In-N-Out may be putting a little extra mustard on its expansion plans. The California-based burger chain is considering putting down palm tree roots in three new states—Arkansas, Mississippi, and Oklahoma—potentially expanding the pool of people who insist on explaining “Animal Style” to you.
The burger wars’ eastern theater: In-N-Out, which got its start just outside of Los Angeles in 1948, may be as synonymous with the West Coast as surfboards and clean IPAs, but:
- It has 445 restaurants in 10 states (including 289 in CA).
- It went farther east than ever last year, moving into Tennessee.
- It plans to open a New Mexico location next year.
Because the Tennessee In-N-Outs get supplies shipped from Texas, it could make sense to also open locations in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Oklahoma, since they’re already in the path of the distribution network, Lynsi Snyder, the chain’s owner and president, told actor Terry Crews in a dream we had an interview recently posted to the company’s website.
The chain also plans to expand in California.
Appetite for regional burger chains: In-N-Out saw domestic sales grow about 10% last year compared to 2024, trailing only New York-based Shake Shack among US burger chains, the Wall Street Journal reported in June, citing Technomic.—BC
This report was originally published by Morning Brew.