The founder of Five Guys recently talked about the reason behind why the chain gives customers a bag packed with overflowing fries, and that extra scoop floating around in the bottom of the bag.
If you’ve been to the burger joint within the past few years, then you know the prices at this establishment can pack a hefty wallop to your ever-deflating wallet. The average cost of one cheeseburger and a sized regular fry at Five Guys will run you about $20. And that’s for just one person.
Average Cost of Five Guys Fries
- Little: $5.19
- Regular: $6.19
- Large: $7.69
The higher prices at Five Guys are set to build in the cost of larger portions (that extra scoop) while using better quality ingredients than your average fast food chain. And presentation also goes a long way.
In fact, employees are instructed to add an extra scoop of fries to the bag to make customers feel they recieved more than their money’s worth, which really just translates to psychological trickery designed to make one feel justified about the decision to spend so much on one burger and a side of fries.
This is what Five Guys founder Jerry Murrell says in regards to other fast food chains’ paltry fry servings:
“I won’t name names, but other restaurants just don’t give a satisfying amount of fries. We always give an extra scoop. I say load ’em up and make sure they get their money’s worth.”
The chain also uses peanut oil, and spurns the traditional fast food implementation of dehydrated frozen fries owing to a buttery, more healthy fry with a higher cost.
Murrell continued:
“Peanut oil is a healthier oil. Lots of people prefer to use hydrogenated oils for a crisper fry, but we want that melt-in-your-mouth buttery taste that non-hydrogenated oil offers. There are no trans fats or preservatives, and it’s the purest oil available. Since fries are all we cook in it, nothing touches our oil except for potatoes and our fry baskets.”
Murrell claims he wants customers to receive such an amount of fries in their order that they complain about getting “too much”.
“[Some] people complain that they get too many fries. I just tell them to make hash browns with the leftovers. I teach my managers that if people aren’t complaining, then you’re not giving them enough.”
Whether the cost of Five Guys food is justified by the higher quality ingredients used or the larger servings…or if the founder is actually concerned with you getting the most bang for your buck (or not)…the act of being hooked up with “extra fries” lends to one feeling like they the beat the system, and hence, be more willing to drop cash at the pricey chain.
