Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee announced Tuesday that iconic California fast food chain In-N-Out Burger has decided to place its first corporate hub in the Volunteer State.
“In-N-Out Burger is a great family business that has been operating for decades in this country, with a value system and a way of serving their customers that lines up just right here in Tennessee,” Lee said in a tweet. “It means a lot of opportunity and a lot of jobs for a lot of Tennesseans.”
Breaking News — Welcome to Tennessee, @innoutburger! pic.twitter.com/hZCsRth1Sr
— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) January 10, 2023
Lee did not disclose where the corporate headquarters would be located. However, local media reported Williamson County would be home to the burger chain’s eastern hub, which plans to invest millions into its first expansion east of Texas.
“This expansion is significant for our company,” In-N-Out owner and president Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson told local media. “For many years, we’ve heard requests from our customers in Tennessee to consider opening locations near them, further east than we’ve ever been.”
“Our customers are our most important asset at In-N-Out, and we very much look forward to serving them in years to come and becoming part of the wonderful communities in the Volunteer State,” Snyder-Ellingson added.
The chain is expected to create more than 270 jobs in the county.
In-N-Out plans to open its doors to Tennesseans by 2026, starting with locations in the Nashville area.
Harry Snyder introduced the burger chain in California in 1948 with a drive-thru hamburger stand in a space in Los Angeles County that was approximately 10 square feet.
The Snyder family comes from a Christian background, leading the company decades ago to place Bible verses on some of its packages, including “John 3:16” on its soda cups.
In-N-Out Burger’s owner told The Christian Post in 2019 about her family’s Christian faith, explaining why the company shares Bible verses on its product.
“It was my Uncle Rich who put the Bible verses on the cups and wrappers in the early ’90s, just before he passed away,” Snyder-Ellingson told The Christian Post. “He had just accepted the Lord and wanted to put that little touch of his faith on our brand.”
She told the faith outlet that she strives to “maintain what we’ve started with: Not compromising the quality of product, service, or standards.”