In-N-Out Burger: A Behind-the-Counter Look at the Fast-Food Chain That Breaks All the Rules

Overview

The untold story of the renegade burger chain that evokes a passionate following unlike any other

In fast-food corporate America, In-N-Out Burger stands apart. Begun in a tiny shack in the shadow of World War II, this family-owned chain has stead�fastly refused to franchise or be sold. It is a testament to old-fashioned values and rem�iniscent of a simpler time when people, loyalty, and a freshly made, juicy hamburger meant something. Over time, In-N-Out Burger has become nothing less than a cultural institu�tion that can lay claim to an insanely loyal following.

Perman uses her investigative skills to uncover the story of a real American success story. It is not only a tale of a unique and profitable business that exceeds all expectations, but of a family's struggle to maintain a sustainable pop empire against the industry it helped pioneer, internal tensions, and a bitter lawsuit that threatened to bring the company to the brink.

This is a lesson in a counterintuitive approach to doing business that places quality, customers, and employees over the riches promised by rapid expansion. In-N-Out Burger is a keenly observed narrative that explores the evolution of a California fad that transformed into an enduring cult of popularity; it is also the story of the conflicted, secretive, and ultimately tragic Snyder family who cooked a billion burgers and hooked a zillion fans. As the story of In-N-Out Burger unfolds, so too does the cultural history of America as influenced and shaped by car culture and fast food.

Editorial Reviews

Perman (Spies Inc.) casts an affectionate and admiring eye at In-N-Out Burger, the family-owned, Southern California chain that has become a cultural institution without franchising, going public, changing its menu or precooking its burgers. This book traces the history of the company and the Snyders, the family that founded and still owns In-N-Out, interspersed with the evolution of the fast-food industry. Perman never makes good on her promise to go behind-the-counter and analyze the company's dealings--her access to executives and family members did not extend to gleaning financial or strategic information--consequently it's never clear whether In-N-Out's conservatism is a conscious business strategy, a personal preference of the owners or plain complacency. More a glowing fan letter from an appreciative customer than expos�, this book has more to say about the company's celebrity fans, American family dynamics and our collective love affair with fast food. (Apr.)
Copyright (c) Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Author Information

Bio of Stacy Perman

I am a writer with BusinessWeek, and a former writer for Time magazine. My work has appeared in Los Angeles magazine, the Los Angeles Times, Business 2.0, and The Wall Street Journal. I am the the author of Spies Inc.: Business Innovation From Israel's Masters of Espionage. Born in Los Angeles, I have lived in Germany, Japan, and Israel, and I currently live in New York. Education University of California, Los Angeles (BA) Columbia University, Graduate School of Journalism (MS)

Customer Reviews

• Made me hungry!

  Posted May 17, 2009 by Ann, Lake Elsinore, CA

  Interesting book about the beginnings of the chain, and the family who started it. Nice to read about someone that cares about their product, and not the big bucks. I read through it pretty quickly, written well. An enjoyable book for the most part - I would recommend.

Additional Info

Imprint

HarperCollins e-books

Filesize

2.35 MB

Number of Pages

352

eBook ISBN

9780061872198