A couple of interesting food-related books are coming out soon.
When founder Harry Snyder died in 1976, the chain had 18 locations. The board
passed over the oldest, drug-addicted son and put in charge Snyder's
other son, a 24-year-old dyslexic and religious zealot named Rich, who ended radio
commercials by asking listeners to accept Jesus into their hearts. After Rich was killed in a plane crash, eldest son Guy took
over.
Guy sounds more like a drug lord than a fast food CEO. This is how the Wall Street Journal describes him: "before long Guy is shooting heroin, sending a company executive into
Mexico to smuggle drugs, and getting busted (on Christmas Day) with a
briefcase stuffed with pot, Valium, Klonopin, a 9mm Glock, a
switchblade and $27,475 in cash."
Guy
died of a drug overdose. Now running it is his daughter Lynsi Martinez, who apparently fits right in with the rest of them.
The real
value in this book won't be reading about a family who puts the fun in
dysfunctional but how the chain can continue to grow and maintain such high
quality standards with such eccentric management.
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Well, it's been about three years since I even thought about these things. Brings some ideas to mind and also reminds me I need to get off my tail. You perhaps didn't mean it that way, but I'm happy to have run across ya!
In-N-Out has reached iconic status, partly because of their "secret menu" but mostly because it's really tasty.
In Fast Food Nation I remember reading that In-N-Out was exemplary as far as employee retention and compensation. I think a restaurant manager makes something like $80k, and their part-time workers make like $12/hour.
It didn't mention the founders were batshit crazy.
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