THE BILLIONAIRE boss of cult burger chain In-N-Out has broken her silence following fierce online backlash over her shock decision to move the company’s headquarters out of California.
Lynsi Snyder confirmed that the chain – beloved across the West Coast – is pushing ahead with plans to shift its main office from Irvine, California, to Franklin, Tennessee, sparking a flurry of reaction across social media.
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Speaking on the “Relatable” podcast, Snyder insisted the move was about creating opportunity, not abandoning the state that made the brand famous.
“I’m very proud of where In-N-Out started.
“Anyone who knows me knows how often I talk about our beginnings and how our customers here in California helped bring us to where we are today,” she said.
“We’ve been expanding into new states since 1992, and we’ve stayed consistent with our standards for growth.
“Opening an office far from our own roots is something new and exciting.
“It brings incredible opportunities for the people we love and the customers we serve.”
Despite her explanation, critics flooded the brand’s Instagram with sceptical responses.
One user wrote: “PR damage control.”
Another fumed: “YOURE literally a BILLIONAIRE what about your life is HARD???”
A third added: “Saying it’s ‘not easy doing business’ in the state that made you worth $7.3 billion is crazy talk.”
Others dismissed the statement as “damage control.”
Snyder, 42, had earlier pointed to COVID-era restrictions as a key factor in the decision, referring to California’s mask mandates and vaccine requirements.
In 2021, several In-N-Out branches were temporarily shut down after the chain refused to comply with vaccine proof mandates, drawing headlines across the US.
“There’s a lot of great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here,” she said.
The move to Tennessee, she added, will allow her and her four children to build a better quality of life, while supporting staff and expanding the brand’s reach.
The new headquarters is set to open in 2026 in Franklin, just outside Nashville, with the Irvine office expected to close by 2030.
It marks the first time the company has placed a major corporate office outside California since it was founded in 1948.
Despite the relocation, Snyder was clear that California will remain a central part of the business.
“Now the bulk of our stores are still going to be here in California,” she said.
“But it will be wonderful having an office out there, growing out there, and being able to have the family and other people’s families out there.”
In-N-Out currently operates more than 400 restaurants across eight states: California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Texas, Oregon, Colorado and Idaho.
It plans to expand further in Tennessee, but has ruled out moving into East Coast locations like Florida.
Snyder stressed that the company’s mission remains unchanged, despite the shift in geography.
“No. 1 priority is really keeping the company the same company that my grandparents started,” she said.
“We don’t want to be in every state, and we don’t want to ever compromise our values and standards and the cornerstones that my grandparents laid down, so it’s really just keeping those priorities at the forefront when we make decisions.”
While the brand remains a favourite among customers, the recent series of headlines has put In-N-Out in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
Earlier this year, the company was forced to issue a clarification after a fake social media post falsely claimed it was switching to beef tallow in response to health concerns.
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That April Fool’s prank was picked up by none other than the White House, which mistakenly included the claim in an official press release praising In-N-Out for moving away from seed oils.
The company quickly denied the report, saying no such change had been made, though it confirmed it is looking into an upgrade to its current sunflower oil.
The confusion only added to recent scrutiny, with some fans calling for more transparency about changes to the menu and operations.
Others have slammed Snyder’s decision to uproot the company’s core operations, suggesting the move contradicts the California-based identity that helped build In-N-Out’s iconic status.
Still, Snyder remains focused on what lies ahead – balancing expansion with tradition.
She ended her remarks by doubling down on her commitment to maintaining the company’s high standards.
“Keeping those priorities at the forefront when we make decisions — that’s what matters most.”
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