Orange County Employment Attorney:
In a rare interview, Lynsi Torres, the 30-year-old heiress to the Orange County Irvine-based In-N-Out, spoke about the employment practices and company management involved in running one of the most admired fast-food chains in the nation.
In-N-Out’s managerial approach has given In-N-Out a long-held reputation as an attractive place to work. This reputation has been bolstered by the salaries. New hires earn $10 an hour, and the company prefers to promote from within for management positions. In 2012, In-N-Out store managers made more than $120,000 on average. By comparison, the median pay for food service managers across restaurants nationwide is around $48,000 per year, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“I do try to keep that family atmosphere here. That’s very important to me,” Torres said, who prides herself on keeping employees happy. “It’s really hard to keep that today, with 281 stores, it’s really hard. But I’m doing my best to keep that going.”
In her six-year tenure running the franchise, In-N-Out has expanded to 281 stores in five states and employs more than 16,000 people. Torres acknowledged the pressure involved in carrying on the legacy that has earned the company a devoted following. “I really feel responsible to maintain those things that my family instilled in this company,” she said. “That’s challenging because the temptation is to cut corners and change things here and there and do what everyone else is doing.”
Throughout its 65-year history, In-N-Out has grown at a deliberately slow pace while refusing to franchise its operations, which has helped it keep tight control over food quality, restaurant cleanliness and overall image. That trend of slow growth has allowed the company to remain committed to serve only high-quality, fresh food. Since In-N-Out Restaurants do not have any freezers or microwaves, every new location must be within a short distance of its Baldwin Park or Dallas Distribution facilities.
“Our focus (is) in quality. I think the customers really respect that,” said Torres. “We’re not changing things like many other companies do. That’s kept us unique; it’s kept the customers feeling like we’re not a sellout.”
On top of ensuring the commitment to quality, Torres dedicates herself to making sure the inner workings of the company are a finely-tuned machine. Having grown up in the company, Torres had worked in a number of departments within In-N-Out, including human resources and merchandising, but had little experience managing day-to-day operations.
“I’m definitely more involved now,” said Torres, who works primarily out of In-N-Out’s satellite corporate office in Baldwin Park. “I do everything from design the shirts and the stuff in the company store to long-term planning.”
From a February 22, 2013 Orange County Register Story
