Vs Goliath: Smalls Sliders vs White Castle

The cheeseburger is one of the most popular food items in America. From fast-food to fine dining, burgers are a restaurant staple. It’s no surprise that restaurants base entire concepts on the item, yet there is a new craze on the horizon. Sliders or burgers in miniature form, have gained popularity as customers look for smaller portion sizes and portability. The reigning king of the slider world is the iconic White Castle that has been making square patties since 1921. The family-owned giant has stretched their reach to local supermarkets and all the way to Hollywood. With White Castle occupying such a prominent role in the industry, it would almost seem foolish to challenge them. This daunting task has not stopped Smalls Sliders from breaking into the market. The concept is bringing fresh ideas to slider menus and restaurant construction.

White Castle has a long and storied history and is considered the grandfather of the modern American hamburger. J. Walter Anderson was born in Kansas to Swedish immigrants and began his restaurant experience at a diner in Wichita. While hamburgers existed in America since the 1800’s, Anderson is credited with developing the modern concept by smashing a meatball and putting it between two halves of a bun. In 1916, Anderson struck out on his own and retrofitted an old shoe repair shop to begin selling his 5￠ hamburgers. Anderson’s popularity grew and by 1921 he was ready to open the first White Castle restaurant, in what would become an empire. During that time period, restaurants did not have the same health standards as today and dining out was seen as risky. White Castle positioned themselves as an ultra-clean restaurant where beef was delivered daily and ground in front of customers. White Castle exploded in popularity and expanded to a new city every few months, an impressive feat for the 1920’s. Customers were encouraged to buy burgers by the sack full and the combination of size and price made these burgers a hit with all demographics. The modern White Castle has kept the formula from its inception, while tweaking processes like steaming the patties, and that combination of price and portability drives customers to their ever expanding locations. They are the king of sliders, yet that doesn’t mean the formula can’t be improved.

Smalls Sliders was founded in 2019 and is a relative newborn when compared to White Castle. The company was founded in Baton Rouge by Brandon Landry, Landry also founded the popular New Orleans based Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux. Landry saw sliders as a popular bar food, but he wanted to elevate the item and dedicate a concept to it. Smalls Sliders only has one menu item, beef sliders. You can customize it with double beef and add fries or a milkshake, yet the simplicity of the menu is what drives the concept. The limited menu allows the restaurant to use fresh ingredients and provide fast service. Fast service is a hallmark of the brand and an important one as many other fast-food restaurants have struggled with lengthening wait times for years. The company also only offers drive-thru and walk-up service. This allows them to maintain a small footprint while cutting costs and maintaining fast service. The concept also uses a unique building material, each Smalls Sliders is comprised of shipping containers stacked on top of each other. This design creates minimal build time while saving money and provides the perfect amount of space for the kitchen and drive-thru. Smalls Sliders is all about efficiency, from their menu to restaurant design, and their low prices and fast service are catching on with consumers. Add in finical backing by former NFL quarterback Drew Brees, who is also a franchisee, and the brand has a bright future in New Orleans and beyond.

Burgers will never go out of style; their simplicity and ubiquitous appeal will always keep them in the restaurant zeitgeist. White Castle’s hold on the industry as one of the founding burger chains is impressive as the company has made only minor adjustments to their formula in over a century of existence. No one is likely to unseat them soon, yet the beauty of the restaurant industry is that it won’t stop someone from trying. Smalls Sliders has found success in simplicity, much like White Castle did in the 1920’s. Customers want fresh food at a reasonable price in a timely manner. Sometimes the answer to our woes is a simple cheeseburger.

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