In-N-Out, including in "The Model Home" when Ryan and Marissa are discussing their lives while eating In-N-Out, and during "The Goodbye Girl" when Seth and Summer are eating it on top of their car.

★ In Drake & Josh, it is parodied as Inside Out Burger.

★ In The King of Queens Season 2 Episode 20 a character named Deacon Palmer holds an In-N-Out cup despite the fact that the chain has no locations in the Eastern part of the US where the series takes part. The program was filmed at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California. An In-n-Out can be found one block away from the studios on Venice Boulevard.

★ In the movie Super Size Me's DVD bonus features, the author of Fast Food Nation Eric Schlosser discourages people from eating fast food, but then suggests that In-N-Out is about the best place to go to have some occasionally.

★ In the ER episode "Skin" two gang members are seen drinking from In and Out cups. This is a goof, since ER is supposed to take place in Chicago, where there are no In-N-Out restaurants.

★ In the webcomic Achewood, the characters talk about a secret menu at Taco Bell. The alt-text for the comic says that "You can get a beer with your Ranchones if you order them Beer Style.".

★ In Notes from the underbelly episode "Animal Style", the characters talk about a secret ordering system at a popular (unnamed) burger joint, including a non-listed menu item called "Wild Style".

★ In Steven King's movie "IT" the scene where the soda is knocked off the balcony onto the bully the cup used is an In n Out Cup

★ In webcomic Ration Reality, the father asks the daughter if she's up for "a little bit of the old In-n-Out"

★ In Laguna Beach season 2 episode 2, Steven was shown drinking something from an In-N-Out cup.

★ In the fifth episode of the first season of ''Entourage'', "The Script and the Sherpa", Johnny "Drama" Chase and Turtle are standing next to their car outside of a gym eating a meal from In-N-Out. Drama offers Fiona, who is a Vegan, a bite of his Animal Style Double Double, but she declines.

★ In a Five for Fighting song, titled "California Justice", the singer states "Took off in the Mustang for the 395, Double Double in Mohave - Took a left at Lone Pine".

★ On the CBS show Big Brother 8 , In-N-Out Burgers were delivered to the house the night of Jen's eviction at their request.

Bible references

Bible reference on the bottom of an In-N-Out drink cup

In-N-Out prints discreet references to Bible verses on their paper utensils. The print is small and out of the way, and only contains the book, chapter and verse numbers, not the actual text of the passages. The practice began in the 1980s during Rich Snyder's presidency,^[25] a reflection of the Christian beliefs held by the Snyder family.

★ Burger and cheeseburger wrappers
::Revelation 3:20—''"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me."''^[26]

★ Beverage cups and antenna toppers
::—''"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."''^[27]

★ Milkshake cups
::Proverbs 3:5—''"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."''^[28]

★ Double-Double wrapper
::Nahum 1:7—''"The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him."''^[29]

★ Paper water cups, or "R-9's"
::John 14:6—''"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."''^[30]

References

1. Pay Helps Keep Workers at Western Burger Chain
2. In Calif., Internal Lawsuits Served Up at Burger Chain
3. In-n-out burned by exec's lawsuit Los Angeles Business Journal - Find Articles
4. In-N-Out Burger Beefs Up the Wharf Chain's followers now have S.F. site
5. Chain reaction / San Francisco job applicants come by the dozen to interview for jobs at a new In-N-Out restaurant / .25 per hour plus meal
6. IN-N-OUT Burger: History
7. Esther Snyder, 86; Began In-N-Out Burger
8. In-N-Out Burger’s all-stars set record with Tucson opening
9. In-N-Out Burger Suing American Fork Burger Joint
10. In-N-Out wins one over Chadders
11. In-N-Out Burger -- Company History
12. In-N-Out matriarch Snyder dies at age 86
13. Esther Snyder, matriarch of In-N-Out Burger, dies
14. In-N-Out Burger carved a niche in the competitive fast-food market by sticking with the basics
15. California Lodging Industry Association
16. Article: Money - In-N-Out ordered to alter some claims in lawsuit
17. n-N-Out, former VP reach secretive settlement
18. Pay Helps Keep Workers at Western Burger Chain
19. IN-N-OUT Burger (Employment)
20. In-N-Out Burger - Encyclopedia FunTrivia
21. TheCinemaSource.com - Spotlight on Ethan Hawke and Angelina Jolie
22. E! News - Paris Pleads No Contest - Paris Hilton
23. The Secret Behind A Burger Cult - New York Times
24. Thomas Keller - Food and Wine
25. The Ins and Outs of In-N-Out - Gilroy Dispatch
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27.
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30.

Further reading

★ 'Fast Food Nation', , Eric, Schlosser, Houghton Mifflin, 2001, ISBN 0-395-97789-4

★ In-N-Out Burger is giving McDonald's a run for its money

External links

★ In-N-Out Burger

★ Yahoo! - In-N-Out Burgers, Inc. Company Profile