The reason behind Five Guys 'well-loved' free peanut perk

When Five Guys first came to Liverpool's Queen Square in 2015, people loved it so much they opened a second branch on the top terrace of Liverpool ONE in 2017. Since then, it has become a popular spot for those wanting a classic American treat.

One thing that often catches your attention when you queue up to order is the boxes of peanuts that are free to snack on while you wait. It's not really explained in-store why the perk exists but the official Five Guys website gives the exact reason why it's not going away any time soon.

In their FAQ's, a spokesperson for the burger chain said: "Our shelled peanuts are available in our stores in the UK for you to help yourself to while you wait. Please note, some stores within shopping centres do not offer complimentary peanuts.

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"Over the past 20 years, our complimentary peanuts have become a part of our identity. It is a well-loved feature of Five Guys fans and they look forward to having a pre-burger snack at our stores.

"The taste of our peanut oil fries is also unique to our brand. We by no means want to exclude guests from our stores, but at the same time would not want to disappoint our peanut eating guests.

"We appreciate that nuts are one of the 14 common allergens and take the necessary precautions to avoid putting someone’s health at risk. We have signage on our doors, tills and menus regarding the presence of peanuts in bulk containers. The boxes of refined peanut oil in the dining area are intended to further alert customers of its use."

The spokesperson also said: "Unfortunately, customers cannot grab peanuts for takeaway, even if they are inside a bag or other container. Although it is rare that a casual encounter with peanuts will cause an allergic reaction, we want to limit the risk of someone unknowingly coming into contact with peanuts."

There are other unique "perks" that come from dining at Five Guys - one being their famously massive side order portion. Regardless of what size you order, the brown paper takeaway bags are often overflowing with fries.

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