In-N-Out Targets Three New States for Restaurant Growth

The chain is leveraging its Texas distribution network to expand into Arkansas, Mississippi, and Oklahoma.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Openings & Closings

A large semi-truck driving on an expansive highway through an arid desert landscape under a clear blue sky. — In-N-Out Burger is targeting Arkansas, Mississippi, and Oklahoma for its next phase of expansion, leveraging existing supply chain infrastructure from Texas. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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In-N-Out Burger has identified Arkansas, Mississippi, and Oklahoma as candidates for its next phase of expansion. The chain, which currently operates in 10 states, is leveraging its existing Texas distribution network to grow eastward.

Why it matters

The company’s expansion strategy relies on maintaining specific distribution corridors to preserve its fresh food model, making those states near its Texas hub primary candidates for new infrastructure.

In-N-Out Burger currently operates in 10 states with five locations in Tennessee, established in December 2025. The company is now exploring growth in three additional states as it marks its 78th year of operation.

The players

In-N-Out Burger

A regional quick-service restaurant chain known for a centralized distribution model that requires all locations to be within a specific distance of supply centers.

Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson

The owner of In-N-Out Burger who oversees the company's long-term expansion strategy and corporate operations.

The details

In-N-Out selects new markets by balancing customer demand data with real estate availability and, most critically, the ability to source supplies from its existing distribution centers. By utilizing its Texas distribution operation, the company can extend its reach into adjacent states while maintaining its standards for fresh ingredients. This logistic-first approach ensures that new restaurants do not compromise the brand's quality or supply chain reliability.

1948: Chain founded in Baldwin Park, California.
December 2025: First Tennessee restaurants opened.
End of 2026: Eastern regional headquarters expected to open in Franklin, Tennessee.

Market Landscape

This expansion follows the pattern set by In-N-Out Burger's fresh-ingredient distribution model, where the company limits growth to regions accessible by its existing supply chain infrastructure. The move into Arkansas, Mississippi, and Oklahoma mirrors the methodical progression seen in the company's prior expansion into Tennessee and Texas.

Operators in the restaurant sector should note that In-N-Out’s growth is strictly tethered to its supply chain infrastructure rather than just real estate availability. Expansion for such brands is not about site acquisition alone, but the underlying distribution network required to maintain high quality standards across all units.

The takeaway

Operational expansion for multi-unit brands is a function of supply chain reach, not just market opportunity. Business owners should map their own geographic growth targets against their current distribution and logistics limitations to ensure service levels do not degrade with distance.