After the row between the In-N-Out and Bay Area health department over the mandate on vaccination documentation, the burger chain’s well-known private owner Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson reportedly had a conversation through the phone with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis this week.
At 28 years old, Snyder-Ellingson, the one and only granddaughter of the company’s founders Harry and Esther Snyder, became the president of In-N-Out in 2010. When she reached 35, she became the only owner of the company. She is not seen very frequently in public and rarely releases statements, SFGATE reported.
Snyder-Ellingson and DeSantis’ conversation on Monday was “productive”, revealed the governor’s press secretary Christina Pushaw. They talked about the possible expansion of the chain to Florida. The governor is known to be among those who oppose vaccinations with his state at present and does not allow government bodies and companies to ask customers for their vaccination proof.
“Vaccination should be a personal choice to protect oneself from serious illness, not a mandatory condition of participating in society,” his press secretary said in an email. “There is no reason for a fast food restaurant to be forced to require proof of vaccination from customers.”
The involvement of the burger chain in the talks regarding COVID-19 restrictions started when its executive said that In-N-Out will “refuse to become the vaccination police for any government”. It could be recalled that San Francisco and Contra Costa locations, where proof of vaccinations are required for customers who want to eat inside the store, have been suspended for indoor dining for non-compliance with the mandate.
The expansion plans only see one possible hindrance: the chain’s ingredients suppliers are West Coast-based, said Pushaw.
“Florida also has some of the best farms and cattle ranches in the country, and the governor discussed this with the president of In-n-Out,” Pushaw wrote. “If they can identify suppliers for all their ingredients here, which we believe is possible, In-n-out could expand to Florida. Governor DeSantis is willing to help with this and would welcome this great company to Florida, the best state to do business.”
