With In-N-Out being big throughout the West of the US, many on the East Coast were hoping that the burger chain might expand East.
However, In-N-Out’s president has warned burger fans not to get their hopes up. There are no current plans to expand to the East Coast, and it will likely never happen.
In-N-Out’s President Is the Founder’s Granddaughter
Talk about keeping it in the family, as In-N-Out’s current President is the granddaughter of its founder.
Lynsi Snyder, who became president of In-N-Out in 2010, is continuing the family-run business 75 years after it was first founded.
In-N-Out Has Doubled Since 2010
Since Snyder became President, the company has more than doubled in size.
If the company plans to expand further, it could move to the East Coast, but this is not currently looking likely.
In-N-Out Now Has 400 Restaurants
In-N-Out began as a burger stand in Los Angeles, California, and has since expanded to 400 restaurants.
Since then, In-N-Out has expanded to multiple states, including New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Texas.
In-N-Out Is Opening a Tennessee Restaurant in 2026
Despite claiming the burger chain has no plans to move to the East Coast anytime soon, In-N-Out is still planning to move east to Tennessee.
It’s been reported that the restaurant will open in 2026 in Franklin, just outside Nashville.
In-N-Out Customers Requested the Tennessee Restaurant
The move to Tennessee came after In-N-Out customers requested a restaurant be opened there.
This has brought some hope to those living on the East Coast: they believe that if they request it long and hard enough, they could get an In-N-Out restaurant, too.
In-N-Out Still Uses the Same Wholesalers as in the 1940s
Business Insider has reported that In-N-Out still uses the same wholesalers as its founder did in the 1940s and 50s.
The business also uses individual sellers as opposed to creating a franchise.
Why In-N-Out Will Never Move to the East Coast
In-N-Out’s continued use of the same wholesalers is a huge part of the reason the company will never move to the East Coast.
The fast food company likes its produce to be fresh and local, which would require building new distribution centers on the East Coast.
In-N-Out Does not Use Microwaves
If In-N-Out were to move away from its distribution centers, it would have to rely on frozen food.
As the Tasting Table reports, In-N-Out doesn’t use microwaves and only wants fresh food and produce. Moving this far, at the moment, will never be an option.
In-N-Out Restaurants Within 300 Miles of Distribution Centers
Taste of Home has reported that all In-N-Out restaurants should be within 300 miles of its distribution centers.
As a move to the East Coast would involve moving further than this 300 miles, it’s unlikely that one will be on the cards anytime soon.
Everything at In-N-Out Is Done by Hand
It isn’t just the burger patties at In-N-Out that are fresh; most of its other ingredients are, too.
According to Reader’s Digest, everything is made by hand. The French fries are cut by hand, the lettuce is taken apart leaf-by-leaf, and the burger buns are freshly toasted for each order.
In-N-Out Is Exclusive
In-N-Out is only on the West Coast, which gives it exclusive appeal to customers.
By not being on the East Coast, In-N-Out has less competition than other restaurants.
