Lynsi Snyder, owner of the iconic In-N-Out Burger chain, announced she is leaving California for Tennessee as part of a major strategic shift for the company.
The billionaire businesswoman, who has led the family-owned burger empire for over a decade, said the move is both personal and professional, citing rising crime in California and the challenges of raising a family and running a business in the state.
“We’re building an office in Franklin, I’m actually moving out there,” Snyder told podcaster Allie Beth Stuckey. “Raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here. … It will be wonderful having an office out there, growing out there.”
The Tennessee office will serve as a hub for the company’s planned expansion across the Southeast. In-N-Out, founded in Baldwin Park, California, in 1948, operates more than 400 locations in eight states but has resisted going fully nationwide.
Snyder confirmed that by 2030, In-N-Out will close its Irvine, California, office and consolidate operations between Baldwin Park and the new Franklin location.
Snyder emphasized that the decision reflects both practical needs and a commitment to preserving the company’s culture. “Number one priority is really keeping the company the same company that my grandparents started,” she said. “We don’t want to be on every corner; we don’t want to be in every state; we don’t want to ever compromise our values and standards.”
Part of that culture includes Snyder’s faith. Since 1985, In-N-Out has printed Bible verse references on cups and wrappers, a tradition Snyder has upheld.
The company also boasts one of the highest employee satisfaction ratings in the fast-food industry, with managers averaging 17 years of service and earning around $163,000 annually, according to Forbes.
Snyder also cited safety as a factor in the move, pointing to the closure of In-N-Out’s Oakland location last year because it had become too dangerous for employees. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the chain refused to enforce San Francisco’s vaccine passport mandate at its only city location, leading to a temporary shutdown. “We held the line,” Snyder said of the standoff.