Five Guys CEO Distributes $1.5M Employee Bonuses After Promo Surge

Five Guys CEO Jerry Murrell has distributed $1.5 million in bonuses to employees across the burger chain's U.S. locations, acknowledging the intense strain placed on staff during an unexpectedly popular promotional event last month.

The promotion, a buy-one-get-one-free offer on burgers launched on February 17 to mark the company's 40th anniversary, drew far more customers than anticipated. Stores nationwide faced severe shortages of food, forcing some to close early, while online and app ordering systems experienced disruptions that prevented orders from being placed. According to a company statement released the following day, the surge "spread far beyond what we anticipated, and our hardworking crews were placed in a difficult situation." The statement praised employees for managing the chaos "with the same grit and dedication that has defined Five Guys for four decades."

Murrell, who co-founded the chain in 1986 and remains actively involved at age 82, took personal responsibility for the mishandling. In an interview with Fortune magazine, he explained that sales jumped 130 percent, far exceeding the modest 20 percent increase he had expected. "I didn't want anybody shooting...