00:00In-N-Out is not simply a burger story. It's also a family story. Harry and Esther Snyder kept the
00:06company private and family-run, but the family story also came with a series of tragedies.
00:11Harry Snyder died in 1976. His son Rich Snyder later took over and helped to expand the chain,
00:18but he died in a plane crash in 1993. Lindsay Snyder's father, Guy Snyder, then became chairman.
00:24He died in 1999 when Lindsay was still a teenager. By 17, Lindsay Snyder was the last direct family
00:31heir to In-N-Out. She eventually received ownership stakes through a family trust on her 25th, 30th,
00:37and 35th birthdays. And by 2017, she owned virtually all of the company and one of the youngest American
00:44women to become a billionaire through inheritance. She inherited a brand that millions of people feel
00:51emotionally attached to. We spoke with Jonathan Mays, editor-in-chief of Restaurant Business.
00:56Jonathan says Snyder's biggest contribution may be what she chose not to change.
01:02Well, I mean, it gets back to the fact that she has insisted on no changes. She has just
01:06insisted that this company operate in this manner. That is what makes In-N-Out's next chapter so
01:13interesting. It's not simply a question of how many states the chain can enter. It's whether a company
01:19built on family control, fresh ingredients, a tiny menu, and intense fan loyalty can keep feeling
01:26personal as it gets bigger.
Comments