In-N-Out Burger president and owner Lynsi Snyder has outlined the fast-food chain’s upcoming geographic targets, pointing to four prospective states as part of its measured eastward growth. Speaking with actor Terry Crews to mark the company’s 78th anniversary, the 44-year-old executive discussed the brand’s future trajectory and operational philosophy.
Reflecting on the milestone of the brand’s founding on October 22, 1948, in Baldwin Park, California, Snyder noted that she relocated her family to Tennessee last year to help facilitate the company’s expansion into the eastern United States. While mapping out potential territory, she identified Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Oklahoma as possibilities for future development.
“If you look at the map, you’ve got Texas. There’s Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma. There are some states that are possibilities,” Snyder explained, adding that New Mexico is also awaiting a new location following a previous announcement regarding an Albuquerque restaurant slated to open by 2027.
Despite heavy public demand from numerous states seeking new locations, Snyder emphasized that the privately held, family-owned chain—which operates 445 restaurants across 10 states without franchising—maintains a deliberate pace. She rejected the notion that the business is expanding at an accelerated rate.
“We have a very steady growth rate, and it’s not really going up. In fact, sometimes we don’t hit that,” Snyder said, noting that maintaining quality and consistency takes precedence over rapid scaling.
Addressing persistent speculation about the company’s presence in its home market, Snyder dismissed the idea of a complete departure from California as “the dumbest business decision ever.” She emphasized, “This is where we started, where we are and where we will always be,” noting that the chain continues to slate new stores for future cities across the state.
Snyder also reaffirmed the company’s stance against adopting digital trends like mobile ordering, a proposal she previously addressed during an appearance at Pepperdine University in Malibu. Maintaining that human interaction remains central to the brand experience, she asserted that digital ordering would compromise both customer service warmth and product freshness.
