...Five Guys Burgers and Fries: “Ingredients for Success” Dr. B. Iannucci Contemporary Business October 17, 2013 Entrepreneurial Leadership Everyone wants to see their children grow up and go to college and possibly become millionaires. Well that was the dream of the Jerry Murrell, but unfortunately two of the oldest sons said they were not going to college. So instead of paying for college he found himself paying for a mortgage to open a business where the boys can work and learn responsibility. The rest is history. Dave Kurtz’s (2012) wrote, “Five Guys and a Burger grew to 570 franchises in the United States and Canada.” Determine how Five Guys’ philosophy sets it apart from other fast-food chains. The philosophy that set Five Guys apart from other fast-food chains was that Jerry Murrell’s strong focus on the quality of the food and type of food served, and the customer satisfaction. Jerry Murrell once stated “Treat the person right, sell walk out the door and sell for you.” (Weise, 2011) Analyze the original values for the start-up, and how it still remains today. The original value of the company for the start-up was to have value and perfection within the company. This is still the case today. Five Guys insist on making the quality of food served (fresh hamburgers, hotdogs, and only Idaho potatoes for the fries) and customer serve a first priority. All the restaurants feature the same simple, red and white tile décor and no paid advertisement, which is done...
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...Five Guys Burger and Fries: A Simple Recipe for Success Brooke Mosely Dr. Victoria Figiel Contemporary Business BUS508 October 28, 2012 Five Guys Burgers and Fries started in Arlington, Virginia in 1986 by Jerry Murrell and his wife Janie. The business was a way to keep their two eldest sons employed and at home after deciding that college was not in their future. The Murrell’s used the money intended for their college education as capital to start up the take-out burger joint. The company’s name stemmed from the Murrell’s five sons (Five Guys), whom are all a part of the business. Today Five Guys has branched out into over 570 franchises in the United States and Canada (Boone & Kurtz, 2012, p. 78). Their growth since 2002, when they opened their first franchise, has doubled and tripled over the years with revenues reaching an estimated $570 million (Burke, 2012). Inquiring minds are interested in the rapid success of the restaurant and what are the ideologies behind it as well. This paper will reflect on Five Guy’s philosophy as its set apart from others, examine the core values that the company portrays, identify factors that have contributed to their success, and determine the social and ethical standards practiced by the company. Five Guys definitely has a philosophy that’s sets them apart from the average fast-food restaurant. Simply put from Jerry’s own mouth, “Sell a really good, juicy burger on a fresh bun. Make perfect French fries. Don’t cut corners”...
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...Five Guys Burgers and Fries: Ingredients for Success Contemporary Business 508 July 21, 2012 Five Guys Burgers and Fries: Ingredients for Success By sticking to the basic philosophy of keeping it simple, Jerry Murrell, original owner of Five Guys Burgers and Fries, has grown a small family business to one of the largest and fastest growing franchise in America. “Sell a really good, juicy burger on a fresh bun. Make perfect French fries. Don’t cut corners.” That’s been the business plan since Jerry Murrell and his sons opened their first store location in 1986. (Welch, 2010, p. 76) This philosophy is different from competitors who rely on gimmicks and advertisements to entice customers. It is not unusual for competing fast food chains such as McDonalds, Burger King and Wendy’s to introduce new menu items. The new menu item may establish a permanent presence on the menu or disappear, never to be heard of again, shortly after the introductory period. The life span of the new item, unfortunately, is determined by customer response. These chains cater to our wants, our desires and our convenience. In the words of Burger King – “have it your way”. Most of us have experienced at least one of these chains, if not all, and can attest that the customer experience with food quality, facility and service often varies by location. Then there is Five Guys Burgers and Fries with a philosophy that has not changed since the day it opened. ...
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...Assignment 1: “Five Guys Burgers and Fries: Ingredients for Success” October 24, 2012 Using the Wiley Plus resources, go to the “Five Guys Burgers and Fries: Ingredients for Success” example. Write a three to four (3-4) page paper in which you: 1. Determine how Five Guys’ philosophy sets it apart from other fast-food chains. 2. Analyze the original values for the start-up company and how it remains strong today. 3. Enumerate three (3) factors that contributed to Five Guys’ success in such a short time and what effect, if any, external markets had on these factors. 4. Assess how ethical and social practices are part of the Five Guys’ culture and provide examples to support your choices. 5. Use at least five (5) quality academic resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not quality as academic resources. Five Guys Burgers and Fries started its operations in 1986 by selling juicy burgers and fries. When Jerry Murrell and his sons started off; it was just five stores in Northern Virginia; but now they have 570 store operations in U.S and Canada with approximately $483 million sales as of 2009. The Company has had strong business philosophy since its origin. Along with a novel idea of juicy hamburgers and fries which appealed to the masses; it has been clever in amalgamating it with a unique recipe and fresh...
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...Five Guys Burger and Fries: A Simple Recipe for Success Contemporary Business BUS508 October 28, 2012 Five Guys Burgers and Fries started in Arlington, Virginia in 1986 by Jerry Murrell and his wife Janie. The business was a way to keep their two eldest sons employed and at home after deciding that college was not in their future. The Murrell’s used the money intended for their college education as capital to start up the take-out burger joint. The company’s name stemmed from the Murrell’s five sons (Five Guys), whom are all a part of the business. Today Five Guys has branched out into over 570 franchises in the United States and Canada (Boone & Kurtz, 2012, p. 78). Their growth since 2002, when they opened their first franchise, has doubled and tripled over the years with revenues reaching an estimated $570 million (Burke, 2012). Inquiring minds are interested in the rapid success of the restaurant and what are the ideologies behind it as well. This paper will reflect on Five Guy’s philosophy as its set apart from others, examine the core values that the company portrays, identify factors that have contributed to their success, and determine the social and ethical standards practiced by the company. Five Guys definitely has a philosophy that’s sets them apart from the average fast-food restaurant. Simply put from Jerry’s own mouth, “Sell a really good, juicy burger on a fresh bun. Make perfect French fries. Don’t cut...
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...“Five Guys Burgers and Fries: Ingredients for Success” How does one start a business in an industry that is dominated by companies that emphasizes speed and quantity over quality? Jerry and Janie Murrell with the help of their sons have come up with a formula to compete and beat some of the top fast foods companies. When the boys where proposed “start a business or go to college”, they picked to be entrepreneurs (Boone and Kurtz, 2012). Jerry Murrell and his wife started Five Guys Burgers and Fries in 1986. They opened the doors to the first carry out store in Arlington, Virginia with a philosophy that is accredited for the success of Five Guys Burgers and Fries. The original values of the company still stand strong today. There are three factors that contribute to the success for the company. Along with the social practices of the company which has also been a factor in the overall success of the company. “Sell a really good, juicy burger on a fresh bun. Make perfect fries. Don’t cut corners” (White 2009). This has been the Murrell’s basic philosophy since the beginning of Five Guys. Five Guys is known as a chain that sells fresh burgers that are never frozen and are prepare when ordered. There are 15 fresh ingredients that allow customers to specialized there burgers just the way they want. The fries are fresh cut and also made to order. The fries are only cooked in peanut oil. When a customer goes inside one of the Five Guys stores they have can see a sign...
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...Five Guys Burgers and Fries: Ingredients to Success Several characteristics of the national burger chain, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, sets it apart from other fast-food chains. These characteristics include the company’s philosophy, its original values, ethical and social practices, and its overall company culture. Without a doubt, a company who embodies all of the above characteristics is surely worth a more detailed exploration. The Philosophy A company’s philosophy highlights the overarching goal of its operation. In addition, it can help a company set itself apart from its competitors. This is precisely what occurred at Five Guys Burgers and Fries. According to its website, www.fiveguys.com, the company philosophy is “focusing on a few items, and serving them to the best of our ability.” As opposed to most of their competitors, Five Guys Burgers and Fries invest their money into the quality of the food instead of marketing. Five Guys' owner, Jerry Murrell believes "Our best salesman is our customer. Treat that person right, he'll walk out the door and sell for you." (Welch) This type of philosophy clearly sets the company apart from others. Not only does Five Guys Burgers and Fries have a powerful philosophy, the company also has original core values that remain strong today. Original Values Five Guys’ original values were created simple. "Sell a really good, juicy burger on a fresh bun. Make perfect French fries. Don’t cut corners." ” It is vitally...
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...Why Not Burgers and Fries? | Successful Leadership and Entrepreneurship of Five Guys Burgers and Fries | | | | 10/28/2012 | Assignment 1: Entrepreneurial Leadership Contemporary Business Abstract This paper will analyze the business Five Guys Burgers and Fries to determine what has made this business and franchises successful. Five Guys operates in the food service industry and is among the top profitable franchises that offers a simple menu of burgers and fries as its main product. Five Guys’ is a family owned business that started in Arlington, VA that over time became one of the most popular places for fast food that did not require any marketing strategy to be a well-known place to eat. Five Guys’ prides itself of being such a simple company offering the best burgers and fries for a low-cost. Also, the business maintains a sense of integrity and ethics that continues to drive the business profits and keeps customers coming back for more of the burgers and fries. History There are plenty of restaurants available for quick choices of food and also price; one company has improved over time with being number one for a simple hamburger and fries combo. This company, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, are well known in the United States as a fast growing company that started from humble beginnings. The Murrell family, which consists of Janie and Jerry and their five (5) sons, help run the business from the beginning in Arlington...
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...Abstract Five Guys’ has evolved from a small family eatery, to one of the largest restaurant chains in America. They haven’t utilized any major marketing methods, but have accomplished this simply by understanding what their customer’s want, and how to consistently provide it. Five Guys’ was founded in 1986 with its original restaurant located in Arlington, Virginia, and quickly became a Washington, D.C. area treasure. It was Jerry and Janie Murrell who presented their four sons with two options, start a business or go to college. The Murrell brothers chose the latter opening their first restaurant location with their parents’ supervision. The family operated five restaurants by the year 2001 and began to offer franchise opportunities in 2002. Now, 26 years later, there are in excess of 1000 Five Guys’ locations throughout the nation, with plans for 1500 locations in development. This paper examines what differentiates Five Guys’’ from other restaurant chains. The literature notes the factors that contributed to Five Guys’’ success and rapid growth. How Does Five Guys’ Philosophy Set It Apart? As stated on the company’s website “We follow the philosophy of focusing on a few items, and serving them to the best of our abilities,” this is what sets Five Guys’’ apart from other fast food chains. Unlike their competitors, such as Burger King and McDonalds, Five Guys’ has a specific goal, which is to serve the highest quality hamburgers and fries achievable. Their...
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...As a food service company, Five Guys has its own strengths that could see them increase the influence it has in the world market over the other companies. First of all, it has more than seven hundred locations in forty different states and even in four Canadian Provinces (Weise, 2011). An extensive network of a business and its operations is strength in accordance to what their competitors present. They offer a wide variety of foods and drinks in regard of their competitors. Moreover, funny enough, the company offers free peanuts while clients wait for their orders. They have the president’s stamp of approval. The information they provide on the type of foods they produce is equally strength for the company. Five Guys’ Weaknesses All businesses have their strengths and weaknesses. In order to survive and be successful, business should try as much as hard to ensure that their strengths are more than their weaknesses. This increases the chances of succeeding. In the context of Five Guys, the company seems to concentrate more on the production of fries and burgers maximally in disrespect to other kinds of food services (Weise, 2011). For instance, fries are considered to be a health hazard given the amount of fats it increases to the body. Hence, the company should also increase the provision of other types of foods in line with the burgers and fries. Opportunities for Five Guys While engaging in business activities, one should be able to discover the opportunities in the macro...
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...Leadership: “Five Guys and Fries” Professor Watts MBAE5302 – Economics and the Free Market December 16, 2014 Euronda S. Jefferson Five Guy’s Philosophy “Anyone can make money in the food business as long as you have a good product, reasonable price, and a clean place” (Pulizzi, 2010) It was this quote from John Willard Marriott that provided the groundwork John Murrell used to build Five Guys Burgers and Fries. Jerry Murrell, Owner of Five Guys Burgers and Fries, has had a love affair with burgers and fries since he can remember – but not just any burger and certainly not just the run of the mill fries. For this reason, Five Guys’ philosophy, and mission sets it apart from other hamburger chains, thereby creating a successful business model. Five Guys’ philosophy sets it apart from other fast-food chains for the following reasons. First of all, Jerry did not have the pressure like others do when planning to start a business. Jerry was not in a fuss to make money, nor have a strong ambition to monopolize the burgers and fries market. Contrary, Jerry’s goal was to send his two sons to college, and not start a burger joint, a business philosophy providing Jerry the leverage to make more meaningful decisions for starting his burger business. Second, to Jerry’s surprise, his sons did not want to go to college, a decision that he supported. The whole family decided and agreed to use the son’s tuition to start a burger and fries shop...
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...FIVE GUYS BURGERS AND FRIES: INGREDIENTS FOR SUCCESS Five Guys Burgers and Fries: Ingredients for Success Dr. Hammad Elbedour BUSINESS 508: CONTEMPORARY BUSINESS 27 October 2013 FIVE GUYS BURGERS AND FRIES: INGREDIENTS FOR SUCCESS Five Guys Burgers and Fries: Ingredients for Success Five Guys considered by many as the best burger on the market originated in Lorton, Virginia in 1986. Five Guys entrepreneurs were Jerry Murrell with his wife and sons, Forbes Magazine identified in 2012 as the fastest-growing restaurant chains in America, five new stores opening weekly (Boone). The philosophy of Five Guys has set this fast food chain apart from the other fast-food chains. One of the company’s primary competitive differences is keeping it simple and perfecting their limited menu. Five Guys was built with the intent of keeping the Murrell family together as a unit and those strong family values remain today. Each of the seven Murrells own equal company shares of Five Guys, totaling 75% of the company. The family continues to hold business meeting at 1:00 PM on Tuesdays at their Virginia headquarters and decisions are made by a unanimous vote. The Murrell family has remained constant on the simple concept they started their business; creating a better burger and while making a little money doing it. Three factors that have contributed to Five Guys success is their branding, business ethics and franchising. Five Guys quality centered brand...
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...Leadership Determine How Five Guys’ Philosophy Sets it Apart From Other Fast-food Chains Five Guys follows the philosophy of focusing on a few items, and serving them fresh to order. Five Guys is not your typical fast food chain for a number of reasons, one being that they limit their menu. Five Guys serves burgers made to order, which are fresh and never frozen (Boone & Krutz, 2012). Customers can customize their burger with a choice of 17 free toppings such as ketchup, mustard, and jalapeno peppers. The buns are toasted on a grill for better taste, rather than in a bun toaster. The potatoes for the fries are grown in northern Idaho, and are cooked in peanut oil (Boone & Krutz, 2012). Although they may not have a drive-thru, Five Guys offers a sit down restaurant in a warm, clean environment. Analyze the Original Values for the Start-up Company and How it Remains Strong Today Values of a company play a very important part in establishing a business in today's competitive market. The first Five Guys Burgers and Fries opened in Arlington, Virginia in 1986 by the Murrell family (Five Guys’, 2011). The family opened a carry out burger joint in Arlington, Va., that served hand formed burgers and fresh cut fries cooked in pure peanut oil. The Murrell family wanted to provide good food and to keep it simple. The founder of Five Guys believe if you "Treat that person right, he’ll walk out the door and sell for you,"(Five Guys 2011). Since then, Five Guys has received a number...
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...the owners of the Five Guys Burgers and Fries have been able to accomplish due to the simple business plan that was put into place prior to opening their restaurant. We will see that the basic human principles about how we should treat others; will also allow a company to become successful. The success that has been possible for this hamburger and fries restaurant could have easily failed against the big name restaurants known for burger and fries, such as, McDonalds, Burger King, Checkers and Sonics. However, the company is has become a great success even through a tough economic recession. In this assignment, topics such as their philosophy sets them apart from other fast food restaurants, the original values of the company, three factors that have contributed to their success and external markets and how ethical and societal practices that they provide for their customers and employees. The Murrell family was a close knit family who supported their two sons who decided not to attend college after their graduation from high school. They had dreams of owning their own family restaurant. Their parents invested the money that they had been saving over the years and allowed them to begin their first business. Although they were not sure if the business would be a success or a failure, they were supportive of their sons ideas and dreams with the hamburger restaurant allowed them the chance to begin the restaurant that many of us know today as, Five Guys Burgers and Fries. The entrepreneurial...
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...Five Guys: An Honest Business Built on Simplicity Reyna Haynes-Smith Professor Barry Adkins Contemporary Business BUS 508 October 19, 2012 Food. It’s a major topic of discussion today. What’s healthy, what’s not. What’s filling, what’s worth the money. There are many factors that contribute to the reason consumers choose one business over another. Most choose fast food options because they don’t have the time for a sit down meal. Time is short and many want a meal that is filling but also want something healthy. Enter Five Guys Burgers and Fries. Five Guys was founded in 1986 by Jerry and Janie Murrell in Washington DC. They wanted to give their sons the opportunity to either build a business or go to college. The business route won and the family opened a carry out burger joint in Alexandria, VA. Their premise was to concentrate on the quality of their product and the satisfaction of their customer. From that a simple yet beneficial business was born. The “Keep it simple” mindset has brought Five Guys tremendous success. “Now, over 20 years after Five Guys first opened, there are over 1,000 locations nationwide and over 1500 units in development. Five Guys continues to receive media attention and has grown a cult-like following around the world”. Five Guys took many years to perfect their business practices. Many of their practices differed from those of other businesses...
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