| rev:text
| - I was first introduced to the institution that is In-N-Out Burger back in the early 90s while visiting family in California. I remember being fascinating by the incredibly long drive-thru lines, wondering why so many people would flock here for a burger when there's a less crowded McDonald's and Burger King located just across the street.
Then I tasted the food. And even at the ripe old age of nine, this kid in his neon-colored clothing and knee-high tube socks, immediately understood why, in terms of sheer quality alone, In-N-Out will always remain a cut above the rest.
Fast forward twenty five years. My girlfriend and I stopped by a nearby In-N-Out recently. One of many visits I've made since I first moved to Phoenix nine years ago. And guess what?
Nothing has changed.
The menu is identical to what it was many years ago. There are no "promotional" items, gimmicks, or over-the-top attempts to lure in millenials with marketing buzzwords like "grass-fed" or "locally sourced." The store layout remains that of a traditional fast food restaurant. There are no big screen HDTVs, IKEA-ish furniture, or coffee bars used as a desperate attempt to stay relevant in present day culture. Because guess what? Unlike every other fast food chain, In-N-Out doesn't have to.
Sure, the prices might have gone up slowly over the years due to inflation, but that's to be expected. Unlike all of its lackluster competitors that offer so many items that many aren't even listed on the menu, In-N-Out's choices remain exactly the same as they've always been. They'll never change - nor should they. It's part of why they appeal to so many people. And as long as they continue to remain a private business that doesn't cater to shareholders, I never expect this to change.
The burgers are delicious, make no mistake about that. Is it the best burger you'll ever try? It's difficult to say. There are "premium" burger places out there that cater to a whole other realm. And despite what people might say, In-N-Out is still fast food - and it still isn't good for you. But the fact is, it's fast food that's done extremely well. And in the end, that's really all that matters.
So many of these corporate chains spend millions of dollars on advertising campaigns, commercials, endorsements, and whatever means necessary in order for consumers to buy into their garbage. In-N-Out's advertising is minimal and pretty much debunks virtually everything a marketing professor might spew out at his students.
With In-N-Out, it doesn't matter which location you visit. I've found very little variance in terms of the experience you receive. So my praise isn't so much restricted to this spot only, but practically all In-N-Out locations you might visit. Yes, it's always crowded - and there's a reason as to why.
The bottom line is this: Make great food consistently, establish a simplistic menu of core items, train your employees well, and never change a damned thing - ever!
Corporate chains should take detailed notes.
This is how you do fast food right. Period.
|
![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)
![[cxml]](/fct/images/cxml_doc.png)
![[csv]](/fct/images/csv_doc.png)
![[text]](/fct/images/ntriples_doc.png)
![[turtle]](/fct/images/n3turtle_doc.png)
![[ld+json]](/fct/images/jsonld_doc.png)
![[rdf+json]](/fct/images/json_doc.png)
![[rdf+xml]](/fct/images/xml_doc.png)
![[atom+xml]](/fct/images/atom_doc.png)
![[html]](/fct/images/html_doc.png)