Why In-N-Out Pledged Never To Offer Delivery
Nothing says California dreamin' like a delicious In-N-Out burger. The West coast burger chain has a cult-like following and is consistently praised for its exceptional quality by fans. As far as fast food goes, In-N-Out is the crown jewel. That said, the burger chain's commitment to quality and freshness has kept it from not only expanding its locations but also modernizing its business model. In an era of convenience and food delivery apps galore, In-N-Out has resisted the urge to partake in apps like DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats, and more. In fact, In-N-Out has opted out of delivery altogether! Yup, that's right. This means you'll have to physically go to one of the chain's locations to enjoy the deliciousness. At the time of writing, In-N-Out only has locations in seven states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, and Utah.
Harry Snyder, the founder of In-N-Out, likely could have never imagined the fast-paced world we live in today when he created his first drive-thru hamburger stand in 1948. Ironically, when In-N-Out first started, the family-owned company was a pioneer of efficiency and modernization, creating a two-way speaker box and revolutionizing how people ordered. It quickly served people and got them "in and out" with precise drive-thru menus. But while In-N-Out has always been about efficiency, it has never been about putting profit over quality.
In-N-Out puts a high value on producing quality food
In-N-Out won't expand further than 300 miles of their production facilities because they refuse to sell frozen patties. No location has a freezer or a microwave, guaranteeing freshly cooked, real food for all of their adoring customers. This very well could be the secret sauce to their fantastic burgers, fries, and shakes. But why don't they deliver?
In 2015, In-N-Out sued DoorDash for offering its products, citing concerns that the products would be compromised by delivery. Additionally, the lawsuit addressed concerns about food safety, as there's no way to determine how long it would take for a burger to get from restaurant to customer. In-N-Out is proud that its customers can rely on consistently good food that tastes just as wonderful as the last time they had it. Delivery services do not offer the same level of quality control.
Almost all food tastes best as soon as it's ready to eat. No one likes soggy buns, limp fries, or cold burgers — and that is a reality restaurants face when choosing to send food off for customers to enjoy at home. It's best to enjoy In-N-Out the way it was meant to be: inside your car while hot off the griddle or inside one of the retro-style restaurants with friends and family. In a world where it seems like everyone is trying to cut corners, it's nice to know there is at least one business that continues to put customers first.