COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 21, 2026--

White Castle is proud to have earned Great Place to Work Certification™ for the sixth year in a row. The prestigious award is based entirely on what current team members say about their experience working at White Castle.

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A resounding majority of White Castle team members say White Castle is a great place to work, earning the family owned fast-food pioneer its sixth straight Great Place to Work® certification.

In a survey of White Castle team members conducted between April 15 and April 29, 84% of them said White Castle is a great place to work, 27 points higher than the 57% average for other U.S. companies. In addition, 88% of team members said when new team members join the company, they are made to feel welcomed.

Those results help explain why White Castle continues to earn recognition from Great Place to Work ®, the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience and leadership behaviors. Great Place To Work Certification is a highly coveted achievement that requires consistent and intentional dedication to the overall employee experience.

“When White Castle was founded 105 years ago, my great-grandfather, our founder, believed that happy team members create happy customers. That philosophy has been carried forward through four generations of family leadership and continues to shape the way we lead today,” said John Kelley, chief people officer and fourth-generation family member. “Our commitment to team member experience and well-being remains at the heart of every decision we make. I’m incredibly proud that White Castle has been recognized as a Great Place To Work ® for the sixth consecutive year, and that the promise my great-grandfather made more than a century ago still holds true today.”

White Castle’s nearly 9,000 team members work across 336 restaurants in 14 markets as well as in multiple manufacturing facilities, a network of regional offices and the company’s home office in Columbus. Across all areas of the business, White Castle has built a culture that inspires team members to stay and grow with the company.

The general managers of its 336 restaurants, for example, have an average of 19 years of experience. White Castle created a 25-Year Club in 1946 to recognize team members with 25 years of service. In 2025, 73 team members joined the club. Another 88 will join in 2026.

White Castle offers several other programs that contribute to team member satisfaction.

1. To support a diverse and inclusive environment, White Castle spotlights a cultural celebration each month, sharing the history of the celebration and meaningful ways to honor it through its “Anywhere Opportunities” initiative. With teams spread across the country, this monthly initiative provides a collective experience and brings all team members together to learn and celebrate.
2. Following the devastation of Superstorm Sandy in 2012 on the East Coast, then-CEO and third-generation leader Bill Ingram created the Ingram-White Castle Foundation Team Member Relief Program to ensure team members experiencing tough times get more than just words of encouragement. They also can get real, tangible help. In 2025, the program provided over $35,000 in grants to team members in need.
3. As an organization powered by many student workers, White Castle understands the challenges of balancing work and school, and the financial strain that can come with pursuing an education. Open to both part-time and full-time team members, the Ingram-White Castle Foundation Team Member Scholarship Program awarded 33 scholarships in 2025.
4. Offering another route for support, the White Castle Tuition Reimbursement Benefit, ASPIRE, is a course-based reimbursement program for part-time and full-time team members working toward a degree or certification. White Castle is here to support its team members, whatever their aspirations may be, through all stages of life.

Editor’s Note: Download images and videohere.

About White Castle ®

White Castle, America’s first fast-food hamburger chain, has been making hot and tasty Sliders since 1921. Based in Columbus, Ohio, the family-owned business owns and operates 336 restaurants as well as a retail division providing its famous fare in freezer aisles of retail stores nationwide. As part of its commitment to offering the highest quality products, White Castle owns and operates its own Slider Provider meat plants, bakeries and frozen-Slider retail plants. White Castle has earned numerous accolades over the years including “Most Influential Burger of All Time” by Time magazine (2014, The Original Slider ® ) and one of the “10 Most Innovative Dining Companies” by Fast Company (2021). White Castle is known for the legendary engagement of its team members and has received the Great Place to Work ® Certification™ for an extraordinary six consecutive years spanning 2021–2026. White Castle is beloved by its passionate fans (Cravers), many of whom compete each year for entry into the Cravers Hall of Fame. The official White Castle app makes it easy for Cravers to sign up for the CRAVER NATION REWARDS ® loyalty program, access sweet deals and place pickup orders at any time. For more information on White Castle and how to Follow Your Crave, visit whitecastle.com.

About Great Place To Work Certification™

Great Place To Work® Certification™ is the most definitive “employer-of-choice” recognition that companies aspire to achieve. It is the only recognition based entirely on what employees report about their workplace experience — specifically, how consistently they experience a high-trust workplace. Great Place To Work Certification is recognized worldwide by employees and employers alike and is the global benchmark for identifying and recognizing outstanding employee experience. Every year, more than 10,000 companies across 60 countries apply to get Great Place To Work-Certified.

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CONTACT: Media Contacts:

Wendy Schwantes, Werth PR

C: 614-358-0038; E:wschwantes@werthpr.comKerelle Sampson, Werth PR

C: 614-222-0167; E:ksampson@werthpr.com

KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA OHIO

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: RETAIL RESTAURANT/BAR FOOD/BEVERAGE

SOURCE: White Castle

Copyright Business Wire 2026.

PUB: 05/21/2026 10:13 AM/DISC: 05/21/2026 10:13 AM

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