In-N-Out is expanding east: Burger chain plans to open Tennessee ...

A West Coast staple will be making its way to the Volunteer State.

In-N-Out announced Tuesday it will be opening it will be opening a corporate hub in Tennessee, with plans to open restaurants in the state in the future.

"We are very excited to provide Tennesseans with our quality burgers, fries and shakes," Lynsi Snyder, In-N-Out owner and president, said in a statement. "This expansion is significant for our company."

The hamburger, fries and milkshake joint has been known as a premier California fast food chain ever since it opened its doors in the state in 1948. The company has since expanded with locations in six other states, but only going as far east as Texas.

What states have In-N-Out locations?

In-N-Out has 385 locations in:

California

Nevada

Arizona

Utah

Oregon

Colorado

Texas

The East Coast and other areas have pleaded to get In-N-Out to venture further east, including Florida.

"For many years, we’ve heard requests from our customers in Tennessee to consider opening locations near them, further east than we’ve ever been. Our customers are our most important asset at In-N-Out, and we very much look forward to serving them in years to come, and becoming part of the wonderful communities in The Volunteer State," Snyder said.

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When and where are In-N-Out locations opening in Tennessee?

The company's corporate hub will be built in the city of Franklin, just south of Nashville. It has two other corporate locations in Baldwin Park and Irvine, California.

In-N-Out added it plans to open its first Tennessee restaurants by 2026. Snyder said in a press conference announcing the expansion the company is eyeing locations in Nashville to open the first restaurant.

"When we've opened in new states, we get overwhelmed with customers so we generally try to open two in one day when we are first stepping into a state," she said. "We will start with two and probably have a third one shortly after."

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee expressed his excitement with the opening of locations in the state in a Twitter post.

"It means a lot of opportunity, and a lot of jobs for a lot of Tennesseans," Lee said. "Plus, we're going to get to have a double double, fries and shakes right here in the great state of Tennessee."

Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5.

Contributing: Melonee Hurt and Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean

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In-N-Out adds first new menu item in 15 years

Nancy Luna

Orange County Register

In-N-Out Burger has made a rare move, adding a new item to its limited menu of burgers, shakes and fries: hot cocoa.

The Southern California burger institution — with a menu that has remained relatively unchanged since it was founded in Baldwin Park in 1948 — is selling an 8-ounce cup of hot chocolate.

Such menu additions are routine at most fast-food chains which often break out new creations and discounts at the start of a new year.

But for Irvine-based In-N-Out, a menu expansion is tantamount to Taco Bell serving fries on its Mexican-inspired menu. (By the way, that milestone is happening later this month.)

In-N-Out sells burgers, fries, sodas and shakes. Nothing else. In previous interviews, the chain has said the last significant menu change came more than 15 years ago when restaurants added lemonade.

It appears nostalgia is what prompted the hot cocoa addition to In-N-Out’s 328 restaurants in California, Utah, Arizona, Texas, Nevada and Oregon.

Company president Lynsi Snyder, whose grandparents founded In-N-Out in 1948, said hot cocoa was previously sold at the chain in the 1950s.

“This is actually the return of hot cocoa,” she said in a statement. “My grandparents, Harry and Esther Snyder, served it for many years beginning in the ‘50s. I’m not sure how it fell off the menu but it’s part of our culture and something special for kids, and I’m happy that we’re bringing it back.”

She said the company sources cocoa powder from Ghirardelli Chocolate Company to make the hot chocolate.

During a visit to a restaurant in Orange, the sweet beverage was poured from a thermal dispenser labeled “Hot Cocoa” in the chain’s signature red font. The drink, served in a white cup with the signature In-N-Out palm trees, comes topped with a packet of mini marshmallows. (Marshmallows can be requested on the side.)

The employee said the $1.60 drink is made with hot water, not milk. By comparison, McDonald’s sells a 12-ounce hot chocolate made with milk for $2. McCafe does not sell any drinks smaller than 12 ounces.

Adding hot cocoa is one of two major business decisions made by the privately-held company in recent weeks. In late November, In-N-Out announced plans to expand to Colorado — the seventh state the chain has entered in 69 years.

It will likely take at least three years before Colorado sees its first Double-Double.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency

In-N-Out Burger may come to Fort Collins in Colorado expansion

Beloved burger chain In-N-Out wants to come to Fort Collins. Maybe.

The California-based chain met Thursday with Fort Collins officials to discuss plans for a 3,832-square-foot restaurant at 1700 S. College Ave., south of Prospect Road.

Plans are preliminary, but if they move forward, Fort Collins would be among the company's expansion plans in Colorado, which include a $19.5 million distribution facility in Colorado Springs and up to 50 eateries across the state, according to news reports.

The first restaurant is expected to open in Colorado Springs. Plans have also been filed for a restaurant in Lone Tree.

According to its conceptual review application, In-N-Out would raze the existing building at 1700 S. College Ave. that includes Wok N Roll Teriyaki to clear the way for the new restaurant and drive-thru.

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Carl Arena, In-N-Out's vice president of real estate and development, was noncommittal about Fort Collins.

"At this time, all of our focus is on the design/build of our distribution center in Colorado Springs that has to be open and operating prior to the first store opening in Colorado," Arena wrote in an email.

"Although our real estate team continues to investigate several opportunities in a number of Colorado cities, it is far too early to comment on any further location plans," Arena said.

A drive-thru is permitted at that location, city planner Noah Beals said, but the restaurant would have to mitigate for potential stacking of cars waiting to get into the site. The Starbucks next door has faced the issue of cars clogging the right lane along College Avenue while waiting to turn into the coffee shop.

The property owner agreed to change the design to create more space for vehicles to stack.

Beals said restaurant representatives gave no indication of when they would hope to open in Fort Collins. But it could be a couple of years away. The distribution center would need to open first to serve the location, and that isn't planned until 2021.

In-N-Out keeps its menu simple: burgers (double, tripe or quadruple patties), cheeseburgers, fries, milkshakes, grilled cheese, plus a burger wrapped in lettuce for those who want to reduce their carbs. It's menu hasn't changed much since its founding in 1948.

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But it has achieved cult-like status from those who have grown up with the 71-year-old independently owned chain.

In-N-Out was opened by Harry and Esther Snyder in 1948 in Baldwin Park, California. Known for its fresh ingredients, the company slowly expanded to protect its quality. By 2015, In-N-Out had reached 300 restaurants in five states outside California: Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Texas and Oregon.

The Snyders' granddaughter now owns the company.

Pat Ferrier is a senior reporter covering business, health care and growth issues in Northern Colorado.

Iowa Poll: Ikea, In-N-Out Burger debut would 'thrill' fifth of Iowans

© Copyright 2021, Des Moines Register and Tribune Co.

A fifth of Iowans "would be thrilled" to see national brands Ikea or In-N-Out Burger open their first Hawkeye State locations, according to a new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll.

Twenty-one percent of Iowans pine to shop at Ikea, the Swedish furniture and home furnishings chain, with In-N-Out Burger in hot pursuit, at 20%.

However, for each of the six national chains the poll surveyed, the overwhelming majority of Iowans respond with a shrug at the possibility of the brand’s debut in the state, responding that they "don’t really care one way or the other." The other chains included in the survey were Shake Shack, Macy’s, Nordstrom and Restoration Hardware.

Like the rest of the country, Iowa's retail scene has been adapting as the accessibility and popularity of online shopping grow, a trend only exacerbated with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For years, retailers in Iowa have been adjusting to the rise of e-commerce giant Amazon's growing presence in the state by expanding their own online offerings, catering to customers with unique shopping experiences or both.

In the Des Moines metro, bigger retailers have shifted their brick-and-mortar locations to better position themselves in high-traffic areas, such as Von Maur's announcement earlier this year of its intention to relocate from Valley West Mall to Jordan Creek Town Center, where an H&M opened in June.

The poll, conducted by Selzer & Co., surveyed 810 randomly selected Iowa adults from Nov. 7-10. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.

Here’s what Iowans think about each national chain:

Ikea

Leading the pack with the most interest (21%), Ikea is the “returning champ,” according to pollster J. Ann Selzer. It also was the favorite pick when the Iowa Poll asked a similar question in February 2013. Then, 25% of respondents said they'd be thrilled to welcome an Ikea to Iowa.

Ikea is a bigger deal for those under age 35 (28% thrilled) than those age 65 and older (13%), and for more women (27%) than men (15%). Suburban dwellers also pop at 40%.

Poll respondent Andy Miesner, 38, an associate professor of pharmacy at Drake University, said he'd be excited to see Ikea in central Iowa after shopping at the retailer elsewhere.

"The closest we can go currently would be to the Twin Cities or one down in Kansas City," the Des Moines resident said.

"I have several Ikea products in my home as far as furniture and whatnot. I tend to shop locally if I can, but if there are those specific types of items, I find myself going online rather than traveling somewhere to get something."

The company, with 462 locations worldwide as of last month, started experimenting with a smaller store format earlier this year. The retailer, known for its meatballs and lofty warehouses filled with ready-to-assemble furniture, opened the first smaller store in New York at 115,000 square feet, compared to its typical 300,000 square feet of retail space.

Twenty-three percent of poll respondents say they would feel “mildly happy” if the brand came to Iowa, and 53% don’t care one way or the other. Three percent of respondents are unsure.

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In-N-Out Burger

Trailing close behind Ikea, the arrival of an In-N-Out Burger is an exciting prospect for 20% of poll respondents.

In-N-Out Burger appeals to more Iowans under age 35 (28%) than those 65 and older (9%). Overall, 19% of Iowans say the California-based chain’s arrival in Iowa would make them “mildly happy,” and 59% report indifference. Two percent are unsure.

A new In-N-Out Burger can cause quite a stir among its fans. Cars backed up for 14 hours in Colorado after the chain opened its first stores there in 2020, according to the Denver Post.

Poll respondent Miesner said that while he's never tried In-N-Out, he's noticed the brand's loyal following and would be excited for an Iowa location to open.

"It's one of those things you always hear on TV or movies as being a big deal in California," Miesner said.

But the brand's popularity doesn't extend to poll respondent Janet Wiedermann, a 66-year-old retired teacher in Dubuque, who prefers dining and shopping at locally owned businesses.

"I'm retired so the way for me to make money is to not spend money," Wiedermann said. "I do go out to lunch a lot, but I go to local restaurants with friends."

The regional fast-food chain was in the news recently when officials closed two of its stores in California for violating local policies requiring restaurants to check customers’ vaccination status for indoor dining, according to The Los Angeles Times.

In-N-Out executive Arnie Wensinger said in a statement it isn’t the company’s job to police a person’s vaccination status and that the company refuses "to become the vaccination police for any government,” according to USA Today.

More:How is the Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll conducted? We answer your top questions.

Macy’s

The prospect of Macy's, one of America’s oldest retailers, coming to Iowa would thrill 11% of poll respondents — an 8 percentage point drop from the February 2013 poll.

The New York-based department store chain appears to be shifting its focus toward e-commerce, with plans to launch a digital marketplace in 2022 and to finish closing one-fifth of its stores by 2023.

A Macy’s department store in Iowa would make 20% of residents mildly happy, but 67% don’t care either way. One percent are unsure.

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Nordstrom

The Seattle-based department store chain trails just behind Macy’s; a first store in the state would thrill 9% of Iowans. Seventeen percent of respondents say they would be mildly happy, while 72% are apathetic and 3% are unsure.

Shake Shack

Eight percent of Iowans would be thrilled about the arrival of New York-based Shake Shack, a fast-casual chain with around 345 locations globally.

Thirteen percent of respondents would be mildly happy about the opening of a restaurant known for its never-frozen roadside burger with signature sauce. Seventy-five percent don’t care either way, and 4% are unsure.

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Restoration Hardware

Ranking lowest of the six, arrival of a Restoration Hardware would thrill just 5% of Iowans. Debut of the upscale home furnishings store would make 15% of Iowans mildly happy. As with Shake Shack, 75% of respondents don’t care either way. Five percent are unsure.

About the poll

The Iowa Poll, conducted November 7-10, 2021, for the Des Moines Register and Mediacom by Selzer & Co. of Des Moines, is based on telephone interviews with 810 Iowans ages 18 or older. Interviewers with Quantel Research contacted households with randomly selected landline and cell phone numbers supplied by Dynata. Interviews were administered in English. Responses were adjusted by age, sex, and congressional district to reflect the general population based on recent American Community Survey estimates.

Questions based on the sample of 810 Iowa adults have a maximum margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points. Questions based on the subsample of 658 likely voters in the 2024 presidential election have a maximum margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points. This means that if this survey were repeated using the same questions and the same methodology, 19 times out of 20, the findings would not vary from the true population value by more than plus or minus 3.4 percentage points or 3.8 percentage points, respectively. Results based on smaller samples of respondents — such as by gender or age — have a larger margin of error.

Republishing the copyright Iowa Poll without credit to the Des Moines Register and Mediacom is prohibited.

Hannah Rodriguez covers retail for the Register. Reach her at herodriguez@registermedia.com or on Twitter @byherodriguez.

Here are the most wanted restaurants, businesses in Sioux Falls

It seems that every time a new business announces its arrival in Sioux Falls, the news is met by a chorus of suggestions of what other ventures our fair city is missing out on.

Last year, we at the Sioux Falls Business Journal asked you which chain businesses you felt we were missing out on and got a lot of responses, including three — Chick-fil-A, Chipotle Mexican Grill and Dave & Buster's — that have since announced plans to locate here.

This year, we decided to see how your answers have changed, polling readers over social media, asking which business you feel Sioux Falls is missing out on. And boy, did you answer.

We received hundreds of responses for more than 80 restaurants and stores. While many answers were unsurprising (like The Chicken Restaurant That Shall Not Be Named), we also received some more unusual responses (looking at you, guy who submitted Church's Chicken on our survey 50 times). One thoughtful person even took the time and postage to mail one of our reporters a note handwritten on an index card, requesting the return of Long John Silver's.

In last year's survey, the top answer was grocery store Trader Joe's, with Chick-fil-A coming in second. This year, the roles have reversed, with Chick-fil-A coming out on top and Trader Joe's falling behind.

More:Sioux Falls will have a reason to 'Eat Mor Chikin' after mayor announces Chick-fil-A's arrival

Here are the rest of the top 10 businesses you'd like to see in Sioux Falls:

Winston-Salem, N.C.

Number of Locations: 1,000+

Closest Location: Omaha

A favorite of fundraisers everywhere, the donut chain is unique in this list because it actually used to have a Sioux Falls location at 3501 W. 41st St., but it closed back in 2006.

"We're going through some restructuring right now," Jim Hoskinson, general manager for the company that opened Krispy Kreme in Sioux Falls, told the Sioux Falls Business Journal shortly after the closing. "Sioux Falls has been good to us."

Back then, Krispy Kreme considered a smaller location elsewhere in the city, but so far, nothing has panned out.

Canton, Mass.

Number of Locations: 11,300+

Closest Location: Omaha

The coffee and donut shop that dropped the donuts from its name is a new addition to Sioux Falls' most wanted list. Once an East Coast-only staple, Dunkin' has expanded across the country. Heck, Omaha already has eight of them.

But while many of the states around us are currently available for franchising, South Dakota is not. It is classified as a "future market," not open or reserved for franchisers. However, this could change as the area grows.

Austin, Texas

Number of Locations: 500+

Closest Location: Omaha

The natural supermarket sometimes called "Whole Paycheck" for its high-end prices has stores in South Dakota neighbors Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska. It has so far snubbed less-populated states like Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming and South Dakota.

But Whole Foods was purchased in 2017 by Amazon, which has floated the idea of expanding the store into states like Wyoming, according to a Wall Street Journal report. So there could be hope for Sioux Falls Whole Foods fans after all.

Photos:18 favorite South Dakota foods

Raleigh, N.C.

Number of Locations: 483

Closest Location: Maple Grove, Minn.

The buffet chain is currently in 41 states, not including South Dakota. However, the majority of its restaurants are franchised, and Sioux Falls is listed as an open market on Golden Corral's website.

So if Sioux Falls wants to see Golden Corral any time soon, someone around here needs to pony up the $50,000 franchise fee.

Irvine, Calif.

Number of Locations: 340+

Closest Location: Salt Lake City, Utah

Sorry, Sioux Falls, you probably won't get locally made Double-Doubles or Neopolitan shakes any time soon.

The classic California burger joint doesn't franchise, and it has a rule about new restaurants not being more than a day's drive away from the nearest warehouse, in order to preserve freshness.

“I don’t see us stretched across the whole U.S. I don’t see us in every state," In-N-Out president Lynsi Snyder told Forbes in 2018. “You put us in every state and it takes away some of its luster.”

However, in 2019 the chain announced plans to open several locations in Colorado, so anything's possible.

More:In-N-Out Burger just filed plans for its first Denver-area restaurant. Here's where

Scottsdale, Ariz.

Number of Locations: 210+

Closest Location: Omaha

The Asian-American eatery rose in the ranks from No. 10 last year to No. 5 this year, signaling that Sioux Falls residents are craving it more than ever. While many of the restaurants on this list are fast food, P.F. Chang's is a little more upscale, with a full bar and dim sum to go with its lineup of standard Chinese entrees.

As for whether Sioux Falls will actually get one, P.F. Chang's is no stranger to the Midwest, but it tends to gravitate toward larger cities or suburbs (think Des Moines, Kansas City and Edina, Minn.). It also does not franchise within the U.S.

More:True South Dakotans will recognize these state favorites — but how did they come to be?

Baton Rouge, La.

Number of Locations: 490+

Closest Location: Norfolk, Neb.

Named after the founder's Labrador Retriever, this Southern restaurant does pretty much one thing: Chicken fingers. But it must be doing it well, because Nation's Restaurant News recently dubbed it the sixth-fastest growing fast food chain in the country, with sales up 22.5 percent last year.

Raising Cane's is a new addition to this wish list, replacing IKEA, which did not even place in the top 10 this year. While Raising Cane's has shown it will come to smaller markets like Norfolk, there are already a lot of chicken places here, especially now that the long-awaited Chick-fil-A is gracing us with its presence.

More:This fast-food chain serves one specialty

Calabasas Hills, Calif.

Number of Locations: 211

Closest Location: Omaha

Perhaps known more for its dictionary-sized menu than for its namesake dessert, the Cheesecake Factory is in 40 states, including Nebraska, Minnesota and Iowa.

The Cheesecake Factory does not franchise, meaning it would be up to the company to decide if it would bring its opulent restaurants to Sioux Falls, and it has not yet said whether it plans to do so.

But while some may be disappointed at Sioux Falls' lack of a Cheesecake Factory, others may be grateful that their waistlines will not suffer.

"I love Cheesecake Factory," one Sioux Falls Business Journal reader wrote, "but their cheesecake has 1,200 calories, so I'll enjoy it when I visit out of town."

2. Trader Joe's

Headquarters: Monrovia, Calif.

Number of Locations: 500+

Closest Location: Omaha

The tropical-themed grocery store famous for its Charles Shaw wines — affectionately known as "Two-Buck Chuck," even though in most places it is now $3 — was Sioux Falls' most-desired business in 2019. Even though it dropped below Chick-fil-A in this year's rankings, it is still high on a lot of lists.

So far, Trader Joe's is in 42 states, but it has not indicated when it will come to Sioux Falls. But if Sioux Falls can sustain THREE Aldi stores, which are similar in price and structure to Trader Joe's, surely we can support just one TJ's.

Atlanta

Number of Locations: 2,200+

Closest Location: Brookings

Sioux Falls' top pick has already set its sights on the Queen City.

Mayor Paul TenHaken announced Wednesday that Chick-fil-A would at last be coming to Sioux Falls.

"More than any other restaurant or business in the world, Chick-fil-A gets brought up in my office," TenHaken told the Argus Leader ahead of the announcement.

The chicken restaurant is known for its customer service, homemade lemonade and tangy Chick-fil-A sauce, and already has two smaller versions at the South Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota campuses.

"Chick-fil-A is the only right answer," one reader said in response to the survey. "If Brookings and Vermillion both have the express, (there's) no reason why Sioux Falls shouldn't have an actual restaurant."

More:Cheers and jeers: Chick-fil-A's arrival prompts mixed reaction

Tulare's In-N-Out Burger opening Thursday

The wait for a Double-Double in Tulare is over: In-N-Out Burger will open its first location in the city on Thursday after months of construction and years of begging.

Tulareans have eagerly anticipated the beloved burger joint for more than a year. The restaurant will open on Prosperity Avenue between Laspina and Brentwood avenues across from Home Depot.

More:Quesadilla Gorilla, Component Coffee Lab opening Tulare location ahead of major expansion

"Tulare is a wonderful community, and we are definitely looking forward to having this great location to serve our customers," Carl Arena, In-N-Out Burger's vice president of real estate and development, previously told the Advance-Register.

The Tulare location will employ 80 associates with wages beginning at $16 an hour. The restaurant will feature one drive-thru lane, indoor seating for 58 guests, and an outdoor patio with seating for 38 guests.

An opening date for Visalia's second In-N-Out on Dinuba Boulevard has not been publicly announced but is nearing completion.

Tulare residents welcomed the restaurant's debut in the city on Wednesday.

"I'm glad it's finally opening. My family enjoys In-N-Out, and this might save us a few trips to Visalia," Steve Jiminez said. The Tulare man added that he would like to see more businesses come to the town, particularly those offering higher-paying jobs.

In-N-Out is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. and until 1:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The Irvine-based chain has more than 330 locations in seven states across the western U.S.

Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers will open on Sept. 28 in the same Tulare development.

The Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based chain is known for its crispy chicken fingers and tangy Cane's sauce, as well as coleslaw, crinkle-cut fries, and a chicken sandwich.

Cane's recently opened a Hanford location with Visalia and Fresno locations opening soon ahead of a major San Joaquin Valley expansion for the franchise.

With development along Tulare's Highway 99 corridor intensifying, the locally owned Quesadilla Gorilla and Component Coffee Lab announced last week that they were opening a new restaurant and cafe on Leland Avenue, just behind Walmart.

Joshua Yeager covers water, agriculture, parks and housing for the Visalia Times-Delta and Tulare Advance-Register newspapers. Follow him on Twitter @VTD_Joshy. Get alerts and keep up on all things Tulare County for as little as $1 a month. Subscribe today.

From Tim Hortons to White Castle: 7 restaurant chains missing in ...

The Sunshine State is home to plenty of restaurants and national fast-food chains, including — and most importantly — 173 Waffle Houses, all of which are open 24/7/365.

Waffle House is so reliable the Federal Emergency Management Agency uses the "Waffle House disaster index" to evaluate hurricane damage — unofficially, of course. Former FEMA administrator Craig Fugate once said, "If you get there and the Waffle House is closed, that's really bad. That's where you go to work."

We may have Waffle Houses galore, but Floridians are still forced to drive hundreds, sometimes thousands, of miles to get a fix from some other national favorites. Here's a look at seven American and Canadian beloved fast-food chains that haven't yet made it to our southern stretch, including a couple that might be coming soon.

More:Florida bucket list: 20 things you have to do in the Sunshine State

In-N-Out Burger

Besides serving great-tasting hamburgers, In-N-Out Burger gets mad props for its top-notch customer service. (It ranked No. 28 on Forbes' list of America's Best Employers.)

Chomping into its signature Double-Double — two burgers and two slices of cheese — feels so much better when it's served to you with kindness, right? In-N-Out's menu is limited, but its not-so-secret menu shows customers how to add a little zing to their orders. Primarily serving California, restaurants also are in Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Texas and Utah.

Sadly for Florida fans, In-N-Out has no plans to come to the East Coast of the U.S.

In its 70-some years, In-N-Out has expanded very slowly, focusing on quality over quantity. As this interesting SFGate article points out, In-N-Out doesn't use freezers, so all of its stores must be within 300 miles of its distribution facilities. Seeing as the chain, which does not franchise, has only made it to Texas, Florida seems pretty far-flung for the time being.

Where's the closest In-N-Out Burger?: Rockwall, Texas (1,200 miles)

Jack In The Box

The spicy chicken strips and sourdough Jack might be the big draws, but Jack In The Box'slate-night menu is where it's at.

Served from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., "munchie meals" include comfort foods like — get ready — a grilled cheese stacked onto a burger. But wait! There's more! You also get two tacos, a mixed order of french fries and curly fries and a soft drink.

The San Diego-based chain also serves breakfast and something it calls brunchfest.

There are more than 2,200 restaurants in 21 states but, so far, none in Florida. However, the fast-food chain may be looking for area franchisees. According to a 2017 article in the Orlando Business Journal Jack In the Box held a franchise candidate meeting for its restaurants during the Airport Revenue News Conference and Exhibition in Orlando in spring 2018. Attempts to reach Jack In the Box for comment were unsuccessful.

According to the article, interested Jack In The Box franchisees must have a minimum net worth of $1.5 million, seven years of restaurant experience and up to $750,000 in liquid assets.

Where's the closest Jack In The Box?: Rock Hill, South Carolina (608 miles)

Honey Dew Donuts

The largest locally owned coffee and doughnut shop chain in New England, Honey Dew got its start in 1973 in Mansfield, Massachusetts. It has since grown to more than 145 locations throughout the northeast, according to its website. Over the last 46 years, the chain's offerings have also grown to include coffee drinks, muffins and bagels. But doughnuts are what it's famous for. Fan favorites include classic apple-cider doughnuts, Boston creams, glazed doughnuts with "jimmies" (that's New England-speak for sprinkles) and its Honey Dew Drops, a cutesy name for doughnut holes.

While New England's snowbirds flock to Florida en masse each winter, it's unclear if Honey Dew will ever do the same. The chain did not respond to requests for comment.

Where's the closest Honey Dew Donuts? Hyannis, Massachusetts (1,398 miles)

Raising Cane's

If chicken's your thing, then douse it in Cane Sauce and be done with it.

The Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers makes choosing lunch or dinner easy, with just four combo meals on its short menu: The Box Combo; The 3-Finger Combo; The Caniac Combo; and The Sandwich Combo.

And really, you don't need much more than chicken, coleslaw, crinkle-cut fries and a big piece of Texas toast to feel better about things.

Restaurants are in 27 states but none is in Florida. If Raising Cane's website is any indication, the chain seems to be focusing its expansion efforts on Ohio, Texas, Iowa and Colorado.

Where's the closest Raising Cane's?: Athens, Georgia (581 miles)

Sheetz

OK, so Sheetz is more of a convenience store than a restaurant. However, like Wawa, which was also founded in Pennsylvania, Sheetz has a passionately devoted following, so it's included on the list.

Like Wawa, the Altoona, Pennsylvania-based Sheetz is a gas station that also sells a mix of fast food and other convenience store items, including made-to-order doughnuts, burritos, french fries and specialty coffee drinks. Stores are in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia and North Carolina.

Wawa expanded to Florida in 2012 with a location in Orlando, and it has since spread far and wide across the state. Will Sheetz do the same? Only time will tell.

Where's the closest Sheetz?: Lillington, North Carolina (575 miles)

More:Cheaper than Disney, here are 10 unique Florida museums worth visiting this summer

Tim Hortons

In the 1980s, Florida was home to two Tim Hortons, in Deerfield Beach and Pompano Beach. Timmies also had a kiosk at Amalie Arena in Tampa for a short while starting in 2013. They proved unsuccessful, so here's our plea to try again.

Tim Hortons was founded 55 years ago in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. One of the co-founders was National Hockey League player Tim Horton, who died in 1974 in a car crash.

Tim Hortons first specialized in coffee and doughnuts. Now its menu includes breakfast sandwiches, wraps, salads, soups and baked goods.

The chain has more than 4,800 locations around the world, including restaurants in Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

Will Timmies give Florida another go? The chain already ships its signature coffee blends to all 50 states, but as for a brick-and-mortar store, the company issued this statement via email: "We are always looking into opportunities to grow and expand both in our home markets and around the world. As you may know, we announced at our first ever Investor Day that Restaurant Brands International plans to expand its restaurant count from 26,000 to 40,000 in the next eight to 10 years."

So, you know, be patient.

Where's the closest Tim Hortons?: Norfolk, Virginia (861 miles)

White Castle

Credited as the nation's first fast-food chain, White Castle began serving its iconic small, square "sliders," which Time declared the most influential burger of all time, to Kansans in 1921. Soon, "the crave heard round the world" was making noise in other cities across the Midwest.

Today, White Castle serves sliders of the fish, breakfast, cheese, bacon-cheese, chicken and even vegetarian varieties, not to mention fries, mozzarella sticks, fish nibblers, desserts and seasonal shakes at restaurants mostly in the Midwest. There are also White Castles in Arizona, Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Nevada, New Jersey and New York.

Ninety eight years later, though, there still are no White Castles in Florida. The Facebook page "Bring White Castle to Florida" and its more than 8,100 followers would love to change that, posting multiple appeals to the company to, well, bring White Castle to Florida.

The state's appetite for the chain seems strong. In 2015 a White Castle-owned food truck took to the streets of Orlando. It had lines 200-people deep, according to an Orlando Sentinel article, and sold more than 10,000 of its signature sliders in a single day.

Where's the closest White Castle?: Nashville (814 miles)

(Psst! Florida's missing these, too!)

The following restaurants are hyper-local — for instance, Taco Villa is available only in central and north Texas, and Blake's Lotaburger has locations just in the southwest — but many USA TODAY Network Florida staffers rave about them, so they're worth mentioning, too:

More:Florida's skunk ape, headless dinosaur, Coral Castle and other weird, wacky attractions

Maureen Kenyon is a trends reporter for TCpalm.com. Annabelle Tometich is a food writer for news-press.com. Contact Kenyon at maureen.kenyon@tcpalm.com or follow her on Twitter @_MaureenKenyon_. Find Tometich at atometich@news-press.com or @abellewrites on Instagram.

North Visalia In-N-Out Burger opens

Visalia's second In-N-Out Burger will open and start serving up Double-Doubles and Animal Style French fries on Friday.

The long-awaited North Visalia location is opening on Dinuba Boulevard across from Target after nearly two years of planning and construction, company officials announced.

The restaurant will employ about 80 associates with a starting wage of $17. There will be one drive-thru lane with indoor seating for 74 guests and outdoor seating for 49 guests.

All In-N-Out Burger locations are open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. and until 1:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

The city's second In-N-Out was first announced in 2019. The Visalia Planning Commission approved the location with an expanded drive-thru with room for 20 cars, double the city's requirement.

In the months since the coronavirus pandemic, fast food drive-thrus have exploded in popularity. The city's existing In-N-Out location on Mooney Boulevard regularly boasts lines snaking through the parking lot and onto the highway. The restaurant has worked with city officials to reconfigure its queue several times to reduce traffic impacts.

Raising Cane's, the popular fried chicken joint, made its Visalia debut last week. Customers reported waiting as long as two hours to get their first taste of the chain's "One Love" chicken finger meals.

It's unclear whether the new In-N-Out — located on another busy highway in the city — will attract similar traffic problems. So far, the In-N-Out is the only business currently open in the Orchard Walk West development.

The restaurant is the first new construction on the intersection of Dinuba and Riggin Avenue since Orchard Walk East, anchored by Target and Ross, opened in 2007.

Originally, Home Depot was rumored to be the anchor for the new Orchard Walk, however, it's unclear which big stores will go into the spot. The corner backs up to a residential neighborhood that stretches Shannon Ranch's multiple phases.

The In-N-Out on Mooney Boulevard was Tulare County's only location for more than two decades, until the chain opened a Tulare restaurant last month. The north Visalia spot will be the county's third In-N-Out, as the iconic chain continues its expansion across the West Coast.

The Irvine-based chain has more than 330 restaurants across seven states.

Joshua Yeager covers water, agriculture, parks, and housing for the Visalia Times-Delta and Tulare Advance-Register newspapers. Follow him on Twitter @VTD_Joshy. Get alerts and keep up on all things Tulare County for as little as $1 a month. Subscribe today.

Companies pulling back from Russia over the war in Ukraine | CNN ...

CNN Business —

Dozens of the world’s biggest companies have abandoned or scaled back their operations in Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine.

The exodus affects every corner of the economy, from its vast energy riches through autos, finance, retail, entertainment and fast food, starving Russia of new investment and removing products and services that had become popular in the decades since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Here’s a look at the major corporate departures.

Autos

Ford (F) announced it was suspending its operations in Russia. The American automaker has a 50% stake in Ford (F) Sollers, a joint venture that employs at least 4,000 workers and is shared with Russian company Sollers.

A Ford dealership and service center. Artyom Geodakyan/TASS/Getty Images

The company has plants in St. Petersburg, Elabuga and Naberezhnye Chelny but said it had “significantly wound down” its Russian operations in recent years. The automaker said it was “deeply concerned about the situation in Ukraine,” and noted it has “a strong contingent of Ukrainian nationals working at Ford around the world.”

General Motors (GM) said it was halting all exports to Russia “until further notice.”

GM doesn’t have a significant presence there: It sells only about 3,000 vehicles a year through 16 dealerships, according to a spokesperson. That’s out of the more than 6 million vehicles the Detroit-based automaker sells annually.

Toyota announced it would stop making cars in Russia or importing them to the country “until further notice, due to supply chain disruptions.”

Volkswagen (VLKAF) is stopping production of vehicles in Russia and has suspended exports to the Russian market. The decision applies to the Russian production sites in Kaluga and Nizhny Novgorod.

Nissan (NSANF) has suspended the export of vehicles to Russia, adding that it “anticipates that production will stop soon at our plant in St. Petersburg.”

Aviation

Boeing (BA) said it would suspend support for Russian airlines.

A company spokesperson confirmed the aircraft maker was pausing “parts, maintenance and technical support services for Russian airlines,” and had also “suspended major operations in Moscow and temporarily closed our office in Kyiv.”

Airbus (EADSF) followed Boeing with a similar move. In a statement, the company said it has “suspended support services to Russian airlines, as well as the supply of spare parts to the country.”

Big Tech

Airbnb cofounder and CEO Brian Chesky said in a tweet that his company was suspending all operations in Russia and Belarus.

Amazon (AMZN)’s cloud division, Amazon (AMZN) Web Services, said March 8 it would halt new sign-ups for the service in Russia and Belarus. The company has already had a “long-standing policy of not doing business with the Russian government” and does not have data centers, infrastructure or offices in Russia, the company said in a blog post.

“AWS has clear terms of service where if a customer is using AWS services to threaten, incite, promote, or actively encourage violence, terrorism, or other serious harm, they will not be permitted to use our services,” Amazon said. “Any customer we know of who is participating in this type of behavior will have their access to AWS suspended.”

Apple (AAPL) has stopped selling its products in Russia.

The tech giant said in a statement that it was “deeply concerned” about the Russian invasion. In response, the company has also moved to limit access to digital services, such as Apple Pay, inside Russia, and restricted the availability of Russian state media applications outside the country.

A re:Store shop in central Moscow. re:Store is one of the largest Apple resellers in Russia. Vladimir Gerdo/TASS/Getty Images

Facebook (FB)-parent Meta said it would block access to Russian news outlets Sputnik and RT, the Russia-backed television network infamous for promoting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s agenda, across the European Union.

The move comes after the company received “requests from a number of governments and the EU to take further steps in relation to Russian state controlled media,” Nick Clegg, Meta’s VP of global affairs, wrote in a tweet.

Meta has also said it has applied algorithmic restrictions on Russian state media that should prevent those posts from surfacing as prominently in users’ feeds.

Hitachi (HTHIY) said March 10 that it is pausing exports to Russia and suspending all manufacturing in the country, “with the exception of products, services and support for electrical power equipment that are indispensable to the daily lives of people,” it said.

The Japanese conglomerate added that Russia accounts for just a small fraction — roughly 0.5% — of its revenue.

IBM (IBM) CEO Arvind Krishna said the company has suspended all business in Russia.

“In Ukraine, we have been in constant touch with our local teams and continue to provide assistance that includes relocation and financial support,” Krishna said. “The safety and security of IBMers and their families in all areas impacted by this crisis remains our top priority.”

Intel (INTC) said April 5 that it has suspended business operations in Russia. Earlier this year, the company said it stopped all shipments to Russia and Belarus.

Microsoft (MSFT) said it was suspending all new sales of its products and services in Russia. President and vice-chair Brad Smith also said the company is stopping “many aspects” of its business in Russia in compliance with government sanctions. Microsoft (MSFT) also said it will continue aiding in Ukrainian cybersecurity.

Netflix (NFLX) said it will be suspending its streaming service in Russia.

“Given the circumstances on the ground, we have decided to suspend our service in Russia,” a Netflix spokesperson told CNN.

No other details were provided.

Previously, the company said it was refusing to air Russian state TV channels — something that the platform would have been required to do starting this week under Russian law.

“Given the current situation, we have no plans to add these channels to our service,” the company told CNN Business.

Nintendo (NTDOF) has stopped taking online orders in Russia.

In a statement on its Russian website, the Switch console maker said that it had “suspended the processing of payments in rubles,” and temporarily set its digital store on “maintenance mode.”

Roku (ROKU), which sells hardware allowing users to stream content through the internet, has banned RT worldwide.

Sony (SNE) has halted all software and hardware shipments, and temporarily suspended orders on its online PlayStation store in Russia.

The entertainment giant has also paused plans to launch Gran Turismo 7, a driving simulator game, in the country. Sony “joins the global community in calling for peace in Ukraine,” it said in a statement.

Spotify (SPOT) said it has closed its office in Russia “indefinitely” and restricted shows “owned and operated by Russian state-affiliated media.” The streaming service removed all content from RT and Sputnik in Europe and other regions, a company spokesman said.

“We are deeply shocked and saddened by the unprovoked attack on Ukraine,” the spokesman added. “Our first priority over the past week has been the safety of our employees and to ensure that Spotify continues to serve as an important source of global and regional news at a time when access to information is more important than ever.”

Twitter (TWTR) has similarly announced plans to “reduce the visibility and amplification” of Russian state media content.

YouTube, which is owned by Google (GOOGL), said it blocked Russian state media within Ukraine, including RT. The video platform also said it would be “significantly limiting recommendations to these channels.” Google (GOOGL) and YouTube have also said they will no longer allow Russian state media outlets to run ads or monetize their content.

Consulting

Accenture is discontinuing its business in Russia as it “stands with the people of Ukraine,” it said.

The firm announced the move in a statement on March 3, where it thanked its “nearly 2,300 colleagues in Russia for their dedication and service to Accenture over the years.”

“We will be providing support to our Russian colleagues,” the company added.

In a similar move, Deloitte announced on March 7 that it would stop operating in Russia and Belarus.

“While we know this is the right decision, it will have an impact on Deloitte’s [approximately] 3,000 professionals located in Russia and Belarus. Like others, we know our colleagues in Russia and Belarus have no voice in the actions of their government,” the firm said.

“We will support all impacted colleagues during this transition and do all we can to assist them during this extremely difficult time.”

EY, otherwise known as Ernst & Young, also said it would remove its Russian practice from its official global network, but allow it to “continue working with clients as an independent group of audit and consulting companies.”

“EY in Russia is a team of 4,700 professionals working in 9 cities of the country. The company has been operating in the Russian market for more than 30 years,” it said on March 7.

“In light of the escalating war, the EY global organization will no longer serve any Russian government clients, state-owned enterprises or sanctioned entities and individuals anywhere in the world.”

Consulting and accounting firm KPMG International said that its “Russia and Belarus firms will leave the KPMG network.”

“KPMG has over 4,500 people in Russia and Belarus, and ending our working relationship with them, many of whom have been a part of KPMG for many decades, is incredibly difficult,” the company said. “This decision is not about them – it is a consequence of the actions of the Russian Government. We are a purpose-led and values-driven organization that believes in doing the right thing.”

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is also planning to break away from its Russian business.

“As a result of the Russian government’s invasion of Ukraine we have decided that, under the circumstances, PwC should not have a member firm in Russia and consequently PwC Russia will leave the network,” the “Big Four” consultancy said in a statement.

“Our main focus at PwC continues to be doing all we can to help our Ukrainian colleagues and support the humanitarian efforts,” it added.

“We are also committed to working with our colleagues at PwC Russia to undertake an orderly transition for the business, and with a focus on the wellbeing of our 3,700 colleagues in PwC Russia.”

Energy and metals

BP said it was planning to exit its 19.75% stake in Russia’s biggest oil company, Rosneft, and suspending their joint ventures — which amount to one of the biggest foreign investments in Russia.

Equinor will also begin to exit its joint ventures in Russia, the Norwegian oil and gas company announced.

“We are all deeply troubled by the invasion of Ukraine, which represents a terrible setback for the world,” said CEO Anders Opedal.

The company said it had $1.2 billion in long-term investments in Russia at the end of 2021. It has operated in Russia for more than 30 years and has a cooperation agreement with Rosneft.

Exxon pledged to leave its last remaining oil-and-gas project in Russia and not to invest in new developments in the country.

The Sakhalin-1 venture is “one of the largest single international direct investments in Russia,” according to the project’s website. An Exxon subsidiary has a 30% share, while Rosneft also owns a stake.

By quitting this project, Exxon would end more than a quarter-century of continuing business presence in Russia.

Rio Tinto (RIO) was the first major mining company to announce it was cutting all ties with Russian businesses.

“Rio Tinto is in the process of terminating all commercial relationships it has with any Russian business,” a Rio spokesman told Reuters.

The miner owns an 80% stake in Queensland Alumina Ltd in a joint venture with Russia’s Rusal International, the world’s second-largest aluminum producer. The company did not comment on how its decision to cut ties with Russian businesses would affect Queensland Alumina dealings with Rusal.

Shell is getting out of Russia and ditching its joint ventures with Gazprom, including its involvement with the moribund Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline.

The UK-based oil company said on February 28 it would dump its stake in a liquified natural gas facility, its stake in a project to develop fields in western Siberia and its interest in an exploration project in the Gydan peninsula in northwestern Siberia.

“We are shocked by the loss of life in Ukraine, which we deplore, resulting from a senseless act of military aggression which threatens European security,” Shell CEO Ben van Beurden said in a statement.

Shell has also decided to stop buying Russian oil and gas and will close its service station network.

A Shell gas station seen in Moscow in 2020. Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg/Getty Images

TotalEnergies (TOT) also condemned Russia’s actions and said it would no longer provide capital for new projects in the country.

The French oil giant has done business in Russia for 25 years, and recently helped launch a major liquefied natural gas project on the Siberian coast.

Finance

Norway’s $1.3 trillion sovereign wealth fund will divest shares in 47 Russian companies as well as Russian government bonds, the Norwegian prime minister said.

Mastercard (MA) said it was suspending its network services in Russia. Cards supported by Russian banks will not work in the company’s network, and any cards issued outside of Russia will not work within the country.

The credit giant, which has operated in Russia for more than 25 years, had previously announced that it had “blocked multiple financial institutions” from its network as a result of anti-Russian sanctions, and would “continue to work with regulators in the days ahead.”

Visa (V) said it is suspending all of its operations in Russia. It will end all Visa (V) transactions within its borders, and Visa (V) cards issued in Russia will no longer work outside of the country. In addition, all Visa (V) cards worldwide “will no longer work within the Russian Federation,” Visa (V) said.

American Express (AXP) said in a statement that globally issued American Express (AXP) cards will no longer work in Russia, and cards issued in Russia won’t work outside the country. The company also said it is ending its business operations in Belarus.

Moody’s said it is suspending commercial operations in Russia. Its investors service will “maintain analytical coverage for existing ratings from outside Russia.”

Goldman Sachs (GS) became the first major Wall Street bank to announce plans to exit Russia after the invasion of Ukraine. “Goldman Sachs (GS) is winding down its business in Russia in compliance with regulatory and licensing requirements,” a Goldman Sachs (GS) spokesperson told CNN.

JPMorgan Chase (JPM), America’s largest bank, said it is “actively unwinding” its Russian business and not pursuing any new businesses in the country. JPMorgan cited “compliance with directives by governments around the world” for its decision.

Western Union (WU) said in a statement that it is suspending operations in Russia and Belarus. “We have thoroughly evaluated internal and external considerations, including the consequences for our valued teammates, partners, and customers,” the company said. “Ultimately, in light of the ongoing tragic impact of Russia’s prolonged assault on Ukraine, we have arrived at the decision to suspend our operations in Russia and Belarus.”

Citigroup (C) expanded its exit from Russia, saying it’s going to stop soliciting new clients. In pulling out of the country, Citi said it will “include other lines of business and continue to reduce our remaining operations and exposure,” according to a company blog post from Executive Vice President of Global Public Affairs Edward Skyler. Citi noted that pulling its operations “will take time to execute” and that it is assisting multinational corporations.

PayPal (PYPL) CEO Dan Schulman said the company is suspending services in Russia.

“The PayPal community will remain steadfast in our humanitarian efforts to care for those in Ukraine who are experiencing devastating violence and tragic loss,” Schulman said.

Food and beverage

AB InBev, the maker of Budweiser and other beer brands, said it has “requested the controlling shareholder” of its Russia operations to suspend the license for the production and sale of Bud in the country. The company said it’s also “forfeiting all financial benefit” from its joint venture operations. Employees will still be paid.

Burger King said it is pulling corporate support from its businesses in Russia. Restaurant Brands International, which owns the burger chain, said it “has suspended all of its corporate support for the Russian market, including operations, marketing and supply chain.” That doesn’t necessarily mean that Burger King restaurants will be closed in Russia, however, as the company said the chain’s roughly 800 locations there are “fully franchised and managed by a local master franchisee.” This means that the company cannot simply pull the plug on those restaurants as other brands such as McDonald’s have done.

Coca-Cola (COKE) said that it is “suspending its business in Russia.” The company stated that “our hearts are with the people who are enduring unconscionable effects from these tragic events in Ukraine,” adding that it will monitor the situation as things change.

Heineken will stop producing and selling beer in Russia. The brewer announced on March 9 that it would “take immediate steps to ring-fence” its Russian business, “to stop the flow of monies, royalties and dividends” out of the country. The beverage giant, which sells into more than 190 countries, had already announced a suspension on new investments and exports to Russia. “We are assessing the strategic options for the future of our Russian operations,” it said in a statement. “We see a clear distinction between the actions of the government and our employees in Russia.”

McDonald’s is temporarily closing its Russian restaurants. Eighty-four percent of McDonald’ locations in Russia are operated by the company, according to the document. Russia’s restaurants, along with another 108 in Ukraine, all operated by McDonald’s, accounted for 9% of the company’s revenue in 2021.

Nestle (NSRGF) is suspending all capital investment in Russia and halting advertising in the country.

“We are working hard to help keep food available to the people, be it on store shelves or through donations of essential foods and beverages like baby food, cereals, soup and noodles to those in need across the region,” the company said in a statement.

PepsiCo said it is suspending the sale of Pepsi-Cola and global beverage brands in Russia, but will continue to sell some of its essential products.

PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said that Pepsi is suspending capital investments, ads and promotional activity in Russia. But PepsiCo will continue to sell some of its products, including baby formula, baby food, milk and other dairy options.

“We have a responsibility to continue to offer our other products in Russia, including daily essentials,” Laguarta said. “By continuing to operate, we will also continue to support the livelihoods of our 20,000 Russian associates and the 40,000 Russian agricultural workers in our supply chain as they face significant challenges and uncertainty ahead,” he added.

Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson said that “we have decided to suspend all business activity in Russia,” in a message to employees. He added that “our licensed partner has agreed to immediately pause store operations and will provide support to the nearly 2,000 [employees] in Russia who depend on Starbucks for their livelihood.” Johnson added that Starbucks is halting shipment of all Starbucks products to Russia.

Yum Brands (YUM), which has 1,000 KFC and Pizza Hut franchises in Russia, said it would suspend all investment and restaurant development in the country. The company said it would “assess additional options” and redirect all profits from operations in Russia to humanitarian efforts.

Hospitality

Hyatt (H) is halting development in Russia and new investments there following the invasion of Ukraine. Hyatt (H) said it continues to “evaluate hotel operations” in Russia while complying with sanctions and US government directives.

Hilton (HLT) has shut down its corporate office in Moscow and is suspending all new development activity in Russia, the hotel company announced Wednesday. The moves will not end the Hilton (HLT) brand in Russia, where there are 26 Hilton (HLT) hotels. The company does not own any hotels in Russia. The 26 Hilton (HLT) hotels in Russia are managed or franchised and represent a small percentage of the company’s worldwide footprint of more than 6,800 properties, a spokesperson said.

Marriott (MAR) has closed its corporate office in Moscow, and paused the opening of upcoming hotels and all future hotel development and investment in Russia.

“Our hotels in Russia are owned by third parties and we continue to evaluate the ability for these hotels to remain open,” it added.

Industrials

3 said it has halted operations in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.

Dow (DOW) has suspended all purchases of feedstocks and energy from Russia, and says it “significantly reduced its operations and product offerings” in the country. Dow (DOW) has also stopped all investments in the region, and is only supplying limited essential goods in Russia, including food packaging, hygiene, cleaning and sanitation products and household goods.

General Electric (GE) suspended most of its operations in Russia, with the exception of “providing essential medical equipment and supporting existing power services.”

John Deere (DE), the world’s largest agriculture equipment maker, has halted shipments of its products to Russia. A Deere spokesperson said the only equipment produced in Russia is at a small factory in Orenburg, Russia that makes seeding and tillage equipment.

Caterpillar said on March 9 that it is suspending operations in its Russian manufacturing facilities.

“Operations in Russia have become increasingly challenging, including supply chain disruptions and sanctions,” the manufacturing giant said in a statement.

Media & entertainment

DirecTV is cutting ties with RT.

A spokesperson for the US satellite carrier told CNN Business that it had already been reviewing whether to renew the outlet’s carriage agreement, which was due to expire later this year. Russia’s war on Ukraine sped up its decision, according to the representative.

Disney (DIS) is also suspending the release of its theatrical films in Russia, citing “the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.”

The entertainment giant had multiple films set for release in Russia in the coming months. That includes Marvel’s “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” on May 5 and Pixar’s “Lightyear” on June 16.

A shopper opening an umbrella featuring Disney Princesses at the Central Children's Store in Moscow's Lubyanka Square in 2017. Valery Sharifulin/TASS/Getty Images

“We will make future business decisions based on the evolving situation,” a Disney spokesperson said.

WarnerMedia said on February 28 that it would pause the release of “The Batman” in Russia.

The film is one of the biggest blockbusters of the year, and is being released in most countries by Warner Bros. which, like CNN, is a unit of WarnerMedia.

A company spokesperson said that the decision was made “in light of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine,” and that the company hoped “for a swift and peaceful resolution to this tragedy.”

WarnerMedia is also pausing all new business in Russia, ceasing broadcast of its channels, halting all new content licensing with Russian entities, and pausing planned theatrical and games releases.

Retail

Crocs said March 9 that it will “pause its direct-to-consumer business, inclusive of e-commerce and retail operations, in Russia.” It will also pause “the importation of goods into the country.”

Estée Lauder Companies said March 7 that it will “suspend all commercial activity in Russia, including closing every store we own and operate, as well as our brand sites and shipments to any of our retailers in Russia.” The company had already suspended business investments and initiatives in Russia, it said in a statement.

Fast Retailing announced March 10 that it was suspending Uniqlo’s business activities in Russia.

The turnaround came just days after Tadashi Yanai, CEO of the Japanese group, vowed to keep operating there, calling clothing a basic human necessity.

Now, “it has become clear to us that we can no longer proceed,” Fast Retailing said in a statement, citing “a number of difficulties.”

The company “is strongly against any acts of hostility,” it added. “We condemn all forms of aggression that violate human rights and threaten the peaceful existence of individuals.”

H&M (HMRZF) will pause all sales in Russia.

In a statement, the company said that it was “deeply concerned about the tragic developments in Ukraine, and stands with all the people who are suffering.”

The clothing giant’s stores in Ukraine are already closed due to safety concerns.

H&M Group, which operates a number of brands, had 168 stores in Russia as of last November, according to its website.

Ikea, the world’s largest furniture company, is closing its 17 stores in Russia. The company said the conflict is having a “huge human impact” and is “resulting in serious disruptions to supply chain and trading conditions.” In addition to pausing its retail and manufacturing operations in Russia, it will suspend all trade with the country and its ally, Belarus.

Ikea said 15,000 workers would be directly affected by the shutdown in the region. The company will continue to pay them, at least for the time being.

Imperial Brands (IMBBY), one of the world’s largest tobacco players, will sell off its Russian business.

The company behind Winston and Gauloises cigarettes says its operations in Russia comprise 1,000 employees in sales and marketing, as well as a factory in the city of Volgograd.

Imperial will “continue to pay their salaries until any transfer is concluded,” it said in a statement.

Inditex, the parent company of Zara, said it is pausing operations in Russia and closing 502 stores in the country. In a statement, the company said Russia accounts for about 8.5% of its earnings before interest and tax.

Mothercare is suspending business in Russia and stopping shipments there.

“Our local partner has confirmed that it will be immediately pausing operations in some 120 stores and online,” it said on March 9.

Russia accounts for around 20% to 25% of sales for the retailer, which specializes in goods for parents and babies.

Mondelez (MDLZ) said it would scale back all non-essential activities in Russia “while helping maintain continuity of the food supply.” The company said it would focus on “basic offerings,” and discontinue all new capital investments and suspend a advertising spending in the country.

German sports company Puma said it is suspending operations of all of its stores in Russia. The company said it operates more than 100 stores in the country.

Luxury fashion house Prada is suspending its retail operations in Russia.

Procter & Gamble (PG) CEO Jon Moeller said in a letter to employees on March 7 that the company has “discontinued all new capital investments in Russia” and is “suspending all media, advertising, and promotional activity.”

“We are significantly reducing our product portfolio to focus on basic health, hygiene and personal care items needed by the many Russian families who depend on them in their daily lives,” Moeller said. “As we proceed with the reduced scale of our Russian operations, we will continue to adjust as necessary.”

Unilever (UL) said it will “continue to supply our everyday essential food and hygiene products made in Russia to people in the country,” adding “we will keep this under close review.” But the company noted it is has suspended imports of its products to Russia and is stopping all investment in the country, in addition to stopping exports from there. It said it won’t profit from its presence in Russia.

Shipping goods

UPS and FedEx have suspended operations in Russia and Belarus. FedEx said it suspended operations to “support the people of Ukraine.” DHL said it has suspended inbound shipments to Russia and Belarus.

Maersk and MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company are both halting cargo bookings with Russia.

“As the stability and safety of our operations is already being directly and indirectly impacted by sanctions, new Maersk bookings to and from Russia will be temporarily suspended, with exception of foodstuffs, medical and humanitarian supplies,” the Denmark-based company said in a statement.

“We are deeply concerned by how the crisis keeps escalating in Ukraine,” the company added.

MSC, a Swiss-owned container shipping line, said its suspension would cover “all access areas, including Baltics, Black Sea and Far East Russia.”

Transportation

French train maker Alstom said that it will “suspend all deliveries towards Russia” in a statement on March 9.

The group is also suspending all future business investments in Russia, it added.

Alstom owns a 20% stake — as a capital investment — in Transmashholding (TMH), the Russian locomotives and rail equipment provider.

“There was no material business nor operational link between Alstom and TMH,” the company said. “The book value will be re-assessed as part of the fiscal year 2021/22 closing accounts.”

— Rishi Iyengar, Michelle Toh, Diksha Madhok, Chris Isidore, Vanessa Yurkevich, Paul P. Murphy, Mark Thompson, Vasco Cotovio, Peter Valdes-Dapena, Frank Pallotta, Brian Fung, Oliver Darcy, Jordan Valinsky, Aliza Kassim, Chris Liakos, Pamela Boykoff, Robert North, Anna Stewart and Blake Essig contributed to this report.

Redding's second In-N-Out opens with owner Lynsi Snyder making ...

Redding’s second In-N-Out opened Tuesday with a special appearance by the burger chain's owner and heiress Lynsi Snyder.

A spokeswoman for the Southern California-based company said the restaurant traditionally opens at 10:30 a.m., but the doors opened Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. without any lines.

The new In-N-Out is near the corner of Churn Creek Road and South Bonnyview Road next to the Valero gas station.

The restaurant will employ about 60 people who will make a starting wage of $14 per hour, the company said in a news release.

In-N-Out regional manager Kevin McCoy said the business is looking to hire more workers and will accept job applications after the opening.

In-N-Out will feature a drive-thru lane and inside the restaurant there be seating for 69 customers.

The restaurant will be open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

In an interview, Snyder, 37, reminisced about growing up in this area and working at Redding's original In-N-Out when it opened in 1999.

"I worked there. I was an original hire there. It was exciting," Snyder said.

She said people were skeptical at the time whether the restaurant would attract that many customers.

"There were a lot of people that thought, 'No. It's not going to do that well. It's not going to be that busy,' and it blew all the records at the time. It was very busy," she said.

Snyder remembers good times she had here.

"I love this town. I have lots of fond memories living up here," she said.

In-N-Out is part of the Churn Creek MarketPlace shopping center, which has been under construction since last year.

The burger joint will join AM/PM ARCO and Panda Express as the only businesses to open to date in the shopping center.

Eventually, Churn Creek MarketPlace will be anchored by a Save Mart grocery store. Other retailers that have been announced in the center are Ross Dress For Less and Les Schwab Tire Center.

Construction of the Save Mart store started this summer and the supermarket is expected to open sometime next year.

For years, In-N-Out has done a huge business on Dana Drive in Redding near the Highway 44 interchange. Vehicles backing up in the drive-thru lane there is a common sight.

Six years ago, the company submitted plans for a second location at the vacant lot in front of the Super 8 Motel on the southwest corner of South Bonnyview and Churn Creek. But In-N-Out was never able to finalize a deal there, though at the time, a spokesman said they weren't closing the door on a second location in Redding.

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David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-225-8219. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.