QUICK SUMMARY
White Castle was founded by Billy Ingram in 1921, with the first White Castle location being established in Wichita, Kansas. The restauranteur moved the company to Columbus, Ohio, in 1934 and White Castle began to expand throughout the midwest in the coming years.
Since the beginning, White Castle has prided itself on being a family-owned business prioritizing quality and control over growth and profits.
Billy Ingram and his White Castle restaurant innovated small, square hamburgers that came to be known as “sliders” because of how easily they went down. This is believed to be the origin of the term “slider” as it applies to food.
In recent years, White Castle has strategically opened new markets by placing locations in previously untapped territories such as Florida, Arizona, and Shanghai, China.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- White Castle was founded in Wichita in 1921, moved to Columbus in 1934, and expanded throughout the Midwest, priding itself on quality and control.
- The small, square hamburger, known as the “slider,” originated with White Castle, highlighting their innovation in the fast-food industry.
- As of 2024, White Castle operates 350 restaurants across 15 states, with Illinois having the most at 59 locations.
- White Castle does not franchise, prioritizing proximity to supply facilities to maintain quality and low costs, and strategically opening new markets.
- Brand loyalty and cultural impact of White Castle were boosted by the 2004 film “Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle” and Time Magazine’s 2014 recognition of the slider.
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Is White Castle A Franchise?
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No, as of 2024, White Castle does not offer franchise opportunities. The most significant factor in this decision is that the family-owned company’s core model relies on proximity to supply facilities to maintain quality and low costs.
Expanding the privately owned White Castle brand nationwide would require substantial investment and the release of strict control.
In place of franchising, White Castle operates a limited number of restaurants near their meat plants, bakeries, and produce facilities, ensuring high food quality and manageable costs.
While White Castle does not offer franchise agreements, they do facilitate a real estate acquisition process for potential locations. Specifically, the company has shown interest in land that meets the following criteria:
- It is 20,000-40,000 sq. ft.
- Has at least 35,000 people within a 2.5-mile radius
- It is located in an area with an average household income of at least $55,000
If you are an entrepreneur interested in opportunities with White Castle, keep an eye on future developments, as changes within the company could present new opportunities for investment.
How Many White Castle Are There?
As of March 2024, White Castle operates 350 restaurants in the United States. These locations cover fifteen states, mostly in the Midwest, with Illinois hosting the most White Castle restaurants, with 59.
White Castle has modest expansion rates, opening an average of just ten new fast-food restaurants annually. Despite their slow growth rate, White Castle has extended to the international market, opening two popular locations in Shanghai, China.
The company has also tapped into two new markets with recent openings of White Castle locations—its first in the western half of the United States in Scottsdale, Arizona, and its largest restaurant to date in Orlando, Florida.
White Castle Sliders are also available in grocery stores nationwide, potentially testing markets for future restaurant openings.
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What Is The Brand Loyalty And Cultural Impact Of White Castle?
Founded in 1921, White Castle owns the distinction of being the first fast-food hamburger chain in the country and is currently the only one with more than 100 years of history.
The brand’s cult-like following and unique reputation in the fast-food restaurant industry were further bolstered in 2004 with the release of the movie Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle.
Then, in 2014, Time magazine named the White Castle slider “the most influential burger in America.”
White Castle’s relatively small market share and limited number of restaurants may actually serve to strengthen their customers’ loyalty and brand enthusiasm, with many devoted customers traveling hours for a White Castle burger or other menu option.