Abstract The paper will determine how Five Guy’s philosophy sets them apart from other fast-food chains. Also will analyze the original values for the startup company and how it remains strong today. Thirdly, enumerate three factors that contributed to Five Guy’s success in such a short time and what effect, if any, external markets had on these factors. Finally, assess how ethical and social practices are part of the Five Guy’s culture and provide examples to support your choices.
Introduction Five Guy’s was started in 1986 in the town of Arlington, VA by Jerry and Janie Murrell with their sons. “Jerry wanted to keep the boys close to home and employed, they used the money intended for their tuition to open a hamburger take-out shop. Murrell realized that in order to compete with the fast-food chains, Five-Guys would have to concentrate on food,” (Boone and Kurtz, pg 78). Five Guy’s philosophy would set them apart from other fast food chains.
Philosophy
“The Five Guys mission statement, as simple as its menu, is aligned with the philosophy that if you’re going to sell hamburgers and French fries in a restaurant industry that is crowded with hamburger-french-fries- chains, you’d better do a hamburgers and French fries better than anyone else. Simply stated, the mission statement of Five Guys Burgers and Fries is: We are in the business of selling burgers,” (Five Guys, pg 137). This seems like a basic business plan, but their fundamental principles have been that the meat that makes their famous hamburger must be made by meat that is 80% lean, always fresh, never frozen and the factories and plants that cater to the restaurant chain must be so clean that you could come into the plant and eat from the floor. You can choose from a hamburger, bacon cheeseburger, little hamburger, little cheeseburger, little bacon burger, different type of hotdogs, and two different type of fries.
References: 5 reasons why five guys is a big success. Retrieved on April 23, 2013 from www.inc.com/ss/five-guys-burgers-and-fries Boone, L. E. & Kurtz, D. L. (2012 update). Contemporary Business (14th ed). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. Burke, M. (2012). All in the Family. Forbes, 190(2), 92-97. Five Guys Burgers: America’s Fastest Growing Restaurant Chain Retrieved on April 24, 2013 From www.forbes.com Five Guys Restaurant Mission Statement- Burgers Are the Business and the Mission, Retrieved On April 24, 2013 from www.about.com