...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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...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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...Running head: “FIVE GUYS BURGERS AND FRIES: INGREDIENTS FOR SUCCESS” “Five Guys Burgers and Fries: Ingredients for Success” A Review of the Literature Dr. Steven Brown Contemporary Business 508 November 27, 2013 2 “Five Guys Burgers and Fries: Ingredients for Success” Abstract The world famous Five Guys Burgers and Fries all started back in 1986 when Jerry and Janie Murrell offered sage advice to the four young Murrell brothers. “Start a business or go to college.” The business route won and the Murrell family opened a carry-out burger joint in Arlington, Virginia. The Murrell family only served hand-formed burgers cooked to perfection on a grill along with fresh-cut fried cooked in pure peanut oil. During the 1980’s and 1990’s they perfected their simple system, it was the place to get a fresh, juicy burger with all the toppings you could stuff between fresh-baked buns. In early 2003 the family started offering franchise opportunities in just less than 18 months; Five Guys Enterprises sold options for over 300 units. The overwhelming success of franchising a local restaurant made national news with articles in trade publications. Now, over 20 years after Five Guys first opened...
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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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...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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...Determine how Five Guys’ philosophy sets it apart from other fast-food chains. In 1986, the Murrell family began Five Guys Burgers and Fries in Arlington, VA, with the mission statement, “We are in the business of selling burgers.” ; simple and to the point (Byrne, 2008). Their beginning philosophy, which still fuels their business today, is to serve simple quality food that will meet the needs of their customers. The focus will not be on fast food but on quality food (“Grand Opening”, 2011). Five Guys’ determination to give fresh quality products has gained them lots of success over the last two decades. The 80/20 beef used in the burgers come from the same vendor that the Murrell family has used since the inception of the business. The Murrell’s also chooses to use Idaho grown potatoes for their fries because they are grown slower, rather than faster, cheaper grown potatoes from Florida and California. Burgers are hand formed every morning, and fries are hand cut every day. The buns used for the company are baked fresh daily just as when the store first opened in 1986 (Welche, 2009). By sticking to their belief in quality burgers fries that are made with freshest ingredients possible, Five Guys has been able to surpass their competition as a burger place. All food is cooked to order. The company believes that a quality product is made no matter what the cost to the company may be. By thriving on made to order burgers and fries with fresh quality ingredients, Five Guys has accrued...
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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 where...
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...Five Guys Ingredients to Success Danielle Rush Dr. Etta Steed BUS 508/ Contemporary Business October 24, 2013 Five Guys How it Started In 1968 Jerry and Janie Murrell gave their four sons a proposition; the four Murrell brothers had to either start up a business or go to college (Five Guys Holdings LLC, 2012). The boys decided that the restaurant business was the journey to embark upon. With the guidance of Jerry and Janie the first carryout only burger joint was opened in Arlington, Virginia in 1986 (Five Guys Holdings LLC, 2012). It cost the Murrell family $70,000 to open up the first Five Guys with the company being ran by Jerry, and his three sons: Matt, Jim, & Chad, while his wife Janie did the books (Burke, 2012). The Murrell family had one mission and that was to ensure the customers would be getting top quality burgers and fresh cut fries. The Murrell family knew that with good quality food and great customers the burgers and fries would speak for themselves and start to attract a crowd. Over the course of a few years the family found the recipe for success and what it takes to make a consistently great tasting burgers and fries time after time. Throughout the course of this paper the five guys philosophy, values, success, and the ethical and social practices of five guys culture will be discussed. Five Guys Philosophy Jerry Murrell and his sons maintain a focus on the freshest and high quality burgers and fries the customers can buy. Through taste...
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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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...University Describe how Five Guys’ philosophy sets it apart from other fast food chains. Five Guy’s philosophy sets apart from other fast food chains because of their ideal burgers. “Five Guys goal is to sell the best quality burgers possible. To sell the best burgers possible they focus on quality, service, and cleanliness”. (Elan, 2007) When a customer leaves Five Guys the aim is for them to really find the products and services irresistible. The high quality food does all the talking. Another way they differ from other food chains is they don’t invest a lot into advertising. York (2009) points out that Five Guys’ invest in an intensive secret shopper program where restaurant crew members can earn additional pay by getting high scores from secret shoppers. Also, a wide variety of topping choices for their burgers is offered. Welch (2010) explains how they “prepare their fries by soaking them in water so that when the fries are pre-fried, the water boils forcing steam out of the fry”. While visiting Five Guy’s Burgers and fries for the first time back in 2003, during a brief conversation with the friendly cashier, I was amazed to find out that they use coolers instead of freezers. The truth is, I had never heard of that being done before in a restaurant. Another thought that I have that makes Five Guys’ different from other food chains is the way they execute the processing of the orders. As a customer, I can watch my burger being made to ensure it is...
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...Business October 21, 2013 Five Guys’ Burgers and Fries: A Simple Recipe for Success 1. Determine how Five Guys’ philosophy sets it apart from other fast-food chains. Five Guys’ philosophy for success has always been about serving and satisfying the consumer wants and needs. I am sure other fast-food chains thought process about satisfying their consumers are as well with good intentions also, however, Five Guys deliver the product to order. The quality of their food, such as, the meat, which is fresh and not frozen. Their fries are locally cropped and cooked in peanut oil. Where other fast-food chains sale goods as they prepare see fit. Five Guys’ uses the supply and demand rule of thumb very well. The product that is being sold to consumers has to be one that is worth purchasing at any cost. A successful business is one that has a high demand and supply chain. If there is a high demand for a good or service, then the seller must then return that product and or service at a price that that consumer is willing to pay for that particular service. Most of the time if the product is in demand and is something that the consumer must indeed have or want, the consumer is willing to pay at any cost for that good. Five Guys’ philosophy is set apart from other fast-food chains because of what ingredients they use in preparation of their food. They use the top of the line product when preparing their burgers and fries. They also make their burgers to the order of the consumer with...
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...Five Guys: Recipe for Success 1 Five Guys Burgers and Fries: Recipe For Success Bonds Contemporary Business- BUS 508 January 25, 2013 Five Guys: Recipe for Success 2 Five Guys Burgers and Fries: Recipe For Success Introduction Five Guys and a Burger was created in 1986 when founder Jerry Murrell realized his two oldest sons did not want to go to college. He was okay with their decision and decided to use their tuition money that had been saved to open the first Five Guys and a Burger, a quality hamburger take out restaurant located in Arlington, Virginia. This paper will discuss the company’s philosophy; start up values, factors for success and the culture of the food. Five Guys Philosophy Five Guys’ philosophy sets them apart from any other food chain. They believe that if you sell quality food and maintain superior customer service that the product will sell itself. “Keep it simple, focus on “food,” not “fast,” and use honest-to-goodness fresh ingredients of the highest quality you can buy.” (Smith, para.3) When a restaurant keeps it simple, inventory and training is much easier within the restaurant and employees usually do a better job due to their tasks being much more manageable. When owning a small business quality versus quantity is important because it...
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...Five Guys is a concept tha has never looked better to this struggling business economy and the fight for financial freedomis a tough rat race all the way to the end. Not for Five Guys, a company that sets the bar for the unthinkable by remaining true to their brand. A modest burger and frie joint that started in Arlington, Va was birth by Jerry Murrell who his lane, “We are in the business of selling burgers” – stated Jerry Murrell as one of the mission statements for his company; Five Guys Burger & Fries. Five Guys has had the same business plan since Jerry and his sons opened the first burger shop in 1986. They only use fresh ingredients never frozen. There are no gimmicks to the Five Guys philosophy; just simple food with simple ingredients. That’s how it worked while running one restaurant and that’s how it works with now over a thousand restaurants all over the U.S. and Canada (Smith, 2011, p.2). The philosophy of fresh ingredients, never frozen is the concept that Five Guys has built their reputation around. They set themselves apart from competition by sticking to “simplicity,” as a pritority. They do not have drive-thru windows and do not deliver. Eerything is cooked to order made within each franchises own discreation. Most of all they are no coolers, so the meat is guarenteed fresh. Mr. Mureell wants to simply make burgers and fries, the menu focus is on a few items as a opposed to many “subpar” items. I can repsect someone who is master of their trade and not a jack...
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...options. Five Guys Burgers and Fries is definitely set apart from the rest in a unique way. The first thing that caught my eye when I was looking on their website is that they do not have any freezers inside the restaurants. I was pleasantly surprised because even restaurants that say they use all fresh ingredients have freezers. Five Guys is an exception to this, they do not have freezers they have coolers, because all the food is made fresh to order and never frozen compared to other fast food places, like McDonalds. Simply put the restaurant industry right now is crowded with burger and fries, so Five Guys does burgers and fries better than everyone else. It all started when Jerry Murrell’s sons decided they did not want to attend college. Satisfied with the decision they made he used the money that was going towards tuition to open up a hamburger take-out shop in Virginia. (Boone and Kurtz, 2012, p.78) Columnist from Inc.com states that even though Five Guys only sells burgers, they sell burgers extremely well. (Joiner, 2012) Five Guys puts value in their food by offering fresh made to order burger with up to fifteen free toppings to choose from. Fine ingredients cost more and Five Guys is committed to offering great quality food with quality ingredients. Jerry Murrell, CEO of Five Guys Burgers and Fries stated in an interview with USA TODAY, “I think people will pay a little extra for food if it is worth it.” (Joiner, 2012) Since the beginning of the startup of Five Guys, the...
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...motivate five sons to make a decision between going to college or to start a business? You’ve guessed right, Five Guys Burgers and Fries. Their ingredients for success were founded in 1986 by parents Jerry and Janie Murrell along with their five sons (Boone & Kurtz, 2012). Five Guys went from a small family restaurant to being considered the fastest growing food industry in today’s consumer market. Moreover, their success was only pinpointed on the quality of the burgers served and less on advertising. Throughout this research report, I’ll explain the philosophy, values, successful factor contributions, and ethical and social practices of the Five Guys business culture. 1. Determine how Five Guys’ philosophy sets it apart from other fast-food chains. Ever since the establishment of Five Guys Burgers and Fries, they’ve desired their business plan to be simple. As stated by Jerry Murrell, “Sell a really good, juicy burger on a fresh bun. Make perfect French fries. Don’t cut corners (Boone & Kurtz, 2012).” This kind of philosophy has voted them to be number one as customers favorite go to restaurant (Hsu, 2012). To stand out from other fast food chains, Five Guys wanted to focus on the quality of food and less advertising as possible. In addition, their food is always served fresh with burgers that are eighty percent lean patties that aren’t frozen with a side of Idaho potatoes that fried in peanut oil (Boone & Kurtz, 2012). Furthermore, they ensure that the ingredients are of...
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