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| Boilerpipe Text | This article is about the American restaurant chain. For the Canadian restaurant chain, see
A&W (Canada)
.
A&W Concentrate Company
A now closed A&W restaurant in
Page, Arizona
Trade name
A&W
[
1
]
Company type
Private
Industry
Restaurant
Genre
Fast food
Founded
June 1923
; 102 years ago
in
Lodi, California
, U.S.
[
2
]
Founder
Roy W. Allen
Frank Wright
Headquarters
Lexington, Kentucky
,
U.S.
[
3
]
Number of locations
900+
[
4
]
Area served
United States
Southeast Asia
Key people
Kevin Bazner
(Chairman of the Board)
Betsy Schmandt CEO President
)
[
4
]
Products
Hamburgers
,
fried chicken
and
tenders
,
hot dogs
,
root beer
,
root beer floats
,
cheese curds
,
waffles
,
soft serve
,
french fries
,
milkshakes
and
rice
Revenue
$330 million
[
4
]
(2020)
Owner
A Great American Brand, LLC
Number of employees
approx. 35,000 (
2019
[
5
]
)
Website
awrestaurants.com
A&W Concentrate Company
,
doing business as
A&W Restaurants
, or simply
A&W
,
[
1
]
is an American fast food restaurant chain distinguished by its
"Burger Family" combos
, draft
root beer
and
root beer floats
.
[
6
]
[
7
]
A&W's origins date back to 1919 when
Roy W. Allen
set up a roadside drink stand offering root beer at a parade honoring returning
World War I
veterans in
Lodi, California
.
[
8
]
[
6
]
Allen's employee, Frank Wright, partnered with him in 1922 and they founded their first A&W restaurant in
Sacramento, California
, in 1923.
[
2
]
The company name was taken from the initials of their last names – Allen and Wright. The company became famous in the United States for its "frosty mugs" – the mugs were kept in a
freezer
and filled with
A&W Root Beer
just before being served to customers.
Evolving into a franchise in 1926, the company today has over 900 locations in 16 countries, with 460 in the United States,
[
9
]
Southeast Asian countries and Germany, serving a fast-food menu of
hamburgers
,
hot dogs
and
french fries
.
[
10
]
A number of outlets serve as
drive-in
restaurants that have
carhops
.
[
11
]
Previously owned by
Yum! Brands
, the chain was sold in December 2011 to a consortium of A&W franchisees through A Great American Brand, LLC.
[
7
]
[
12
]
A&W restaurants in Canada
have been part of a separate and unaffiliated chain since 1972.
Founding and early years
[
edit
]
On June 20, 1919,
Roy W. Allen
opened his first root beer stand in
Lodi, California
. The first day was for a homecoming celebration of soldiers who returned from battle in
World War I
.
[
13
]
The following day, his stand was open for regular customers, selling root beer glasses for 5 cents (equivalent to $0.93 in 2025).
[
14
]
[
15
]
The following year, Allen opened a second stand in
Stockton, California
.
[
13
]
Shortly afterward, the effect of
the period of prohibition that existed in the United States from 1920 to 1933
gave Allen and his stand with a beverage with "beer" in the name a heavy rebound.
[
16
]
Four years later, A&W began when Allen and Frank Wright opened their drive-in restaurant in Sacramento, California, combining both of their initials for the name, and selling the root beer from Allen's stand. Curbside service was provided by tray boys and tray girls. In 1924, Allen purchased Frank Wright's stake in the business. In 1925, Allen began
franchising
the root beer, while the franchisee added the other menu items and operated at their discretion. Most of the restaurants that opened under this scheme were on the highways of the
Central Valley
region, mainly for travelers.
[
16
]
This may have arguably been the first successful food-franchising operation. Allen sold the company in 1950 and retired.
[
8
]
A lot of World War I veterans eventually founded A&W franchises throughout the US, while some of their descendants still own franchises.
[
17
]
A&W's initial menu relied heavily on root beer and snacks, such as popcorn and peanuts, as well as sandwiches on sliced bread.
[
16
]
In 1927,
J. Willard Marriott
gained franchise rights for
Washington, D.C.
and the neighboring cities of
Baltimore
and
Richmond
. Subsequently, he moved to Washington to open a root beer stand with Hugh Colton. These stands subsequently became
Hot Shoppes
, paving the way for the later creation of
one of the largest hospitality corporations in the world
.
[
18
]
As of 1933, A&W had a total of 171 stands,
[
13
]
increasing to 260 by 1941.
[
19
]
A&W survived the
Great Depression
and labor shortages during
World War II
but benefitted from the post-war recovery of the American economy, with fast food and drive-in restaurants beginning to take shape.
[
16
]
The first franchise convention was held in
La Crosse, Wisconsin
in 1949, but was limited to
Wisconsin
franchisees.
[
20
]
A 1950s A&W Burger Family display in Hillsboro, Oregon
[
21
]
A&W Restaurant at the EkoCheras Mall,
Kuala Lumpur
, Malaysia
In the expansion years of the 1950s and 1960s, franchisees were signing 20- or 25-year contracts under the older model.
[
8
]
The chain expanded into Canada in 1956, opening restaurants in
Winnipeg
and
Montreal
. By 1960, A&W had 2,000 restaurants.
[
6
]
[
22
]
In November 1956, F. R. "Fran" Loetterle became the president of the chain.
[
23
]
In 1963, the chain opened its first store on
Okinawa
, which at the time was
under American control
.
[
24
]
In the following years, the chain branched into other foreign markets, including
Guam
(first territory outside of the North American continent to open a restaurant, in 1961),
[
25
]
opened by
Scotty Moylan
,
[
26
]
Mexico
,
[
27
]
the
Philippines
(some sources say it opened in the 1990s
[
28
]
) and
Malaysia
.
[
6
]
The first restaurant in Malaysia (Malaya at the time) was opened on December 24 that year
[
29
]
by Al and Geri Lieboff, a couple from
Las Vegas
, who got the franchising rights for Malaysia and Singapore. Setting up the chain seemed to be complicated, as they were unable to find a proper site, and in the recruitment process, Malayans had no consent to adorning Western "cabaret girl" style clothes.
[
clarification needed
]
Already at the time of setup, kids were starting to favor chicken, burgers, and hot dogs rather than rice and curry, and within the next five years, would also see a rise in new locations up to 22 within five years.
[
30
]
The first restaurant in Europe opened in
Mannheim
(near
Stuttgart
),
West Germany
in 1962.
[
31
]
At the time, a city influenced by US military presence, the restaurant was showing signs of success for its novelty, the first drive-in restaurant in Germany, and had already made headlines in German newspapers. At the time, it was the 2283rd overall founded by the chain.
[
32
]
There were already plans to introduce restaurants and drive-ins in other key European markets, such as the United Kingdom, according to the chain's president.
[
33
]
Dale Mulder opened up a
Lansing, Michigan
A&W franchise in 1961.
[
8
]
In 1963, Mulder added the bacon cheeseburger to his menu after a customer made repeated orders for bacon to be added to his cheeseburger. Thus A&W is credited with inventing the bacon cheeseburger.
[
34
]
United Fruit Co. and United Brands Company subsidiary
[
edit
]
In 1963, the company was sold again, followed by another sale in 1967 to
United Fruit Co.
conglomerate. AMK Corporation purchased United Fruit in 1970. Then AMK formed United Brands Company to hold A&W.
[
8
]
[
6
]
In 1971, A&W Beverages Inc.—a
beverage
subsidiary—began supplying bottled A&W products to grocery stores. The bottled products would become available nationally.
[
8
]
In 1972,
A&W's Canadian division
was sold to
Unilever
.
A&W attempted to open restaurants in mainland
Japan
in the early 1970s, specifically in Fukuoka prefecture and the regions of Kanto and Kansai. The chain's performance on the mainland was sluggish in contrast to Okinawa due to several factors, such as the
1973 oil crisis
, prompting the chain to withdraw from the market. A&W's Japanese operations are still handled from Okinawa.
[
35
]
There were further fruitless attempts to bring the chain to the mainland: in the 1980s, the Okinawan branch briefly attempted to open restaurants in
Kagoshima Prefecture
but ended up limiting itself to Okinawa,
[
36
]
while in the 2000s a pilot restaurant existed in
Tokyo
, which was quickly withdrawn.
[
37
]
1978 saw the introduction of a standard menu for use in all restaurants in the USA.
[
38
]
In the 1970s, A&W had more stores than
McDonald's
,
[
39
]
with a peak in 1974 of 2,400 units.
[
8
]
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
, franchise manager Jim Brajdic said: "Problems back then, including a lawsuit, franchisee discontent, and inconsistencies in the operation, caused the chain to flounder and branches to close."
[
39
]
A&W moved to a modern-style franchise agreement that introduced royalty payments and new standards. However, many franchisees refused the revised terms as their 20- or 25-year original agreements expired.
[
example needed
]
In 1980, the number of restaurants had fallen to 1,300 in the United States (mostly in the Midwest and the North West), Asia, and Europe. In 1980, the Singaporean franchisee Temenggong Ltd. had increased the number of restaurants in the country, while nine new restaurants were planned in Malaysia. There were also plans to open restaurants in the Philippines and Hong Kong.
[
40
]
Negotiations to sell the chain began in November 1981.
[
41
]
Taubman Investment Co. subsidiary
[
edit
]
In 1982,
A. Alfred Taubman
purchased A&W
[
42
]
and placed it under Taubman Investment Co.
[
8
]
Taubman only purchased the restaurant company and not
A&W Beverages
. The chain dropped to fewer than 500 locations in the mid-1980s. A freeze on issuing franchises was put in place.
[
8
]
Taubman wanted to restructure the chain by changing its "outdated" image.
[
43
]
Franchisees were being neglected in the United Fruit phase. Taubman opted to withdraw agreements with 100 franchisees that were performing poorly and ousted 80% of its workforce. With this, the new management decided to split its fast-food restaurants into two units – the conventional orange roof A&W restaurants, which were still the majority, and A&W Great Food Restaurants.
[
43
]
In 1983, A&W opened its first restaurant in
Thailand
, at the
Central Ladprao
shopping mall in
Bangkok
.
[
44
]
In 1985,
[
45
]
A&W began offering the Third Pounder to compete with McDonald's
Quarter Pounder
. As advertised, the Third beat the Quarter in taste tests and was less expensive by weight. In his 2007 memoir, former owner A. Alfred Taubman claimed research had revealed that it had been unsuccessful in part due to Americans' widespread
innumeracy
, specifically their inability to understand fractions: 1/3 was perceived as smaller than 1/4 (due to the smaller denominator) despite being a larger quantity.
[
46
]
The burger was relaunched in 2021 as the 3/9 Pound burger, humorously attempting to capitalize on the now-popular fractions misunderstanding story.
[
47
]
In 1985, the chain struggled in Singapore, losing its relevance to newer, larger chains and its dominance in the fried chicken area to KFC. The chain was about to amp up its operations in the Asian region, with a possible launch in Hong Kong as well as three new restaurants in Thailand.
[
48
]
On April 21, 1985, its first restaurant opened in
Indonesia
, in the
Melawai
area of
South Jakarta
, its capital.
[
49
]
[
50
]
Currently, Indonesia is the chain's largest international market, which as of February 2023 claimed 243 restaurants in 30 cities.
[
51
]
A restaurant in
Ximending
, Taiwan opened on February 22, 1986.
[
52
]
Its two units in
Kuwait
were closed in 1988 owing to security concerns.
[
53
]
It was in Kuwait, during a US-Malaysia trip, that Kevin Bazner was held hostage in August 1990 when the plane he was on board was set for refueling;
[
54
]
he was released in December.
[
55
]
Negotiations were held with
Sonic Drive-In
for a potential buying of the chain, but the plans fell in October 1986 due to a decline in franchises.
[
56
]
Expansion plans were formulated in August 1987 with the opening of twenty new restaurants in a one-year period.
[
57
]
On March 6, 1988, the first conventional A&W outlet opened in the Philippines at Fiesta Carnival in
Cubao
, followed by a second at Gift Gate Center on November 26. The second restaurant's reputation was damaged by a fire of unknown origin that broke out in May 1990. Nonetheless, the chain expanded with new outlets and products by the end of 1990. The Philippine chain was the first A&W to introduce chicken nuggets, a product that even the American operations wanted from there.
[
58
]
The chain also sponsored a team in the
Philippine Basketball League
, which they withdrew in 1992.
[
59
]
A&W Great Food Restaurants
[
edit
]
Lodi the birthplace of A&W Root Beer since 1919
A new format concept, A&W Great Food Restaurants, was developed. Ten corporate-owned locations were opened to test the concept: a sit-down, upscale, family-theme restaurant with a large salad bar and homemade ice cream.
[
8
]
The first such branch opened in 1978 (1979, according to some sources
[
43
]
) at the Lake Forest Shopping Mall in
Gaithersburg, Maryland
.
[
60
]
Emphasis in these restaurants was made on low-calorie foods that covered almost the entirety of the foods found in the fast-food spectrum, except pizza. By 1986, there were plans to have 250 to 300 locations within ten years.
[
43
]
A&W Root Beer and restaurant in Lodi, California
In 1987, the company was headquartered in
Livonia, Michigan
, and Mulder became CEO and president. The freeze was lifted, and a push occurred in 1986, adding 60 franchise units.
[
8
]
In March 1989, A&W made an agreement with
Minnesota
-based Carousel Snack Bars to convert that chain's 200 stores (mostly kiosks in shopping malls) to A&W Hot Dogs & More,
[
22
]
[
61
]
Some A&W Hot Dogs & More are still operating.
[
39
]
aiming to finish the conversion within two years.
[
62
]
In the same year, A&W bought the Burger City chain, converting its nine drive-thru kiosks to A&W units.
[
63
]
George E. Michel, who had worked with the Canadian chain for twenty years, was appointed president of the American A&W Restaurants in January 1991, becoming CEO in January 1992.
[
64
]
His presidency used its long history as a pretext for nostalgia both in the United States and abroad.
[
65
]
Sale to Sidney Feltenstein; Grotech subsidiary
[
edit
]
In December 1994, Taubman sold A&W to Sidney Feltenstein, with the aim of pushing the chain's international expansion further, while still maintaining its headquarters in Livonia. At the time, there were 790 restaurants (688 in the United States and 102 abroad), with the bulk of the international locations located in Malaysia, Thailand and Japan, as well as in Mexico and the
United Arab Emirates
. Earlier in 1994, its hundredth international location opened at a tourist attraction in
Bangkok
: a crocodile farm.
[
65
]
In January 1995, operations were taken over by Grotech Capital Partners, for a sum of $20 million, with Feltenstein as the chain's new CEO.
[
66
]
An agreement was signed in 1996 with
Walmart
to provide restaurants in seven locations. The menu would add items depending on the region, with the rest being its standard fare.
[
67
]
That year, its restaurants were renovated to feature an aesthetic referred to by Feltenstein as "contemporary nostalgia". The move mirrored that of
Dairy Queen
, which had also opened a test location with a similar feel.
[
68
]
A&W also operated restaurants in
Monterrey
, a key city in northern Mexico.
[
69
]
In 1997, A&W acquired Carousel Snack Bars, including its 175 units in malls.
[
70
]
The agreement made the chain the owner of these units, while continuing to franchise restaurants.
[
71
]
The chain aimed to increase its presence in the second half of 1996 by opening co-branded locations and nontraditional sites such as gas stations, while abroad it planned an increase in the number of units, having signed development agreements in
Oman
and had already opened stores in
Dubai
. There were also plans for the opening of units in
Seoul
and increasing its presence in Singapore, as well as attempting to target the Latin American market.
[
72
]
For the Middle East, it made a licensing comeback after approximately a decade, after leaving the market in the late 80s due to political uncertainties.
[
73
]
In early 1997, it announced the opening of locations in colleges and universities.
[
74
]
The chain relocated its corporate headquarters to
Farmington Hills
on March 30, 1998. As part of an $80 million expansion plan, there were plans to open 500 restaurants in two years and close 100 outdated restaurants.
[
75
]
A new location, which had previously housed an A&W site in
Fargo
from 1971 to 1980, opened in mid-March 1997 as a pilot restaurant for a new design to be implemented in new locations.
[
76
]
Remains of a former A&W restaurant at the
Beijing Puppet Art Theatre
, April 2024
A&W entered the
mainland Chinese
market in 1996, the franchisee for the country being Aidewei, and had eight restaurants in
Beijing
.
[
77
]
Later, due to arrears of franchise fees since 2000, Aidewei lost the A&W trademark in 2002. The eight restaurants weren't operating well and were plagued by mismanagement. An outlet in Yansha with 140 seats in a crowded, strategic location turned out to have limited business, while the restaurant in Anzhen had few customers.
[
77
]
Following the buyout of the parent chain by
Yum! Brands
in 2002, it was announced in March 2003 that negotiations with Aidewei had broken down, leading to the franchisee's bankruptcy that same year. The restaurants closed successively from October 2002 to September 2003.
[
78
]
The "father of American fast food", as dubbed by the Chinese press, didn't convince the local culture and tastes, especially with the rise of local fast food.
[
77
]
There were also concerns about the Chinese branch operating without authorization, refusing to pay franchise fees since September 2000.
[
79
]
In 1997 a small A&W restaurant opened in
Festivalgate
in
Osaka
, offering standard A&W fare.
[
80
]
The restaurant closed in 1999.
[
81
]
The first
Qatari
restaurant opened on December 18, 1997 (Qatar's
National Day
) with Al-Muftah Group as the franchisee. There were also plans to open a second restaurant in the country, as well as two restaurants in
Cairo
and six more in the UAE during 1998. The fare was similar to most A&W restaurants, with the addition of local items.
[
82
]
At the end of the month, it opened a unit in
Seoul
(owned by 2F Enterprises) and one in
Brunei
(owned by a subfranchise of A&W Singapore).
[
83
]
As of June 1998, A&W only had two restaurants in Mexico.
[
84
]
The Cairo branch opened on August 1, 1998, under local franchise American Egyptian Foreign Investments, with
Egypt
becoming the seventeenth country outside of the United States to open a location.
[
85
]
The first co-branded A&W restaurant, tied with Mexican food chain Amigos, opened in
Lincoln
in 1997.
[
86
]
There were plans to increase the amount of co-branded locations across Nebraska by four in the second half of 1998. The goal of the co-branded restaurant was to allure more customers who did not prefer Mexican food.
[
87
]
On March 16, 1999, it announced the opening of a restaurant in
Dhaka
with franchisee Global Suplies Limited due in September that year, with four more planned.
[
88
]
The restaurant in Lodi took part in a world record for the largest root beer float of 2562.5 gallons on June 19, 1999, the eve of the eightieth anniversary of the chain.
[
89
]
That same year, the chain attempted to enter the
Korean
market by finding local partners,
[
90
]
[
91
]
aiming to grow in the Korean market in the first half of 2000. The plan was ultimately shelved.
[
92
]
A&W merged with
Long John Silver's
to form Yorkshire Global Restaurants based in
Lexington, Kentucky
in March 1999.
[
93
]
[
94
]
Kevin Bazner
was promoted president of the chain in July.
[
95
]
In 2000, Yorkshire agreed to test multi-branded locations with
Tricon Global Restaurants
. A grocery location opened in February that year in Idaho.
[
96
]
By March 2002, the Yorkshire-Tricon multi-branding test consisted of 83 KFC/A&Ws, six KFC/Long John Silver's, and three Taco Bell/Long John Silver's and was considered successful by the companies.
[
97
]
In December 2000, A&W announced new openings in less conventional locations, such as casinos, airports, gas stations, convention centers and convenience stores, for 2001, as part of its growth plans. At the time, the chain had more than 1,000 locations in 47 states and over 200 international locations in 14 countries.
[
98
]
The chain around the time emphasized its aesthetics on "contemporized nostalgia".
[
99
]
It also saw a success in co-branded restaurants, following the success of a trial in
Butte
in 1998, which, owing to its success, in the spring of 2000 led to the announcement of the opening of 300 joint KFC-A&W restaurants by 2005.
[
100
]
Tricon bought both A&W and LJS in March 2002, shortly before the merger with Yorkshire was finalized.
[
101
]
Yum! Brands subsidiary
[
edit
]
A co-branded A&W and Long John Silver's in
Gillette, Wyoming
.
In March 2002, Yorkshire merged with Tricon Global Restaurants to form Yum! Brands.
[
97
]
[
102
]
A few weeks later, Malaysian company KUB took over the franchises in Southeast Asia, aiming to restore its prestige in Malaysia alone and increasing its market share.
[
103
]
Subsequently, in January 2003, Yum! announced that A&W and Long John Silver's would move their operational base from Lexington to
Louisville
, as operating the chains from Lexington was considered "impractical and cost-inefficient", preferring to operate all of its chains from Louisville.
[
104
]
Under Yum's management, A&W added franchises with a nostalgic look and modern technology. They have a
carhop
design with drive-thrus, and some have picnic tables.
[
39
]
The chain didn't seek to compete against McDonald's, instead preferring to carve up its own niche. 2004 saw the return of the Papa Burger brand at a restaurant in
Dayton
- the Burger Family brand originally retired in the United States in the 1980s, being replaced by the Deluxe Burgers - and was the only name of the old line that was reinstated, with the other burgers having new names.
[
105
]
In September 2001 the Singapore branch was taken over by KUB, who also oversaw the restaurants in Malaysia. At the time of takeover, it had twelve restaurants, but by November 2002, the number had dwindled to eight. Its restaurants had already been downgraded: the Ang Mo Kio restaurant shut down, the Tampines restaurant refused to repair its air conditioning systems, and
cable TV
was switched off in all outlets. Food sales had decreased by about 5-12%.
[
106
]
The chain quit the Philippine market in 2004 owing to several factors: lack of interest in its standard fare, lack of interest among locals, expensive cost and a general sense of unfamiliarity with local palates. The chain failed to adapt to local tastes and quietly shut down in the summer of 2004.
[
107
]
Joint KFC/A&W restaurant in Cologne, Germany, in November 2003
The chain attempted to enter large European markets thanks to joints with KFC. In Germany the first non-military A&W restaurant opened in
Garbsen
near
Hanover
on May 27, 2003
[
108
]
followed by a second in
Cologne
in July. A third in
Berlin
was scheduled for early September.
[
109
]
A&W opened its first outlet in
Bangladesh
on December 15, 2004.
[
110
]
The outlet reportedly closed in 2024. Indonesia hit a record milestone, as the hundredth restaurant opened in
Bintaro Utama
on October 20, 2004.
[
49
]
By the end of 2004, all A&W restaurants in the Philippines were closed.
[
111
]
Most A&W stores that opened in the U.S. during Yum!'s ownership were co-branded with another of Yum!'s chains—
Long John Silver's
,
Pizza Hut
,
Taco Bell
, or
KFC
.
[
10
]
In 2009, its operations in Southeast Asia were in a mixed situation. Operations in Indonesia and Bangladesh were thriving, while the restaurants in Thailand and Malaysia were facing uncertainties. The Malaysian franchisee KUB planned to increase the number of restaurants to 60, up from 37 in 2012, despite net losses of $1.5 million.
[
112
]
For its 90th anniversary, A&W announced an expansion plan to open fifteen new drive-ins in a concept the chain dubbed "Three-D Drive In: Drive-In, Drive-Through, Dine-In". Growth was more expeted in the states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Oregon, where some of these Three-D units were set up in 2008.
[
113
]
A Great American Brand LLC
[
edit
]
A&W Ice Cold Root Beer Restaurant Neon Sign -
La Crosse, Wisconsin
in 2016
In January 2011, Yum! Brands announced its intention to sell A&W along with Long John Silver's. Citing poor sales for both divisions and overshadowing by its other chains,
[
16
]
Yum! planned to focus on international expansion for its remaining brands, with particular emphasis on growth in
China
.
[
114
]
In September 2011, Yum! announced that it would sell the chain to A Great American Brand, a consortium of various A&W franchisees in the United States and overseas.
[
102
]
The sale was finalized on December 19, 2011, under the leadership of returning CEO Kevin M. Bazner.
[
12
]
Administration of A Great American Brand was divided between the national A&W franchisee association, the largest overseas franchisee and Bazner. With the purchase, A&W relocated its headquarters back to Lexington, employing a staff of 30 in late 2011, aiming to double to 60 within a five-year period while setting a growth target after that. Potential targets for growth were going to be small towns, as well as non-conventional locations, such as shopping malls, airports and universities. The chain had 1,200 restaurants at the time, 850 of which were in the US, with the remaining primarily in Asia. The chain, instead of competing heavily against larger chains, continued to rely on its core strength, smaller cities and towns of the USA.
[
16
]
In early 2013, A&W introduced its first new product in several years: a six-ounce version of its soft-serve blended dessert treat. Mini Polar Swirls were the first product to be launched on
Vine
.
[
115
]
The following summer, 250 of A&W's restaurants began hand-breading their chicken tenders, moving towards higher-quality menu items and expanding their chicken category. In April 2014, the Hand-Breaded Chicken Tender Texas Toast Sandwich was added to the menu as a limited-time offering, along with a campaign to create the world's longest branded
hashtag
.
[
116
]
In June 2014, A&W launched two new flavors of its Polar Swirl dessert treat:
Sour Patch Kids
and
Nutter Butter
.
[
117
]
A&W Burgers Chicken Floats in Lexington, Kentucky in 2017
In October 2013, A&W opened its first new concept restaurant, A&W Burgers Chicken Floats.
[
118
]
The new concept focuses on fresh made-to-order food and heavily emphasizes customer service. The menu features burgers made with fresh beef and a choice of toppings, hand-breaded chicken tenders, all-beef hot dogs, and several sides. The new management gave A&W a significant boost in the number of locations, with 2017 scheduled to have more openings than closures.
[
119
]
For 2018, A&W projected an increase in its franchising operations and opening new restaurants.
[
120
]
In April 2019, A&W returned to Singapore after a 16-year absence, its first location being at
Jewel Changi Airport
.
[
121
]
[
122
]
In June 2019, the A&W chain started moving its headquarters to the
University of Kentucky
Coldstream Research Campus
in 2019.
[
123
]
A&W announced in March 2022 that it was going to withdraw from the Thai market due to economic losses. The restaurants shut down on March 20.
[
124
]
[
125
]
A franchise was given to western New York in early 2023, with three locations, the first of which in
Niagara Falls
, set to open between May and June of that year.
[
126
]
There are nearly 1,000 A&W Restaurants worldwide that are owned or franchised through A Great American Brand, with approximately 475 of these restaurants located in the U.S. as of October 2024.
[
127
]
[
9
]
A&W rebounded its profits in the first half of 2024, emphasis on its growth is given mainly to single-brand restaurants, as well as restaurants in less conventional locations.
[
128
]
In November 2024, the chain announced its entrance to the
Milwaukee
and
Madison
markets in
Wisconsin
.
[
129
]
Betsy Schmandt took over the role of A&W's CEO and president from Kevin Bazner on March 4, 2025; Bazner continues as a chairman.
[
130
]
Her strategy centers on "newstalgia", in an attempt at increasing the brand's relevance with younger people, by improving its marketing, as well as offering a more consistent brand identity, as well as more consistent operations.
[
131
]
In April, an agreement was signed to open three restaurants in the
Memphis metropolitan area
, with the first of the three locations, the one in Millington, scheduled to open by the end of 2025.
[
132
]
A&W is the only major fast-food chain in the United States to be owned entirely by franchisees since the 2011 sale from Yum! Brands to A Great American Brand, LLC., which is mostly under the control of the National A&W Franchisee Association (NAWFA). The current owners rely heavily on single-brand restaurants, in contrast to combined, co-branded restaurants, which came from prior administrations. As of December 2021, there were 900 restaurants in the US and Asia.
[
133
]
In the United States alone, the states with the most restaurants are
California
, followed by
Wisconsin
and
Michigan
.
[
134
]
As of year-end 2023, A&W has 455 franchised restaurants in the US market alone. The number of co-branded locations has been on the decline with 243 such units.
[
128
]
As of January 2025, A&W has made it to the Franchise 500 list for six consecutive years, standing at 210th place in the 2024 ranking.
[
135
]
The number of restaurants in the United States and in Asia is almost equiparable, with the chain steadily decreasing its number of units in the United States and increasing elsewhere, a trend that has been following since 2015.
[
136
]
A&W doesn't do national advertising; the primary factor for such being the lack of restaurants in certain parts of the United States.
[
137
]
Its first attempt at doing a national television commercial was on June 16, 1969, when it booked for a slot on
NBC
's
Monday Night at the Movies
to advertise take-home gallons of root beer.
[
138
]
In 1976, A&W Restaurants participated in the
Easter Seals
Telethon, where money from large root beer mugs was collected by the local restaurant on behalf of the TV station broadcasting the telethon in the area.
[
139
]
In 1997, the chain adopted
All American Food
as its slogan in order to achieve widespread brand recognition.
[
76
]
The chain increased its marketing budget in February 2000, eyeing for a new line of burgers in January 2001.
[
140
]
For the summer of 2007, the chain launched the
Moove to American
campaign, which was created to counter competing chains relying exclusively on foreign beef; the campaign started on June 28 with a stunt featuring 35 cows sent on a barge to the
Statue of Liberty
. The aim was to petition the National Cattlemen's Beef Association to support consumption of U.S. beef. There was also a campaign to set up a new custom burger, with the winner heading over to Louisville to work for its serving in restaurants.
[
141
]
A grassroots partnership with
Green Bay Packers
receiver
Greg Jennings
began in 2009, where Papa Burgers were sold at a price of 85 cents in Green Bay restaurants if Jennings made a touchdown. Due to its success, the campaign expanded to include all of Wisconsin in 2010.
[
142
]
Jennings was also appointed as a pitchman for Wisconsin even outside the specialized burger promotion, in a contract signed on October 1, 2009; in exchange, A&W donated $10,000 to The Greg Jennings Foundation.
[
143
]
In January 2013, A&W Restaurants appointed Lexington-based advertising agency Cornett Integrated Marketing as its new agency of record.
[
144
]
The contract was renewed in January 2024.
[
145
]
In January 2019, ahead of its hundredth anniversary, A&W removed the
ampersand
from its logo as part of a tongue-in-cheek campaign to bring back the ampersand to the alphabet as its 27th letter.
[
146
]
Beginning in October 2020, in order to recoup economic losses from the closure of several of its restaurants, A&W set up a series of quizzes on its website.
[
147
]
For Halloween that year, it released a web stunt called
The Onion Ring
, a parody of
The Ring
.
[
148
]
A&W unveiled a new campaign in 2024, capitalizing on the ampersand of its logo and the tagline
Burgers, Floats & Then Some
. Packaging was also changed accordingly.
[
149
]
Collectors' Mug and free floats
[
edit
]
The first time A&W Restaurants offered a day of free root beer floats was in 2004; under the old management, it was held on June 20, the date of A&W's anniversary, though it is unknown if it donated the proceeds, unlike the current administration. Mid-year, A&W announces the following year's Collectors' Mug, which has a single design for each year. In 2005, it had a full-color image of
The Great Root Bear
printed on it.
[
150
]
By 2010, the event had changed to August 6. It was the chain's first attempt at a digital promotion, where users who liked its Facebook page would receive a digital coupon to redeem a free float.
[
142
]
A&W supports
Disabled American Veterans
and, since 2013, collects funds for it on National Root Beer Float Day, which is observed on August 6. Donation figures for 2019 were of a record $175,000.
[
151
]
In the 2000s it was held in June and was known as National Float Day.
[
152
]
The roadside sign in front of the
Middlebury, Vermont
, location featuring the bear
In the 1960s, a character named Chubby Chicken appeared on all Chubby burgers.
[
153
]
In 1963, A&W introduced four choices of hamburgers and their corresponding
Burger Family
members: Papa Burger, Mama Burger, Teen Burger, and Baby Burger.
[
153
]
[
154
]
[
21
]
Each burger had a wrapper featuring a cartoon image of the corresponding character.
The chain in the United States also used
Dennis the Menace
as a bespoke mascot in the 1960s, with special comics for the restaurants appearing mainly in print advertising.
[
155
]
A Rooty (Great Root Bear) statue at the
Wittenberg, Wisconsin
location in 1988
Rooty
, the Great American Root Bear, originated as a prototype mascot in kids' meals in the US, but it was in Canada in 1974 that it gained further recognition,
[
156
]
as a counter to the
Ronald McDonald
character of
McDonald's
[
6
]
[
10
]
and first appeared in the United States and in Asia shortly afterwards.
[
157
]
However, the character's introduction was almost aborted when marketing received
focus group
research results that reported a poor reaction to him
[
citation needed
]
. In reaction, the marketing director, acting on instinct about the appeal of the character, ordered the researcher to return to
Toronto
with the cover story that he never presented the report. The researcher complied, and Rooty was presented to the franchisees as is. Rooty proved a popular marketing success.
[
158
]
Rooty's adoption implied the phasing out of the Burger Family and the renaming of almost all of the burgers in the line outside of Canada.
[
159
]
Throughout the 1970s, '80s, and '90s, Rooty was the face of A&W, both the bottled drinks and the restaurant chain, on television and print advertising. His presence all but disappeared in the late 1990s, but in 2011, under A Great American Brand's ownership, Rooty came out of retirement. He has since been featured in print ads, on A&W's website, as the voice of their official
Twitter
account, and in a variety of
YouTube
and Vine videos.
[
160
]
A bronze statue of the bear was erected at the lobby of the current headquarters.
[
161
]
In 2013, Rooty became the first mascot to have an official
LinkedIn
profile,
[
162
]
which was quickly shut down as Rooty was not considered "real" by the authorities at Linkedin.
[
160
]
The mascot made national headlines on January 24, 2023, when a parody tweet referencing the
M&M's
controversy was posted to its social media profiles, showing Rooty wearing pants, claiming that the mascot's lack of pants was "polarizing".
[
163
]
Outrage started emerging from conservative sectors, including
Fox News
(the report also aired on sister network
Fox Business
), claiming it to be real.
[
164
]
In a follow-up tweet, A&W said that the announcement was a joke.
[
165
]
Spokesperson Liz Bazner said that the initial post was "purely in jest" and that A&W has no plans to change Rooty's outfit.
[
166
]
In March 1998, the characters from the comic strip
Blondie
, including Blondie and Dagwood Bumstead, were licensed for use at A&W franchises as part of an "All American Food" campaign.
[
167
]
A tie-in burger was scheduled for July that year.
[
75
]
Fried chicken with rice, Jakarta, Indonesia
A&W waffles ice cream, Malaysia
An A&W drive-in, in New York, 1973
A&W (Canada)
A&W Root Beer
List of drive-in restaurants
List of hamburger restaurants
List of hot dog restaurants
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{{
cite news
}}
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link
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## Contents
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- [1 History](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#History)
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- [1\.1 Founding and early years](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#Founding_and_early_years)
- [1\.2 Expansion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#Expansion)
- [1\.3 United Fruit Co. and United Brands Company subsidiary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#United_Fruit_Co._and_United_Brands_Company_subsidiary)
- [1\.4 Taubman Investment Co. subsidiary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#Taubman_Investment_Co._subsidiary)
- [1\.4.1 A\&W Great Food Restaurants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#A&W_Great_Food_Restaurants)
- [1\.5 Sale to Sidney Feltenstein; Grotech subsidiary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#Sale_to_Sidney_Feltenstein;_Grotech_subsidiary)
- [1\.6 Yum! Brands subsidiary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#Yum!_Brands_subsidiary)
- [1\.7 A Great American Brand LLC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#A_Great_American_Brand_LLC)
- [2 Operations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#Operations)
- [3 Advertising](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#Advertising)
Toggle Advertising subsection
- [3\.1 Collectors' Mug and free floats](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#Collectors'_Mug_and_free_floats)
- [4 Mascots](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#Mascots)
- [5 Gallery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#Gallery)
- [6 See also](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#See_also)
- [7 References](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#References)
- [8 External links](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#External_links)
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# A\&W Restaurants
49 languages
- [Afrikaans](https://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants "A&W Restaurants – Afrikaans")
- [العربية](https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%85_%D8%A5%D9%8A%D9%87_%D8%A2%D9%86%D8%AF_%D8%AF%D8%A8%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88 "مطاعم إيه آند دبليو – Arabic")
- [Betawi](https://bew.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warung_A%26W "Warung A&W – Betawi")
- [বিষ্ণুপ্রিয়া মণিপুরী](https://bpy.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A1_%E0%A6%93%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A1_%E0%A6%A1%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%82 "এন্ড ওয়াড ডাইনিং – Bishnupriya")
- [Čeština](https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants "A&W Restaurants – Czech")
- [Cymraeg](https://cy.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants "A&W Restaurants – Welsh")
- [Deutsch](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_\(Unternehmen\) "A&W (Unternehmen) – German")
- [Español](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants "A&W Restaurants – Spanish")
- [فارسی](https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%B1%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%E2%80%8C%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C_%D8%A7%DB%8C_%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AF_%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%88 "رستورانهای ای اند دابلیو – Persian")
- [Suomi](https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants "A&W Restaurants – Finnish")
- [Français](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants "A&W Restaurants – French")
- [Hawaiʻi](https://haw.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants "A&W Restaurants – Hawaiian")
- [हिन्दी](https://hi.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8F_%E0%A4%8F%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A1_%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%82_%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%87%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%97 "ए एंड डब्ल्यू डाइनिंग – Hindi")
- [Kreyòl ayisyen](https://ht.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants "A&W Restaurants – Haitian Creole")
- [Bahasa Indonesia](https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants "A&W Restaurants – Indonesian")
- [Igbo](https://ig.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants "A&W Restaurants – Igbo")
- [Italiano](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants "A&W Restaurants – Italian")
- [日本語](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W%E3%83%AC%E3%82%B9%E3%83%88%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3 "A&Wレストラン – Japanese")
- [ភាសាខ្មែរ](https://km.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants "A&W Restaurants – Khmer")
- [한국어](https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_%EB%A0%88%EC%8A%A4%ED%86%A0%EB%9E%91 "A&W 레스토랑 – Korean")
- [Kurdî](https://ku.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants "A&W Restaurants – Kurdish")
- [Māori](https://mi.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants "A&W Restaurants – Māori")
- [മലയാളം](https://ml.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B4%8E_%E0%B4%86%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B1%E0%B5%8D_%E0%B4%B5%E0%B5%88_%E0%B4%A1%E0%B5%88%E0%B4%A8%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%82%E0%B4%97%E0%B5%8D "എ ആന്റ് വൈ ഡൈനിംഗ് – Malayalam")
- [मराठी](https://mr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8F_%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%81%E0%A4%A1_%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%82_%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9F%E0%A5%89%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%9F%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B8 "ए अँड डब्ल्यू रेस्टॉरंट्स – Marathi")
- [Bahasa Melayu](https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants "A&W Restaurants – Malay")
- [नेपाल भाषा](https://new.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8F_%E0%A4%8F%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A1_%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%82_%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%87%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%97 "ए एंड डब्ल्यू डाइनिंग – Newari")
- [ਪੰਜਾਬੀ](https://pa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A8%8F_%E0%A8%90%E0%A8%82%E0%A8%A1_%E0%A8%A1%E0%A8%AC%E0%A8%B2%E0%A8%AF%E0%A9%82_%E0%A8%A1%E0%A8%BE%E0%A8%88%E0%A8%A8%E0%A8%BF%E0%A9%B0%E0%A8%97 "ਏ ਐਂਡ ਡਬਲਯੂ ਡਾਈਨਿੰਗ – Punjabi")
- [Kapampangan](https://pam.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_and_Wright "Allen and Wright – Pampanga")
- [Polski](https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants "A&W Restaurants – Polish")
- [پښتو](https://ps.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%D9%8A_%D8%A7%D9%8A%D9%86%DA%89_%DA%89%D8%A8%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%88_%D8%B1%D8%B3%D9%BC%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%BC "اي اينډ ډبلیو رسټورانټ – Pashto")
- [Português](https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants "A&W Restaurants – Portuguese")
- [Русский](https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants "A&W Restaurants – Russian")
- [سنڌي](https://sd.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%D9%8A%D9%86%DA%8A_%D9%88_%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B3%D9%BD%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%86%D9%BD "اينڊ و ريسٽورنٽ – Sindhi")
- [Simple English](https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants "A&W Restaurants – Simple English")
- [ChiShona](https://sn.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants "A&W Restaurants – Shona")
- [Soomaaliga](https://so.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants "A&W Restaurants – Somali")
- [Sesotho](https://st.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants "A&W Restaurants – Southern Sotho")
- [Sunda](https://su.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_%26_W_Restoran "A & W Restoran – Sundanese")
- [Svenska](https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W "A&W – Swedish")
- [ไทย](https://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AD_%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%94%E0%B9%8C_%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%A7 "เอ แอนด์ ดับบลิว – Thai")
- [Tagalog](https://tl.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants "A&W Restaurants – Tagalog")
- [Türkçe](https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants "A&W Restaurants – Turkish")
- [Українська](https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants "A&W Restaurants – Ukrainian")
- [Tiếng Việt](https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants "A&W Restaurants – Vietnamese")
- [吴语](https://wuu.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%89%BE%E5%BE%B7%E7%86%8A "艾德熊 – Wu")
- [IsiXhosa](https://xh.wikipedia.org/wiki/I-A_%26_W_zokutyela "I-A & W zokutyela – Xhosa")
- [Yorùbá](https://yo.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants "A&W Restaurants – Yoruba")
- [粵語](https://zh-yue.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%EF%BC%86W%E9%A4%90%E9%A3%B2 "A＆W餐飲 – Cantonese")
- [中文](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%89%BE%E5%BE%B7%E7%86%8A "艾德熊 – Chinese")
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
American fast food chain
This article is about the American restaurant chain. For the Canadian restaurant chain, see [A\&W (Canada)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_\(Canada\) "A&W (Canada)").
| | |
|---|---|
| [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:All_American_Food_Logo.svg) | |
| [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A%26W_restaurant_in_Page,_Arizona.jpeg)A now closed A\&W restaurant in [Page, Arizona](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Page,_Arizona "Page, Arizona") | |
| [Trade name](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_name "Trade name") | A\&W[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-justia-1) |
| Company type | [Private](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privately_held_company "Privately held company") |
| Industry | [Restaurant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restaurant "Restaurant") |
| Genre | [Fast food](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_food "Fast food") |
| Founded | June 1923; 102 years ago (1923-06) in [Lodi, California](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lodi,_California "Lodi, California"), U.S.[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-John_A._Jakle,_Keith_A._Sculle_1999-2) |
| Founder | [Roy W. Allen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_W._Allen "Roy W. Allen") Frank Wright |
| Headquarters | [Lexington, Kentucky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexington,_Kentucky "Lexington, Kentucky"), U.S.[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-3) |
| Number of locations | 900+[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-fact_sheet_2021-4) |
| Area served | United States Southeast Asia |
| Key people | [Kevin Bazner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Bazner "Kevin Bazner") (Chairman of the Board) Betsy Schmandt CEO President )[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-fact_sheet_2021-4) |
| Products | [Hamburgers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamburger "Hamburger"), [fried chicken](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fried_chicken "Fried chicken") and [tenders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_tenders "Chicken tenders"), [hot dogs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_dog "Hot dog"), [root beer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_beer "Root beer"), [root beer floats](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_cream_float#Root_beer_float "Ice cream float"), [cheese curds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheese_curd "Cheese curd"), [waffles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waffles "Waffles"), [soft serve](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_serve "Soft serve"), [french fries](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_fries "French fries"), [milkshakes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milkshake "Milkshake") and [rice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice "Rice") |
| Revenue |  \$330 million[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-fact_sheet_2021-4) (2020) |
| Owner | A Great American Brand, LLC |
| Number of employees | approx. 35,000 (2019[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-5)) |
| Website | [awrestaurants.com](https://awrestaurants.com/) |
**A\&W Concentrate Company**, [doing business as](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_name "Trade name") **A\&W Restaurants**, or simply **A\&W**,[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-justia-1) is an American fast food restaurant chain distinguished by its ["Burger Family" combos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamburger "Hamburger"), draft [root beer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_beer "Root beer") and [root beer floats](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_beer_float "Root beer float").[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Smith-OCAFD_2007-6)[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Patton_2017-7) A\&W's origins date back to 1919 when [Roy W. Allen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_W._Allen "Roy W. Allen") set up a roadside drink stand offering root beer at a parade honoring returning [World War I](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I "World War I") veterans in [Lodi, California](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lodi,_California "Lodi, California").[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-krn-8)[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Smith-OCAFD_2007-6) Allen's employee, Frank Wright, partnered with him in 1922 and they founded their first A\&W restaurant in [Sacramento, California](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramento,_California "Sacramento, California"), in 1923.[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-John_A._Jakle,_Keith_A._Sculle_1999-2) The company name was taken from the initials of their last names – Allen and Wright. The company became famous in the United States for its "frosty mugs" – the mugs were kept in a [freezer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freezer "Freezer") and filled with [A\&W Root Beer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Root_Beer "A&W Root Beer") just before being served to customers.
Evolving into a franchise in 1926, the company today has over 900 locations in 16 countries, with 460 in the United States,[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-ScrapeHero2024-9) Southeast Asian countries and Germany, serving a fast-food menu of [hamburgers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamburger "Hamburger"), [hot dogs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_dog "Hot dog") and [french fries](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_fries "French fries").[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Smith_2012-10) A number of outlets serve as [drive-in](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drive-in "Drive-in") restaurants that have [carhops](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carhop "Carhop").[\[11\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-11) Previously owned by [Yum! Brands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yum!_Brands "Yum! Brands"), the chain was sold in December 2011 to a consortium of A\&W franchisees through A Great American Brand, LLC.[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Patton_2017-7)[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-blue-12) [A\&W restaurants in Canada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_\(Canada\) "A&W (Canada)") have been part of a separate and unaffiliated chain since 1972.
## History
\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A%26W_Restaurants&action=edit§ion=1 "Edit section: History")\]
### Founding and early years
\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A%26W_Restaurants&action=edit§ion=2 "Edit section: Founding and early years")\]
On June 20, 1919, [Roy W. Allen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_W._Allen "Roy W. Allen") opened his first root beer stand in [Lodi, California](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lodi,_California "Lodi, California"). The first day was for a homecoming celebration of soldiers who returned from battle in [World War I](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I "World War I").[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-June1919-13) The following day, his stand was open for regular customers, selling root beer glasses for 5 cents (equivalent to \$0.93 in 2025).[\[14\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-inflation-US-14)[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-15) The following year, Allen opened a second stand in [Stockton, California](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockton,_California "Stockton, California").[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-June1919-13) Shortly afterward, the effect of [the period of prohibition that existed in the United States from 1920 to 1933](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prohibition_in_the_United_States "Prohibition in the United States") gave Allen and his stand with a beverage with "beer" in the name a heavy rebound.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Float_On-16) Four years later, A\&W began when Allen and Frank Wright opened their drive-in restaurant in Sacramento, California, combining both of their initials for the name, and selling the root beer from Allen's stand. Curbside service was provided by tray boys and tray girls. In 1924, Allen purchased Frank Wright's stake in the business. In 1925, Allen began [franchising](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franchising "Franchising") the root beer, while the franchisee added the other menu items and operated at their discretion. Most of the restaurants that opened under this scheme were on the highways of the [Central Valley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Valley_\(California\) "Central Valley (California)") region, mainly for travelers.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Float_On-16) This may have arguably been the first successful food-franchising operation. Allen sold the company in 1950 and retired.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-krn-8) A lot of World War I veterans eventually founded A\&W franchises throughout the US, while some of their descendants still own franchises.[\[17\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-17)
A\&W's initial menu relied heavily on root beer and snacks, such as popcorn and peanuts, as well as sandwiches on sliced bread.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Float_On-16)
In 1927, [J. Willard Marriott](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Willard_Marriott "J. Willard Marriott") gained franchise rights for [Washington, D.C.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,_D.C. "Washington, D.C.") and the neighboring cities of [Baltimore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore "Baltimore") and [Richmond](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond,_Virginia "Richmond, Virginia"). Subsequently, he moved to Washington to open a root beer stand with Hugh Colton. These stands subsequently became [Hot Shoppes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriott_Corporation "Marriott Corporation"), paving the way for the later creation of [one of the largest hospitality corporations in the world](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriott_International "Marriott International").[\[18\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-MarriottCulture-18) As of 1933, A\&W had a total of 171 stands,[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-June1919-13) increasing to 260 by 1941.[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-19)
A\&W survived the [Great Depression](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Depression "Great Depression") and labor shortages during [World War II](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II "World War II") but benefitted from the post-war recovery of the American economy, with fast food and drive-in restaurants beginning to take shape.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Float_On-16) The first franchise convention was held in [La Crosse, Wisconsin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Crosse,_Wisconsin "La Crosse, Wisconsin") in 1949, but was limited to [Wisconsin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisconsin "Wisconsin") franchisees.[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-20)
### Expansion
\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A%26W_Restaurants&action=edit§ion=3 "Edit section: Expansion")\]
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A_and_W_Burger_Family_\(Hillsboro,_Oregon\).jpg)
A 1950s A\&W Burger Family display in Hillsboro, Oregon[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Baskas_2010-21)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A%26W_Restaurants_EkoCheras_Mall_20230531_152417.jpg)
A\&W Restaurant at the EkoCheras Mall, [Kuala Lumpur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuala_Lumpur "Kuala Lumpur"), Malaysia
In the expansion years of the 1950s and 1960s, franchisees were signing 20- or 25-year contracts under the older model.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-krn-8) The chain expanded into Canada in 1956, opening restaurants in [Winnipeg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg "Winnipeg") and [Montreal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal "Montreal"). By 1960, A\&W had 2,000 restaurants.[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Smith-OCAFD_2007-6)[\[22\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-history-22) In November 1956, F. R. "Fran" Loetterle became the president of the chain.[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-23)
In 1963, the chain opened its first store on [Okinawa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okinawa_Island "Okinawa Island"), which at the time was [under American control](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Civil_Administration_of_the_Ryukyu_Islands "United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands").[\[24\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-24) In the following years, the chain branched into other foreign markets, including [Guam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guam "Guam") (first territory outside of the North American continent to open a restaurant, in 1961),[\[25\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-25) opened by [Scotty Moylan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotty_Moylan "Scotty Moylan"),[\[26\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-kuam-26) [Mexico](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico "Mexico"),[\[27\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-27) the [Philippines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines "Philippines") (some sources say it opened in the 1990s[\[28\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-28)) and [Malaysia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia "Malaysia").[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Smith-OCAFD_2007-6) The first restaurant in Malaysia (Malaya at the time) was opened on December 24 that year[\[29\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-29) by Al and Geri Lieboff, a couple from [Las Vegas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas "Las Vegas"), who got the franchising rights for Malaysia and Singapore. Setting up the chain seemed to be complicated, as they were unable to find a proper site, and in the recruitment process, Malayans had no consent to adorning Western "cabaret girl" style clothes.\[*[clarification needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify "Wikipedia:Please clarify")*\] Already at the time of setup, kids were starting to favor chicken, burgers, and hot dogs rather than rice and curry, and within the next five years, would also see a rise in new locations up to 22 within five years.[\[30\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-icwa-30)
The first restaurant in Europe opened in [Mannheim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mannheim "Mannheim") (near [Stuttgart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuttgart "Stuttgart")), [West Germany](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Germany "West Germany") in 1962.[\[31\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-31) At the time, a city influenced by US military presence, the restaurant was showing signs of success for its novelty, the first drive-in restaurant in Germany, and had already made headlines in German newspapers. At the time, it was the 2283rd overall founded by the chain.[\[32\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-32) There were already plans to introduce restaurants and drive-ins in other key European markets, such as the United Kingdom, according to the chain's president.[\[33\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-33)
Dale Mulder opened up a [Lansing, Michigan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lansing,_Michigan "Lansing, Michigan") A\&W franchise in 1961.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-krn-8) In 1963, Mulder added the bacon cheeseburger to his menu after a customer made repeated orders for bacon to be added to his cheeseburger. Thus A\&W is credited with inventing the bacon cheeseburger.[\[34\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-34)
### United Fruit Co. and United Brands Company subsidiary
\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A%26W_Restaurants&action=edit§ion=4 "Edit section: United Fruit Co. and United Brands Company subsidiary")\]
In 1963, the company was sold again, followed by another sale in 1967 to [United Fruit Co.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Fruit_Company "United Fruit Company") conglomerate. AMK Corporation purchased United Fruit in 1970. Then AMK formed United Brands Company to hold A\&W.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-krn-8)[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Smith-OCAFD_2007-6)
In 1971, A\&W Beverages Inc.—a [beverage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverage "Beverage") subsidiary—began supplying bottled A\&W products to grocery stores. The bottled products would become available nationally.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-krn-8) In 1972, [A\&W's Canadian division](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_\(Canada\) "A&W (Canada)") was sold to [Unilever](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unilever "Unilever").
A\&W attempted to open restaurants in mainland [Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan "Japan") in the early 1970s, specifically in Fukuoka prefecture and the regions of Kanto and Kansai. The chain's performance on the mainland was sluggish in contrast to Okinawa due to several factors, such as the [1973 oil crisis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973_oil_crisis "1973 oil crisis"), prompting the chain to withdraw from the market. A\&W's Japanese operations are still handled from Okinawa.[\[35\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-35) There were further fruitless attempts to bring the chain to the mainland: in the 1980s, the Okinawan branch briefly attempted to open restaurants in [Kagoshima Prefecture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kagoshima_Prefecture "Kagoshima Prefecture") but ended up limiting itself to Okinawa,[\[36\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-nikkei_20120510-36) while in the 2000s a pilot restaurant existed in [Tokyo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo "Tokyo"), which was quickly withdrawn.[\[37\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-37)
1978 saw the introduction of a standard menu for use in all restaurants in the USA.[\[38\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-38)
In the 1970s, A\&W had more stores than [McDonald's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonald%27s "McDonald's"),[\[39\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-PC2008-39) with a peak in 1974 of 2,400 units.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-krn-8) [Oshkosh, Wisconsin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oshkosh,_Wisconsin "Oshkosh, Wisconsin"), franchise manager Jim Brajdic said: "Problems back then, including a lawsuit, franchisee discontent, and inconsistencies in the operation, caused the chain to flounder and branches to close."[\[39\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-PC2008-39) A\&W moved to a modern-style franchise agreement that introduced royalty payments and new standards. However, many franchisees refused the revised terms as their 20- or 25-year original agreements expired.\[*[example needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:AUDIENCE "Wikipedia:AUDIENCE")*\] In 1980, the number of restaurants had fallen to 1,300 in the United States (mostly in the Midwest and the North West), Asia, and Europe. In 1980, the Singaporean franchisee Temenggong Ltd. had increased the number of restaurants in the country, while nine new restaurants were planned in Malaysia. There were also plans to open restaurants in the Philippines and Hong Kong.[\[40\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-40) Negotiations to sell the chain began in November 1981.[\[41\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-41)
### Taubman Investment Co. subsidiary
\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A%26W_Restaurants&action=edit§ion=5 "Edit section: Taubman Investment Co. subsidiary")\]
In 1982, [A. Alfred Taubman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._Alfred_Taubman "A. Alfred Taubman") purchased A\&W[\[42\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-bb-42) and placed it under Taubman Investment Co.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-krn-8) Taubman only purchased the restaurant company and not [A\&W Beverages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Root_Beer "A&W Root Beer"). The chain dropped to fewer than 500 locations in the mid-1980s. A freeze on issuing franchises was put in place.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-krn-8) Taubman wanted to restructure the chain by changing its "outdated" image.[\[43\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-image-43) Franchisees were being neglected in the United Fruit phase. Taubman opted to withdraw agreements with 100 franchisees that were performing poorly and ousted 80% of its workforce. With this, the new management decided to split its fast-food restaurants into two units – the conventional orange roof A\&W restaurants, which were still the majority, and A\&W Great Food Restaurants.[\[43\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-image-43)
In 1983, A\&W opened its first restaurant in [Thailand](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand "Thailand"), at the [Central Ladprao](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Ladprao "Central Ladprao") shopping mall in [Bangkok](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangkok "Bangkok").[\[44\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-44)
In 1985,[\[45\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-45) A\&W began offering the Third Pounder to compete with McDonald's [Quarter Pounder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarter_Pounder "Quarter Pounder"). As advertised, the Third beat the Quarter in taste tests and was less expensive by weight. In his 2007 memoir, former owner A. Alfred Taubman claimed research had revealed that it had been unsuccessful in part due to Americans' widespread [innumeracy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Innumeracy "Innumeracy"), specifically their inability to understand fractions: 1/3 was perceived as smaller than 1/4 (due to the smaller denominator) despite being a larger quantity.[\[46\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-46) The burger was relaunched in 2021 as the 3/9 Pound burger, humorously attempting to capitalize on the now-popular fractions misunderstanding story.[\[47\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-47)
In 1985, the chain struggled in Singapore, losing its relevance to newer, larger chains and its dominance in the fried chicken area to KFC. The chain was about to amp up its operations in the Asian region, with a possible launch in Hong Kong as well as three new restaurants in Thailand.[\[48\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-48)
On April 21, 1985, its first restaurant opened in [Indonesia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia "Indonesia"), in the [Melawai](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Melawai&action=edit&redlink=1 "Melawai (page does not exist)") area of [South Jakarta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Jakarta "South Jakarta"), its capital.[\[49\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Christa_Bourg_2009,_page_142-49)[\[50\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-bab-50) Currently, Indonesia is the chain's largest international market, which as of February 2023 claimed 243 restaurants in 30 cities.[\[51\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-51) A restaurant in [Ximending](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ximending "Ximending"), Taiwan opened on February 22, 1986.[\[52\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-52) Its two units in [Kuwait](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwait "Kuwait") were closed in 1988 owing to security concerns.[\[53\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-53) It was in Kuwait, during a US-Malaysia trip, that Kevin Bazner was held hostage in August 1990 when the plane he was on board was set for refueling;[\[54\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-54) he was released in December.[\[55\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-55)
Negotiations were held with [Sonic Drive-In](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_Drive-In "Sonic Drive-In") for a potential buying of the chain, but the plans fell in October 1986 due to a decline in franchises.[\[56\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-56) Expansion plans were formulated in August 1987 with the opening of twenty new restaurants in a one-year period.[\[57\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-57)
On March 6, 1988, the first conventional A\&W outlet opened in the Philippines at Fiesta Carnival in [Cubao](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quezon_City "Quezon City"), followed by a second at Gift Gate Center on November 26. The second restaurant's reputation was damaged by a fire of unknown origin that broke out in May 1990. Nonetheless, the chain expanded with new outlets and products by the end of 1990. The Philippine chain was the first A\&W to introduce chicken nuggets, a product that even the American operations wanted from there.[\[58\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-58) The chain also sponsored a team in the [Philippine Basketball League](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Basketball_Association "Philippine Basketball Association"), which they withdrew in 1992.[\[59\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-59)
#### A\&W Great Food Restaurants
\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A%26W_Restaurants&action=edit§ion=6 "Edit section: A&W Great Food Restaurants")\]
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lodi_the_birthplace_of_A%26W_Root_Beer_since_1919.jpg)
Lodi the birthplace of A\&W Root Beer since 1919
A new format concept, A\&W Great Food Restaurants, was developed. Ten corporate-owned locations were opened to test the concept: a sit-down, upscale, family-theme restaurant with a large salad bar and homemade ice cream.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-krn-8) The first such branch opened in 1978 (1979, according to some sources[\[43\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-image-43)) at the Lake Forest Shopping Mall in [Gaithersburg, Maryland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaithersburg,_Maryland "Gaithersburg, Maryland").[\[60\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-60) Emphasis in these restaurants was made on low-calorie foods that covered almost the entirety of the foods found in the fast-food spectrum, except pizza. By 1986, there were plans to have 250 to 300 locations within ten years.[\[43\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-image-43)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A%26W_Root_Beer_and_restaurant_in_Lodi,_California.jpg)
A\&W Root Beer and restaurant in Lodi, California
In 1987, the company was headquartered in [Livonia, Michigan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livonia,_Michigan "Livonia, Michigan"), and Mulder became CEO and president. The freeze was lifted, and a push occurred in 1986, adding 60 franchise units.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-krn-8) In March 1989, A\&W made an agreement with [Minnesota](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota "Minnesota")\-based Carousel Snack Bars to convert that chain's 200 stores (mostly kiosks in shopping malls) to A\&W Hot Dogs & More,[\[22\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-history-22)[\[61\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-61) Some A\&W Hot Dogs & More are still operating.[\[39\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-PC2008-39) aiming to finish the conversion within two years.[\[62\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-62) In the same year, A\&W bought the Burger City chain, converting its nine drive-thru kiosks to A\&W units.[\[63\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-63)
George E. Michel, who had worked with the Canadian chain for twenty years, was appointed president of the American A\&W Restaurants in January 1991, becoming CEO in January 1992.[\[64\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-64) His presidency used its long history as a pretext for nostalgia both in the United States and abroad.[\[65\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Crains5DEC1994-65)
### Sale to Sidney Feltenstein; Grotech subsidiary
\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A%26W_Restaurants&action=edit§ion=7 "Edit section: Sale to Sidney Feltenstein; Grotech subsidiary")\]
In December 1994, Taubman sold A\&W to Sidney Feltenstein, with the aim of pushing the chain's international expansion further, while still maintaining its headquarters in Livonia. At the time, there were 790 restaurants (688 in the United States and 102 abroad), with the bulk of the international locations located in Malaysia, Thailand and Japan, as well as in Mexico and the [United Arab Emirates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates "United Arab Emirates"). Earlier in 1994, its hundredth international location opened at a tourist attraction in [Bangkok](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangkok "Bangkok"): a crocodile farm.[\[65\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Crains5DEC1994-65) In January 1995, operations were taken over by Grotech Capital Partners, for a sum of \$20 million, with Feltenstein as the chain's new CEO.[\[66\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-66)
An agreement was signed in 1996 with [Walmart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walmart "Walmart") to provide restaurants in seven locations. The menu would add items depending on the region, with the rest being its standard fare.[\[67\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-67) That year, its restaurants were renovated to feature an aesthetic referred to by Feltenstein as "contemporary nostalgia". The move mirrored that of [Dairy Queen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dairy_Queen "Dairy Queen"), which had also opened a test location with a similar feel.[\[68\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-68) A\&W also operated restaurants in [Monterrey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monterrey "Monterrey"), a key city in northern Mexico.[\[69\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-69) In 1997, A\&W acquired Carousel Snack Bars, including its 175 units in malls.[\[70\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Christa_Bourg_2009,_page_172-70) The agreement made the chain the owner of these units, while continuing to franchise restaurants.[\[71\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-71)
The chain aimed to increase its presence in the second half of 1996 by opening co-branded locations and nontraditional sites such as gas stations, while abroad it planned an increase in the number of units, having signed development agreements in [Oman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oman "Oman") and had already opened stores in [Dubai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubai "Dubai"). There were also plans for the opening of units in [Seoul](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seoul "Seoul") and increasing its presence in Singapore, as well as attempting to target the Latin American market.[\[72\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-72) For the Middle East, it made a licensing comeback after approximately a decade, after leaving the market in the late 80s due to political uncertainties.[\[73\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-73) In early 1997, it announced the opening of locations in colleges and universities.[\[74\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-74) The chain relocated its corporate headquarters to [Farmington Hills](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farmington_Hills "Farmington Hills") on March 30, 1998. As part of an \$80 million expansion plan, there were plans to open 500 restaurants in two years and close 100 outdated restaurants.[\[75\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Farmington-75) A new location, which had previously housed an A\&W site in [Fargo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fargo,_North_Dakota "Fargo, North Dakota") from 1971 to 1980, opened in mid-March 1997 as a pilot restaurant for a new design to be implemented in new locations.[\[76\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Forum22FEB1997-76)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sign_of_former_A%26W_Restaurant_at_Beijing_Puppet_Theatre_\(20240417141622\).jpg)
Remains of a former A\&W restaurant at the [Beijing Puppet Art Theatre](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Beijing_Puppet_Art_Theatre&action=edit&redlink=1 "Beijing Puppet Art Theatre (page does not exist)"), April 2024
A\&W entered the [mainland Chinese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China "China") market in 1996, the franchisee for the country being Aidewei, and had eight restaurants in [Beijing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing "Beijing").[\[77\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-xinhua-77) Later, due to arrears of franchise fees since 2000, Aidewei lost the A\&W trademark in 2002. The eight restaurants weren't operating well and were plagued by mismanagement. An outlet in Yansha with 140 seats in a crowded, strategic location turned out to have limited business, while the restaurant in Anzhen had few customers.[\[77\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-xinhua-77) Following the buyout of the parent chain by [Yum! Brands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yum!_Brands "Yum! Brands") in 2002, it was announced in March 2003 that negotiations with Aidewei had broken down, leading to the franchisee's bankruptcy that same year. The restaurants closed successively from October 2002 to September 2003.[\[78\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-78) The "father of American fast food", as dubbed by the Chinese press, didn't convince the local culture and tastes, especially with the rise of local fast food.[\[77\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-xinhua-77) There were also concerns about the Chinese branch operating without authorization, refusing to pay franchise fees since September 2000.[\[79\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-79)
In 1997 a small A\&W restaurant opened in [Festivalgate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festivalgate "Festivalgate") in [Osaka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osaka "Osaka"), offering standard A\&W fare.[\[80\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-A&WOsaka-80) The restaurant closed in 1999.[\[81\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-A&WOsaka2-81)
The first [Qatari](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar "Qatar") restaurant opened on December 18, 1997 (Qatar's [National Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Day_\(Qatar\) "National Day (Qatar)")) with Al-Muftah Group as the franchisee. There were also plans to open a second restaurant in the country, as well as two restaurants in [Cairo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairo "Cairo") and six more in the UAE during 1998. The fare was similar to most A\&W restaurants, with the addition of local items.[\[82\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-82) At the end of the month, it opened a unit in [Seoul](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seoul "Seoul") (owned by 2F Enterprises) and one in [Brunei](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunei "Brunei") (owned by a subfranchise of A\&W Singapore).[\[83\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-83) As of June 1998, A\&W only had two restaurants in Mexico.[\[84\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-84) The Cairo branch opened on August 1, 1998, under local franchise American Egyptian Foreign Investments, with [Egypt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt "Egypt") becoming the seventeenth country outside of the United States to open a location.[\[85\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-85)
The first co-branded A\&W restaurant, tied with Mexican food chain Amigos, opened in [Lincoln](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln,_Nebraska "Lincoln, Nebraska") in 1997.[\[86\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-86) There were plans to increase the amount of co-branded locations across Nebraska by four in the second half of 1998. The goal of the co-branded restaurant was to allure more customers who did not prefer Mexican food.[\[87\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-87) On March 16, 1999, it announced the opening of a restaurant in [Dhaka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhaka "Dhaka") with franchisee Global Suplies Limited due in September that year, with four more planned.[\[88\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-88) The restaurant in Lodi took part in a world record for the largest root beer float of 2562.5 gallons on June 19, 1999, the eve of the eightieth anniversary of the chain.[\[89\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-89) That same year, the chain attempted to enter the [Korean](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea "South Korea") market by finding local partners,[\[90\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-90)[\[91\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-91) aiming to grow in the Korean market in the first half of 2000. The plan was ultimately shelved.[\[92\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-92)
A\&W merged with [Long John Silver's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_John_Silver%27s "Long John Silver's") to form Yorkshire Global Restaurants based in [Lexington, Kentucky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexington,_Kentucky "Lexington, Kentucky") in March 1999.[\[93\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-93)[\[94\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-94) [Kevin Bazner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Bazner "Kevin Bazner") was promoted president of the chain in July.[\[95\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-95) In 2000, Yorkshire agreed to test multi-branded locations with [Tricon Global Restaurants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yum!_Brands "Yum! Brands"). A grocery location opened in February that year in Idaho.[\[96\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-96) By March 2002, the Yorkshire-Tricon multi-branding test consisted of 83 KFC/A\&Ws, six KFC/Long John Silver's, and three Taco Bell/Long John Silver's and was considered successful by the companies.[\[97\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-pr-97)
In December 2000, A\&W announced new openings in less conventional locations, such as casinos, airports, gas stations, convention centers and convenience stores, for 2001, as part of its growth plans. At the time, the chain had more than 1,000 locations in 47 states and over 200 international locations in 14 countries.[\[98\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-98) The chain around the time emphasized its aesthetics on "contemporized nostalgia".[\[99\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-99) It also saw a success in co-branded restaurants, following the success of a trial in [Butte](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butte "Butte") in 1998, which, owing to its success, in the spring of 2000 led to the announcement of the opening of 300 joint KFC-A\&W restaurants by 2005.[\[100\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-100)
Tricon bought both A\&W and LJS in March 2002, shortly before the merger with Yorkshire was finalized.[\[101\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-101)
### Yum! Brands subsidiary
\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A%26W_Restaurants&action=edit§ion=8 "Edit section: Yum! Brands subsidiary")\]
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Co-branded_A%26W_and_Long_John_Silver%27s_in_Gillette,_Wyoming.jpg)
A co-branded A\&W and Long John Silver's in [Gillette, Wyoming](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gillette,_Wyoming "Gillette, Wyoming").
In March 2002, Yorkshire merged with Tricon Global Restaurants to form Yum! Brands.[\[97\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-pr-97)[\[102\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-sale-102) A few weeks later, Malaysian company KUB took over the franchises in Southeast Asia, aiming to restore its prestige in Malaysia alone and increasing its market share.[\[103\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-103) Subsequently, in January 2003, Yum! announced that A\&W and Long John Silver's would move their operational base from Lexington to [Louisville](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisville,_Kentucky "Louisville, Kentucky"), as operating the chains from Lexington was considered "impractical and cost-inefficient", preferring to operate all of its chains from Louisville.[\[104\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-104) Under Yum's management, A\&W added franchises with a nostalgic look and modern technology. They have a [carhop](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carhop "Carhop") design with drive-thrus, and some have picnic tables.[\[39\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-PC2008-39) The chain didn't seek to compete against McDonald's, instead preferring to carve up its own niche. 2004 saw the return of the Papa Burger brand at a restaurant in [Dayton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dayton,_Ohio "Dayton, Ohio") - the Burger Family brand originally retired in the United States in the 1980s, being replaced by the Deluxe Burgers - and was the only name of the old line that was reinstated, with the other burgers having new names.[\[105\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-105)
In September 2001 the Singapore branch was taken over by KUB, who also oversaw the restaurants in Malaysia. At the time of takeover, it had twelve restaurants, but by November 2002, the number had dwindled to eight. Its restaurants had already been downgraded: the Ang Mo Kio restaurant shut down, the Tampines restaurant refused to repair its air conditioning systems, and [cable TV](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DirecTV "DirecTV") was switched off in all outlets. Food sales had decreased by about 5-12%.[\[106\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-106) The chain quit the Philippine market in 2004 owing to several factors: lack of interest in its standard fare, lack of interest among locals, expensive cost and a general sense of unfamiliarity with local palates. The chain failed to adapt to local tastes and quietly shut down in the summer of 2004.[\[107\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-107)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:KFC-AW-Cologne-November-2003.jpg)
Joint KFC/A\&W restaurant in Cologne, Germany, in November 2003
The chain attempted to enter large European markets thanks to joints with KFC. In Germany the first non-military A\&W restaurant opened in [Garbsen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garbsen "Garbsen") near [Hanover](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanover "Hanover") on May 27, 2003[\[108\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-108) followed by a second in [Cologne](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cologne "Cologne") in July. A third in [Berlin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin "Berlin") was scheduled for early September.[\[109\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-109)
A\&W opened its first outlet in [Bangladesh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladesh "Bangladesh") on December 15, 2004.[\[110\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-110) The outlet reportedly closed in 2024. Indonesia hit a record milestone, as the hundredth restaurant opened in [Bintaro Utama](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bintaro_Utama&action=edit&redlink=1 "Bintaro Utama (page does not exist)") on October 20, 2004.[\[49\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Christa_Bourg_2009,_page_142-49) By the end of 2004, all A\&W restaurants in the Philippines were closed.[\[111\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-111)
Most A\&W stores that opened in the U.S. during Yum!'s ownership were co-branded with another of Yum!'s chains—[Long John Silver's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_John_Silver%27s "Long John Silver's"), [Pizza Hut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizza_Hut "Pizza Hut"), [Taco Bell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taco_Bell "Taco Bell"), or [KFC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC "KFC").[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Smith_2012-10)
In 2009, its operations in Southeast Asia were in a mixed situation. Operations in Indonesia and Bangladesh were thriving, while the restaurants in Thailand and Malaysia were facing uncertainties. The Malaysian franchisee KUB planned to increase the number of restaurants to 60, up from 37 in 2012, despite net losses of \$1.5 million.[\[112\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-112) For its 90th anniversary, A\&W announced an expansion plan to open fifteen new drive-ins in a concept the chain dubbed "Three-D Drive In: Drive-In, Drive-Through, Dine-In". Growth was more expeted in the states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Oregon, where some of these Three-D units were set up in 2008.[\[113\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-113)
### A Great American Brand LLC
\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A%26W_Restaurants&action=edit§ion=9 "Edit section: A Great American Brand LLC")\]
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A%26W_Ice_Cold_Root_Beer_Restaurant_Neon_Sign_-_La_Crosse,_Wisconsin_\(24308198209\).jpg)
A\&W Ice Cold Root Beer Restaurant Neon Sign - [La Crosse, Wisconsin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Crosse,_Wisconsin "La Crosse, Wisconsin") in 2016
In January 2011, Yum! Brands announced its intention to sell A\&W along with Long John Silver's. Citing poor sales for both divisions and overshadowing by its other chains,[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Float_On-16) Yum! planned to focus on international expansion for its remaining brands, with particular emphasis on growth in [China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China "China").[\[114\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-LJS-A&W_sale-114) In September 2011, Yum! announced that it would sell the chain to A Great American Brand, a consortium of various A\&W franchisees in the United States and overseas.[\[102\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-sale-102) The sale was finalized on December 19, 2011, under the leadership of returning CEO Kevin M. Bazner.[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-blue-12) Administration of A Great American Brand was divided between the national A\&W franchisee association, the largest overseas franchisee and Bazner. With the purchase, A\&W relocated its headquarters back to Lexington, employing a staff of 30 in late 2011, aiming to double to 60 within a five-year period while setting a growth target after that. Potential targets for growth were going to be small towns, as well as non-conventional locations, such as shopping malls, airports and universities. The chain had 1,200 restaurants at the time, 850 of which were in the US, with the remaining primarily in Asia. The chain, instead of competing heavily against larger chains, continued to rely on its core strength, smaller cities and towns of the USA.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Float_On-16)
In early 2013, A\&W introduced its first new product in several years: a six-ounce version of its soft-serve blended dessert treat. Mini Polar Swirls were the first product to be launched on [Vine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vine_\(service\) "Vine (service)").[\[115\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-115) The following summer, 250 of A\&W's restaurants began hand-breading their chicken tenders, moving towards higher-quality menu items and expanding their chicken category. In April 2014, the Hand-Breaded Chicken Tender Texas Toast Sandwich was added to the menu as a limited-time offering, along with a campaign to create the world's longest branded [hashtag](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hashtag "Hashtag").[\[116\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-116) In June 2014, A\&W launched two new flavors of its Polar Swirl dessert treat: [Sour Patch Kids](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sour_Patch_Kids "Sour Patch Kids") and [Nutter Butter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutter_Butter "Nutter Butter").[\[117\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-117)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A%26W_Prototype,_Lexington_\(32072516776\).jpg)
A\&W Burgers Chicken Floats in Lexington, Kentucky in 2017
In October 2013, A\&W opened its first new concept restaurant, A\&W Burgers Chicken Floats.[\[118\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-118) The new concept focuses on fresh made-to-order food and heavily emphasizes customer service. The menu features burgers made with fresh beef and a choice of toppings, hand-breaded chicken tenders, all-beef hot dogs, and several sides. The new management gave A\&W a significant boost in the number of locations, with 2017 scheduled to have more openings than closures.[\[119\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-119)
For 2018, A\&W projected an increase in its franchising operations and opening new restaurants.[\[120\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-120)
In April 2019, A\&W returned to Singapore after a 16-year absence, its first location being at [Jewel Changi Airport](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewel_Changi_Airport "Jewel Changi Airport").[\[121\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-121)[\[122\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-122)
In June 2019, the A\&W chain started moving its headquarters to the [University of Kentucky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Kentucky "University of Kentucky") [Coldstream Research Campus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coldstream_Research_Campus "Coldstream Research Campus") in 2019.[\[123\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-123)
A\&W announced in March 2022 that it was going to withdraw from the Thai market due to economic losses. The restaurants shut down on March 20.[\[124\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-bangkokpost.com-124)[\[125\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-125)
A franchise was given to western New York in early 2023, with three locations, the first of which in [Niagara Falls](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niagara_Falls "Niagara Falls"), set to open between May and June of that year.[\[126\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-126)
There are nearly 1,000 A\&W Restaurants worldwide that are owned or franchised through A Great American Brand, with approximately 475 of these restaurants located in the U.S. as of October 2024.[\[127\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-businesswire.com-127)[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-ScrapeHero2024-9)
A\&W rebounded its profits in the first half of 2024, emphasis on its growth is given mainly to single-brand restaurants, as well as restaurants in less conventional locations.[\[128\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-AWSep2024-128) In November 2024, the chain announced its entrance to the [Milwaukee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milwaukee "Milwaukee") and [Madison](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madison,_Wisconsin "Madison, Wisconsin") markets in [Wisconsin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisconsin "Wisconsin").[\[129\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-129)
Betsy Schmandt took over the role of A\&W's CEO and president from Kevin Bazner on March 4, 2025; Bazner continues as a chairman.[\[130\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-130) Her strategy centers on "newstalgia", in an attempt at increasing the brand's relevance with younger people, by improving its marketing, as well as offering a more consistent brand identity, as well as more consistent operations.[\[131\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-131) In April, an agreement was signed to open three restaurants in the [Memphis metropolitan area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memphis_metropolitan_area "Memphis metropolitan area"), with the first of the three locations, the one in Millington, scheduled to open by the end of 2025.[\[132\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-132)
## Operations
\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A%26W_Restaurants&action=edit§ion=10 "Edit section: Operations")\]
A\&W is the only major fast-food chain in the United States to be owned entirely by franchisees since the 2011 sale from Yum! Brands to A Great American Brand, LLC., which is mostly under the control of the National A\&W Franchisee Association (NAWFA). The current owners rely heavily on single-brand restaurants, in contrast to combined, co-branded restaurants, which came from prior administrations. As of December 2021, there were 900 restaurants in the US and Asia.[\[133\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-133) In the United States alone, the states with the most restaurants are [California](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California "California"), followed by [Wisconsin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisconsin "Wisconsin") and [Michigan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan "Michigan").[\[134\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-134) As of year-end 2023, A\&W has 455 franchised restaurants in the US market alone. The number of co-branded locations has been on the decline with 243 such units.[\[128\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-AWSep2024-128) As of January 2025, A\&W has made it to the Franchise 500 list for six consecutive years, standing at 210th place in the 2024 ranking.[\[135\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-135) The number of restaurants in the United States and in Asia is almost equiparable, with the chain steadily decreasing its number of units in the United States and increasing elsewhere, a trend that has been following since 2015.[\[136\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-136)
## Advertising
\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A%26W_Restaurants&action=edit§ion=11 "Edit section: Advertising")\]
A\&W doesn't do national advertising; the primary factor for such being the lack of restaurants in certain parts of the United States.[\[137\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-137) Its first attempt at doing a national television commercial was on June 16, 1969, when it booked for a slot on [NBC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBC "NBC")'s [Monday Night at the Movies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_NBC_Monday_Movie "The NBC Monday Movie") to advertise take-home gallons of root beer.[\[138\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-138)
In 1976, A\&W Restaurants participated in the [Easter Seals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easterseals_\(U.S.\) "Easterseals (U.S.)") Telethon, where money from large root beer mugs was collected by the local restaurant on behalf of the TV station broadcasting the telethon in the area.[\[139\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-139)
In 1997, the chain adopted *All American Food* as its slogan in order to achieve widespread brand recognition.[\[76\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Forum22FEB1997-76) The chain increased its marketing budget in February 2000, eyeing for a new line of burgers in January 2001.[\[140\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-140)
For the summer of 2007, the chain launched the *Moove to American* campaign, which was created to counter competing chains relying exclusively on foreign beef; the campaign started on June 28 with a stunt featuring 35 cows sent on a barge to the [Statue of Liberty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_Liberty "Statue of Liberty"). The aim was to petition the National Cattlemen's Beef Association to support consumption of U.S. beef. There was also a campaign to set up a new custom burger, with the winner heading over to Louisville to work for its serving in restaurants.[\[141\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-141)
A grassroots partnership with [Green Bay Packers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Bay_Packers "Green Bay Packers") receiver [Greg Jennings](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Jennings "Greg Jennings") began in 2009, where Papa Burgers were sold at a price of 85 cents in Green Bay restaurants if Jennings made a touchdown. Due to its success, the campaign expanded to include all of Wisconsin in 2010.[\[142\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-prnewswire.com-142) Jennings was also appointed as a pitchman for Wisconsin even outside the specialized burger promotion, in a contract signed on October 1, 2009; in exchange, A\&W donated \$10,000 to The Greg Jennings Foundation.[\[143\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-143)
In January 2013, A\&W Restaurants appointed Lexington-based advertising agency Cornett Integrated Marketing as its new agency of record.[\[144\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-144) The contract was renewed in January 2024.[\[145\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-145)
In January 2019, ahead of its hundredth anniversary, A\&W removed the [ampersand](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ampersand "Ampersand") from its logo as part of a tongue-in-cheek campaign to bring back the ampersand to the alphabet as its 27th letter.[\[146\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-146)
Beginning in October 2020, in order to recoup economic losses from the closure of several of its restaurants, A\&W set up a series of quizzes on its website.[\[147\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-147) For Halloween that year, it released a web stunt called *The Onion Ring*, a parody of *[The Ring](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ring_\(2002_film\) "The Ring (2002 film)")*.[\[148\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-148)
A\&W unveiled a new campaign in 2024, capitalizing on the ampersand of its logo and the tagline *Burgers, Floats & Then Some*. Packaging was also changed accordingly.[\[149\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-149)
### Collectors' Mug and free floats
\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A%26W_Restaurants&action=edit§ion=12 "Edit section: Collectors' Mug and free floats")\]
The first time A\&W Restaurants offered a day of free root beer floats was in 2004; under the old management, it was held on June 20, the date of A\&W's anniversary, though it is unknown if it donated the proceeds, unlike the current administration. Mid-year, A\&W announces the following year's Collectors' Mug, which has a single design for each year. In 2005, it had a full-color image of [The Great Root Bear](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Root_Bear "The Great Root Bear") printed on it.[\[150\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-150) By 2010, the event had changed to August 6. It was the chain's first attempt at a digital promotion, where users who liked its Facebook page would receive a digital coupon to redeem a free float.[\[142\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-prnewswire.com-142)
A\&W supports [Disabled American Veterans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disabled_American_Veterans "Disabled American Veterans") and, since 2013, collects funds for it on National Root Beer Float Day, which is observed on August 6. Donation figures for 2019 were of a record \$175,000.[\[151\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-151) In the 2000s it was held in June and was known as National Float Day.[\[152\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-152)
## Mascots
\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A%26W_Restaurants&action=edit§ion=13 "Edit section: Mascots")\]
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A_%26_W_sign_in_Middlebury,_Vermont.jpg)
The roadside sign in front of the [Middlebury, Vermont](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middlebury,_Vermont "Middlebury, Vermont"), location featuring the bear
In the 1960s, a character named Chubby Chicken appeared on all Chubby burgers.[\[153\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Beck_Romano_2009-153)
In 1963, A\&W introduced four choices of hamburgers and their corresponding [Burger Family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Burger_Family "The Burger Family") members: Papa Burger, Mama Burger, Teen Burger, and Baby Burger.[\[153\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Beck_Romano_2009-153)[\[154\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Dotz_Husain_2009-154)[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Baskas_2010-21) Each burger had a wrapper featuring a cartoon image of the corresponding character.
The chain in the United States also used [Dennis the Menace](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_the_Menace_\(U.S._comics\) "Dennis the Menace (U.S. comics)") as a bespoke mascot in the 1960s, with special comics for the restaurants appearing mainly in print advertising.[\[155\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-155)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A_%26_W_Root_Beer_sign,_Wittenberg,_Wisconsin_LCCN2017709548.tif)
A Rooty (Great Root Bear) statue at the [Wittenberg, Wisconsin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wittenberg,_Wisconsin "Wittenberg, Wisconsin") location in 1988
[Rooty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Root_Bear "The Great Root Bear"), the Great American Root Bear, originated as a prototype mascot in kids' meals in the US, but it was in Canada in 1974 that it gained further recognition,[\[156\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-RootyHistoryCanada-156) as a counter to the [Ronald McDonald](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_McDonald "Ronald McDonald") character of [McDonald's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonald%27s "McDonald's")[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Smith-OCAFD_2007-6)[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Smith_2012-10) and first appeared in the United States and in Asia shortly afterwards.[\[157\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-RootySG1974-157) However, the character's introduction was almost aborted when marketing received [focus group](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focus_group "Focus group") research results that reported a poor reaction to him \[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed "Wikipedia:Citation needed")*\]. In reaction, the marketing director, acting on instinct about the appeal of the character, ordered the researcher to return to [Toronto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto "Toronto") with the cover story that he never presented the report. The researcher complied, and Rooty was presented to the franchisees as is. Rooty proved a popular marketing success.[\[158\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-158) Rooty's adoption implied the phasing out of the Burger Family and the renaming of almost all of the burgers in the line outside of Canada.[\[159\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-159)
Throughout the 1970s, '80s, and '90s, Rooty was the face of A\&W, both the bottled drinks and the restaurant chain, on television and print advertising. His presence all but disappeared in the late 1990s, but in 2011, under A Great American Brand's ownership, Rooty came out of retirement. He has since been featured in print ads, on A\&W's website, as the voice of their official [Twitter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter "Twitter") account, and in a variety of [YouTube](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube "YouTube") and Vine videos.[\[160\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Koh_2017-160) A bronze statue of the bear was erected at the lobby of the current headquarters.[\[161\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-161) In 2013, Rooty became the first mascot to have an official [LinkedIn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LinkedIn "LinkedIn") profile,[\[162\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-162) which was quickly shut down as Rooty was not considered "real" by the authorities at Linkedin.[\[160\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Koh_2017-160)
The mascot made national headlines on January 24, 2023, when a parody tweet referencing the [M\&M's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%26M%27s "M&M's") controversy was posted to its social media profiles, showing Rooty wearing pants, claiming that the mascot's lack of pants was "polarizing".[\[163\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-A&WScandal1-163) Outrage started emerging from conservative sectors, including [Fox News](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_News "Fox News") (the report also aired on sister network [Fox Business](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_Business "Fox Business")), claiming it to be real.[\[164\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-A&WScandal2-164) In a follow-up tweet, A\&W said that the announcement was a joke.[\[165\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-A&WScandal3-165) Spokesperson Liz Bazner said that the initial post was "purely in jest" and that A\&W has no plans to change Rooty's outfit.[\[166\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-A&WScandal4-166)
In March 1998, the characters from the comic strip *[Blondie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blondie_\(comic_strip\) "Blondie (comic strip)")*, including Blondie and Dagwood Bumstead, were licensed for use at A\&W franchises as part of an "All American Food" campaign.[\[167\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-167) A tie-in burger was scheduled for July that year.[\[75\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Farmington-75)
## Gallery
\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A%26W_Restaurants&action=edit§ion=14 "Edit section: Gallery")\]
- [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fried_chicken_and_rice1.JPG "Fried chicken with rice, Jakarta, Indonesia")
Fried chicken with rice, Jakarta, Indonesia
- [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A%26W_waffle_ice_cream.jpg "A&W waffles ice cream, Malaysia")
A\&W waffles ice cream, Malaysia
- [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:DRIVE-IN_RESTAURANT_-_NARA_-_547855.jpg "An A&W drive-in, in New York, 1973")
An A\&W drive-in, in New York, 1973
## See also
\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A%26W_Restaurants&action=edit§ion=15 "Edit section: See also")\]
- [A\&W (Canada)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_\(Canada\) "A&W (Canada)")
- [A\&W Root Beer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Root_Beer "A&W Root Beer")
- [List of drive-in restaurants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_drive-in_restaurants "List of drive-in restaurants")
- [List of hamburger restaurants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hamburger_restaurants "List of hamburger restaurants")
- [List of hot dog restaurants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hot_dog_restaurants "List of hot dog restaurants")
## References
\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A%26W_Restaurants&action=edit§ion=16 "Edit section: References")\]
1. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-justia_1-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-justia_1-1)
["A & W - Trademark Details"](https://trademarks.justia.com/781/55/a-78155885.html). *[Justia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justia "Justia") Trademarks*. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
2. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-John_A._Jakle,_Keith_A._Sculle_1999_2-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-John_A._Jakle,_Keith_A._Sculle_1999_2-1)
Jakle, John A.; Sculle, Keith A. (1999). [*Fast Food: Roadside Restaurants in the Automobile Age*](https://books.google.com/books?id=0nYcgnWKWXgC&pg=PA165). The Johns Hopkins University Press. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)")
[9780801869204](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780801869204 "Special:BookSources/9780801869204")
. Retrieved August 25, 2013 – via Google Books.
3. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-3)**
Sloan, Scott (December 9, 2011). ["A\&W returning headquarters to Lexington"](http://www.kentucky.com/2011/12/09/1987955/aw-moving-headquarters-to-lexington.html). *[Lexington Herald-Leader](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexington_Herald-Leader "Lexington Herald-Leader")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20121105063045/http://www.kentucky.com/2011/12/09/1987955/aw-moving-headquarters-to-lexington.html) from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
4. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-fact_sheet_2021_4-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-fact_sheet_2021_4-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-fact_sheet_2021_4-2)
["May 2021 A\&W Fact Sheet"](https://web.archive.org/web/20211121000448/https://awrestaurants.com/sites/default/files/2021%20Media%20Fact%20Sheet%20%26%20Links.pdf) (PDF). *May 26, 2021*. Archived from [the original](https://awrestaurants.com/sites/default/files/2021%20Media%20Fact%20Sheet%20%26%20Links.pdf) (PDF) on November 21, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
5. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-5)**
["A\&W Franchising Overview"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210820183007/https://franchising.awrestaurants.com/). Archived from [the original](https://franchising.awrestaurants.com/) on August 20, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
6. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Smith-OCAFD_2007_6-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Smith-OCAFD_2007_6-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Smith-OCAFD_2007_6-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Smith-OCAFD_2007_6-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Smith-OCAFD_2007_6-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Smith-OCAFD_2007_6-5)
Smith, A.F. (2007). [*The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink*](https://books.google.com/books?id=AoWlCmNDA3QC&pg=PT27). Oxford Companions. Oxford University Press, USA. p. 27. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)")
[978-0-19-530796-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-530796-2 "Special:BookSources/978-0-19-530796-2")
. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
7. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Patton_2017_7-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Patton_2017_7-1)
Patton, Janet (August 4, 2017). ["After Yum, A\&W returned to its roots: Real root beer, burgers"](http://www.kentucky.com/entertainment/restaurants/article165463832.html). *Lexington Herald-Leader*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170813050257/http://www.kentucky.com/entertainment/restaurants/article165463832.html) from the original on August 13, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
8. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-krn_8-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-krn_8-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-krn_8-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-krn_8-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-krn_8-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-krn_8-5) [***g***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-krn_8-6) [***h***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-krn_8-7) [***i***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-krn_8-8) [***j***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-krn_8-9) [***k***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-krn_8-10)
Deck, Cecilia (November 19, 1989). ["Fast-food Pioneer A\&w Survives To Map Comeback"](https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-11-19-8903110146-story.html). *Chicago Tribune*. Knight-Ridder Newspapers. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181002134250/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-11-19-8903110146-story.html) from the original on October 2, 2018. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
9. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-ScrapeHero2024_9-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-ScrapeHero2024_9-1)
["Number of A\&W Restaurants locations in the United States in 2024"](https://www.scrapehero.com/location-reports/A%26W%20Restaurants-USA/). [Scrape Hero](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Scrape_Hero&action=edit&redlink=1 "Scrape Hero (page does not exist)"). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240920124301/https://www.scrapehero.com/location-reports/A%26W%20Restaurants-USA/) from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
10. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Smith_2012_10-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Smith_2012_10-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Smith_2012_10-2)
Smith, A.F. (2012). [*Fast Food and Junk Food: An Encyclopedia of What We Love to Eat*](https://books.google.com/books?id=7-WcKK01H1cC&pg=PA2). ABC-CLIO. p. 2. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)")
[978-0-313-39393-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-313-39393-8 "Special:BookSources/978-0-313-39393-8")
. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
11. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-11)**
[*Restaurant Business*](https://books.google.com/books?id=LV4sAQAAMAAJ). Restaurant Business. 1995. p. 182. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
12. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-blue_12-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-blue_12-1)
["It's Final! Franchisees Buy Out Franchisor A\&W"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120422124156/http://www.bluemaumau.org/11096/it%E2%80%99s_final_franchisees_buyout_aw_brand). Blue Maumau. 23 December 2011. Archived from the original on 22 April 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
13. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-June1919_13-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-June1919_13-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-June1919_13-2) The American Drive-In Restaurant, by Michael Witzel, 1994, page 51.
14. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-inflation-US_14-0)**
1634–1699:
[McCusker, J. J.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_J._McCusker "John J. McCusker") (1997). [*How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda*](https://www.americanantiquarian.org/proceedings/44525121.pdf) (PDF). [American Antiquarian Society](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Antiquarian_Society "American Antiquarian Society").
1700–1799:
[McCusker, J. J.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_J._McCusker "John J. McCusker") (1992). [*How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States*](https://www.americanantiquarian.org/proceedings/44517778.pdf) (PDF). [American Antiquarian Society](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Antiquarian_Society "American Antiquarian Society").
1800–present:
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. ["Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–"](https://www.minneapolisfed.org/about-us/monetary-policy/inflation-calculator/consumer-price-index-1800-). Retrieved February 29, 2024.
15. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-15)** A Great American Brand - 90 Years of A\&W, by Christa Bourg, 2009, page 8.
16. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Float_On_16-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Float_On_16-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Float_On_16-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Float_On_16-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Float_On_16-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Float_On_16-5)
["Float On: 100 Years of A\&W"](https://www.kentucky.com/news/business/article44142516.html). The San Francisco Chronicle. 31 May 2019. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190531190300/https://www.sfchronicle.com/travel/article/Float-On-100-Years-of-A-W-in-California-13910259.php) from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
17. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-17)**
["The Welch A\&W family: From military service to restaurant service"](https://racinecountyeye.com/2025/05/20/welch-veteran-owned-aw-caledonia/). *The Racine County Eye*. May 20, 2025. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20260310163553/https://racinecountyeye.com/2025/05/20/welch-veteran-owned-aw-caledonia/) from the original on March 10, 2026. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
18. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-MarriottCulture_18-0)**
["J. Willard Marriott"](http://www.marriott.com/culture-and-values/j-willard-marriott.mi). *www.marriott.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20171021203643/http://www.marriott.com/culture-and-values/j-willard-marriott.mi) from the original on October 21, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
19. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-19)** A Great American Brand - 90 Years of A\&W, by Christa Bourg, 2009, page 32.
20. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-20)** A Great American Brand - 90 Years of A\&W, by Christa Bourg, 2009, page 34.
21. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Baskas_2010_21-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Baskas_2010_21-1)
Baskas, H. (2010). [*Oregon Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities, and Other Offbeat Stuff*](https://books.google.com/books?id=EGNjKKGuFfsC&pg=PA125). Curiosities Series. Globe Pequot Press. p. 125. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)")
[978-0-7627-6201-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7627-6201-9 "Special:BookSources/978-0-7627-6201-9")
. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
22. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-history_22-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-history_22-1)
Knight, Peter & Annette (2009). ["A\&W Root Beer - Our History"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150811164802/http://awrootbeer.com/aw_history.php). awrootbeer.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.awrootbeer.com/aw_history.php) on August 11, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
23. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-23)** A Great American Brand - 90 Years of A\&W, by Christa Bourg, 2009, page 44.
24. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-24)**
Fackler, Martin (February 20, 2012). ["Where the Songs Linger, but the Tune Is Different"](https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/21/world/asia/in-okinawa-some-still-toast-era-of-us-control.html). *[The New York Times](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times "The New York Times")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200111211026/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/21/world/asia/in-okinawa-some-still-toast-era-of-us-control.html) from the original on January 11, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
25. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-25)** Milestones in the History of A & W Restaurants, Inc., by A & W Restaurants, Inc., January 1995.
26. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-kuam_26-0)**
["Businessman Scotty Moylan dies at 94"](http://www.kuam.com/Global/story.asp?S=13040012). [KUAM-TV](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KUAM-TV "KUAM-TV"). August 25, 2010. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160303180510/http://www.kuam.com/Global/story.asp?S=13040012) from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
27. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-27)** A Great American Brand - 90 Years of A\&W, by Christa Bourg, 2009, page 62.
28. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-28)**
Forson, Psyche Williams; Counihan, Carole (2013). [*Taking Food Public: Redefining Foodways in a Changing World*](https://books.google.com/books?id=QeXZAAAAQBAJ&dq=%22a%26w%22+%22philippines%22&pg=PA375). Routledge. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)")
[978-1-134-72627-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-134-72627-1 "Special:BookSources/978-1-134-72627-1")
.
29. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-29)**
["Page 23 Advertisements Column 1"](https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19631221-1.2.144.1). *The Straits Times*. December 21, 1963. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240731144349/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19631221-1.2.144.1) from the original on July 31, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
30. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-icwa_30-0)**
Nolte, Richard (March 3, 1964). ["A\&W Root Beer Comes to Town: 12,000 miles and I never left home"](http://www.icwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/GDN-34.pdf) (PDF). *Institute of Current World Affairs*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230607032015/http://www.icwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/GDN-34.pdf) (PDF) from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
31. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-31)** A Great American Brand - 90 Years of A\&W, by Christa Bourg, 2009, page 57.
32. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-32)**
S, G. (July 13, 1962). ["Heiße Würstchen hinterm Steuerrad"](http://www.zeit.de/1962/28/heisse-wuerstchen-hinterm-steuerrad). *Die Zeit*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130605011533/http://www.zeit.de/1962/28/heisse-wuerstchen-hinterm-steuerrad) from the original on June 5, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
33. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-33)**
[*A\&W Now International With Drive-In In Germany*](https://books.google.com/books?id=oXZPAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22a%26w%22+%22mannheim%22&pg=PA9&article_id=6482,3562677). Ocala Star-Banner.
34. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-34)**
Jason, Jason (June 22, 2015). ["14 Things You Didn't Know About A\&W Restaurants"](https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/the-history-of-aw-restaurants-aw-root-beer). *Thrillist*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160920202639/https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/the-history-of-aw-restaurants-aw-root-beer) from the original on September 20, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
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`{{cite news}}`: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service "Category:CS1 maint: deprecated archival service"))
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150. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-150)** A\&W Restaurants to Give Away Free Root Beer Floats with Any Purchase on June 20, Second Annual National Float Day; A\&W Also Announces 2005 Collector Mugs Will Be Available in July. (2005, Jun 13).
151. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-151)**
["A\&W Restaurants, Disabled American Veterans Break National Root Beer Float Day Fundraising Record"](https://www.dav.org/learn-more/news/2020/aw-restaurants-disabled-american-veterans-break-national-root-beer-float-day-fundraising-record/). Disabled American Veterans. January 4, 2020. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200104233321/https://www.dav.org/learn-more/news/2020/aw-restaurants-disabled-american-veterans-break-national-root-beer-float-day-fundraising-record/) from the original on January 4, 2020. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
152. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-152)**
[*National Float Day*](https://books.google.com/books?id=QN4yAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA27). Rome News-Tribune. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20241127143219/https://books.google.com/books?id=QN4yAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA27) from the original on November 27, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
153. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Beck_Romano_2009_153-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Beck_Romano_2009_153-1)
Beck, P.; Romano, S. (2009). [*Canadian Income Funds: Your Complete Guide to Income Trusts, Royalty Trusts and Real Estate Investment Trusts*](https://books.google.com/books?id=LRf828x0ldUC&pg=PA156). Wiley. p. 156. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)")
[978-0-470-73903-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-470-73903-7 "Special:BookSources/978-0-470-73903-7")
. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
154. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Dotz_Husain_2009_154-0)**
Dotz, W.; Husain, M. (2009). [*Ad Boy: Vintage Advertising with Character*](https://books.google.com/books?id=stkdvPdP_9EC&pg=PA34). Ten Speed Press. pp. 34–35\. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)")
[978-1-58008-984-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-58008-984-5 "Special:BookSources/978-1-58008-984-5")
. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
155. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-155)**
["Dennis the Menace - A\&W Root Beer - The Burlington Free Press Archive"](https://burlingtonfreepress.newspapers.com/article/the-burlington-free-press-dennis-the-men/26959031/). *The Burlington Free Press*. The Burlington Free Press (1967) via Newspapers.com. July 15, 1967. p. 4. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231203121151/https://burlingtonfreepress.newspapers.com/article/the-burlington-free-press-dennis-the-men/26959031/) from the original on December 3, 2023. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
156. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-RootyHistoryCanada_156-0)**
["The Mysterious Disappearance of the A\&W Root Bear"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG_qfiRzous). June 30, 2022. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220701085116/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG_qfiRzous) from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2023 – via www.youtube.com.
157. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-RootySG1974_157-0)**
["Page 9 Advertisements Column 1"](https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19741113-1.2.46.1). *The Straits Times*. November 13, 1974. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231204113739/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19741113-1.2.46.1) from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
158. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-158)**
O'Reilly, Terry (January 18, 2018). ["How The A\&W Root Bear Died Then Came Back to Life"](http://www.cbc.ca/radio/undertheinfluence/how-the-a-w-root-bear-died-then-came-back-to-life-1.4492502). *Under the Influence*. CBC Radio One. Pirate Radio. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180119162817/http://www.cbc.ca/radio/undertheinfluence/how-the-a-w-root-bear-died-then-came-back-to-life-1.4492502) from the original on January 19, 2018. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
159. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-159)**
Spector, Joseph (September 7, 2019). ["Papa Burger gets a permanent home in New York, and he looks amazing"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117288258/aw-mascot-democrat-chronicle/). *Democrat and Chronicle*. p. A11. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230126153420/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117288258/aw-mascot-democrat-chronicle/) from the original on January 26, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
160. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Koh_2017_160-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Koh_2017_160-1)
Koh, Fabian (July 7, 2017). ["A\&W returning to Singapore: 5 things about the old-time fast food chain"](https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/food/aw-returning-to-singapore-5-things-about-the-old-time-fast-food-chain). *The Straits Times*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180424121657/http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/food/aw-returning-to-singapore-5-things-about-the-old-time-fast-food-chain) from the original on April 24, 2018. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
161. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-161)**
["Lexington's loyal to its homegrown fast-food chains"](https://www.kentucky.com/news/business/article44377353.html). Lexington Herald-Leader. 17 September 2012. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180428142222/https://www.kentucky.com/news/business/article44377353.html) from the original on 28 April 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
162. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-162)**
Corr, Amy. ["A\&W Root Beer Mascot Gets Own LinkedIn Page"](https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/193242/aw-root-beer-mascot-gets-own-linkedin-page.html). *MediaPost*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160331125938/http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/193242/aw-root-beer-mascot-gets-own-linkedin-page.html) from the original on March 31, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
163. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-A&WScandal1_163-0)**
["A message from A\&W"](https://twitter.com/awrestaurants/status/1617975902004019231). twitter.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230125125812/https://twitter.com/awrestaurants/status/1617975902004019231) from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
164. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-A&WScandal2_164-0)**
["Fox News is now mad about the A\&W bear parodying the M\&M mascots"](https://www.avclub.com/a-w-m-ms-fox-news-rooty-the-great-root-bear-1850035144). avclub.com. January 26, 2023. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230126175316/https://www.avclub.com/a-w-m-ms-fox-news-rooty-the-great-root-bear-1850035144) from the original on January 26, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
165. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-A&WScandal3_165-0)**
["Is now a good time to mention this is a joke? 😅"](https://twitter.com/awrestaurants/status/1618272834723418112). twitter.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230125162235/https://twitter.com/awrestaurants/status/1618272834723418112) from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
166. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-A&WScandal4_166-0)**
["Why A\&W put pants on its cartoon bear after M\&M's spokes candies gaffe"](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mms-spokescandies-green-mm-aw-mascot-rooty-the-bear-mascot/). *CBS News*. January 25, 2023. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230125200539/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mms-spokescandies-green-mm-aw-mascot-rooty-the-bear-mascot/) from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
167. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-167)**
["'Blondie,' 'Dagwood' to pitch for A\&W"](http://adage.com/article/news/blondie-dagwood-pitch-a-w/22562/). *[Advertising Age](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advertising_Age "Advertising Age")*. March 4, 1998. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084913/http://adage.com/article/news/blondie-dagwood-pitch-a-w/22562/) from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
## External links
\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A%26W_Restaurants&action=edit§ion=17 "Edit section: External links")\]
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Commons-logo.svg)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to [A\&W restaurants](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:A%26W_restaurants "commons:Category:A&W restaurants").
- [Official website](http://www.awrestaurants.com/)
| [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Yum! "Template:Yum!") [t](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Yum! "Template talk:Yum!") [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Yum! "Special:EditPage/Template:Yum!")[Yum! Brands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yum!_Brands "Yum! Brands") | |
|---|---|
| Current chains | [Habit Burger & Grill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habit_Burger_%26_Grill "Habit Burger & Grill") [KFC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC "KFC") [Pizza Hut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizza_Hut "Pizza Hut") [Taco Bell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taco_Bell "Taco Bell") [WingStreet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WingStreet "WingStreet") |
| Former chains | [A\&W Restaurants]() [Long John Silver's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_John_Silver%27s "Long John Silver's") |
| People | [David Gibbs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Gibbs_\(businessman\) "David Gibbs (businessman)") (CEO) [David C. Novak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_C._Novak "David C. Novak") [Micky Pant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micky_Pant "Micky Pant") [Robert D. Walter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_D._Walter "Robert D. Walter") (Chairman) |
| Related | [Yum China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yum_China "Yum China") ([East Dawning](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Dawning "East Dawning"), [Little Sheep Group](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Sheep_Group "Little Sheep Group")) |
| [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Fast-food_chains_of_the_United_States "Template:Fast-food chains of the United States") [t](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Fast-food_chains_of_the_United_States "Template talk:Fast-food chains of the United States") [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Fast-food_chains_of_the_United_States "Special:EditPage/Template:Fast-food chains of the United States")[Fast food](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fast_food_restaurant_chains "List of fast food restaurant chains") and [fast casual](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_casual_dining_restaurant_chains#Fast_casual "List of casual dining restaurant chains") restaurant chains in the United States | |
|---|---|
| **[Burger chains](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hamburger_restaurants "List of hamburger restaurants")** **[Chicken chains](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Chicken_chains "Template:Chicken chains")** **[Coffeehouse chains](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_coffeehouse_chains "List of coffeehouse chains")** **[Doughnut chains](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_doughnut_shops "List of doughnut shops")** **[Hot dog chains](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hot_dog_restaurants "List of hot dog restaurants")** **[Pizza chains](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Pizza_chains "Template:Pizza chains")** **[Sandwich chains](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_submarine_sandwich_restaurants "List of submarine sandwich restaurants")** **[Seafood chains](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_seafood_restaurants "List of seafood restaurants")** | |
| [Asian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_cuisine "Asian cuisine") | [Bibibop Asian Grill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibibop_Asian_Grill "Bibibop Asian Grill") [Cupbop](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cupbop "Cupbop") [Manchu Wok](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchu_Wok "Manchu Wok") [Panda Express](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panda_Express "Panda Express") [Pei Wei Asian Diner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pei_Wei_Asian_Diner "Pei Wei Asian Diner") [Pick Up Stix](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pick_Up_Stix "Pick Up Stix") [Sarku Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarku_Japan "Sarku Japan") [Yoshinoya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshinoya "Yoshinoya") |
| [Baked goods](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baking "Baking") | [85°C Bakery Cafe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/85%C2%B0C_Bakery_Cafe "85°C Bakery Cafe") [Au Bon Pain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Au_Bon_Pain "Au Bon Pain") [Auntie Anne's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auntie_Anne%27s "Auntie Anne's") [Boudin Bakery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boudin_Bakery "Boudin Bakery") [Bruegger's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruegger%27s "Bruegger's") [Cinnabon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinnabon "Cinnabon") [Cinnaholic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinnaholic "Cinnaholic") [Corner Bakery Cafe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corner_Bakery_Cafe "Corner Bakery Cafe") [Crumbl Cookies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crumbl_Cookies "Crumbl Cookies") [Daylight Donuts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daylight_Donuts "Daylight Donuts") [Duck Donuts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck_Donuts "Duck Donuts") [Einstein Bros.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstein_Bros._Bagels "Einstein Bros. Bagels") [Great American Cookies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_American_Cookies "Great American Cookies") [Honey Dew Donuts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_Dew_Donuts "Honey Dew Donuts") [Insomnia Cookies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insomnia_Cookies "Insomnia Cookies") [Krispy Kreme](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krispy_Kreme "Krispy Kreme") [Mochinut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mochinut "Mochinut") [Mrs. Fields](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mrs._Fields "Mrs. Fields") [Panera Bread](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panera_Bread "Panera Bread") [Paris Baguette](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Baguette "Paris Baguette") [Pretzelmaker/Pretzel Time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretzelmaker "Pretzelmaker") [Red Ribbon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Ribbon_Bakeshop "Red Ribbon Bakeshop") [Shipley Do-Nuts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shipley_Do-Nuts "Shipley Do-Nuts") [Tim Hortons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Hortons "Tim Hortons") [Tous Les Jours](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tous_Les_Jours "Tous Les Jours") [Wetzel's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetzel%27s_Pretzels "Wetzel's Pretzels") [Winchell's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winchell%27s_Donuts "Winchell's Donuts") |
| [Barbecue](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbecue "Barbecue") | [Dickey's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dickey%27s_Barbecue_Pit "Dickey's Barbecue Pit") [Famous Dave's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famous_Dave%27s "Famous Dave's") [L\&L Hawaiian Barbecue](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%26L_Hawaiian_Barbecue "L&L Hawaiian Barbecue") [Mission BBQ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_BBQ "Mission BBQ") [Ono Hawaiian BBQ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ono_Hawaiian_BBQ "Ono Hawaiian BBQ") |
| [Beverages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drink "Drink") | [7 Brew](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7_Brew "7 Brew") [Bambū](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bambu_\(restaurant\) "Bambu (restaurant)") [Biggby Coffee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biggby_Coffee "Biggby Coffee") [Caribou](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribou_Coffee "Caribou Coffee") [Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Coffee_Bean_%26_Tea_Leaf "The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf") [Coffee Beanery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee_Beanery "Coffee Beanery") [Dunkin'](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunkin%27_Donuts "Dunkin' Donuts") [Dunn Bros](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunn_Brothers_Coffee "Dunn Brothers Coffee") [Dutch Bros.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Bros._Coffee "Dutch Bros. Coffee") [Gloria Jean's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_Jean%27s_Coffees "Gloria Jean's Coffees") [It's Boba Time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_Boba_Time "It's Boba Time") [Jamba Juice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamba_Juice "Jamba Juice") [Juice It Up\!](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juice_It_Up! "Juice It Up!") [Kung Fu Tea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kung_Fu_Tea "Kung Fu Tea") [Orange Julius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_Julius "Orange Julius") [Peet's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peet%27s_Coffee "Peet's Coffee") [Planet Smoothie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_Smoothie "Planet Smoothie") [Robeks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robeks "Robeks") [Scooter's Coffee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scooter%27s_Coffee "Scooter's Coffee") [Smoothie King](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoothie_King "Smoothie King") [Starbucks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starbucks "Starbucks") [Tropical Smoothie Cafe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_Smoothie_Cafe "Tropical Smoothie Cafe") |
| [Chicken](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_as_food "Chicken as food") | [Bojangles'](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bojangles_\(restaurant\) "Bojangles (restaurant)") [Bonchon Chicken](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonchon_Chicken "Bonchon Chicken") [Boston Market](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Market "Boston Market") [Brown's Chicken & Pasta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown%27s_Chicken_%26_Pasta "Brown's Chicken & Pasta") [Bush's Chicken](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush%27s_Chicken "Bush's Chicken") [Chester's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester%27s "Chester's") [Chick-fil-A](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chick-fil-A "Chick-fil-A") [Chicken Express](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_Express "Chicken Express") [Chicken Salad Chick](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_Salad_Chick "Chicken Salad Chick") [Church's/Texas Chicken](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church%27s_Texas_Chicken "Church's Texas Chicken") [Dave's Hot Chicken](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave%27s_Hot_Chicken "Dave's Hot Chicken") [El Pollo Loco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Pollo_Loco_\(United_States\) "El Pollo Loco (United States)") [Golden Chick](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Chick "Golden Chick") [Golden Skillet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Skillet "Golden Skillet") [Guthrie's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guthrie%27s "Guthrie's") [Hartz Chicken](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hartz_Chicken "Hartz Chicken") [Jollibee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jollibee "Jollibee") [KFC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC "KFC") [Krispy Krunchy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krispy_Krunchy_Chicken "Krispy Krunchy Chicken") [Kyochon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyochon "Kyochon") [Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee%27s_Famous_Recipe_Chicken "Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken") [Louisiana Famous Fried Chicken](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_Famous_Fried_Chicken "Louisiana Famous Fried Chicken") [Mrs. Winner's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mrs._Winner%27s_Chicken_%26_Biscuits "Mrs. Winner's Chicken & Biscuits") [Pollo Tropical](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollo_Tropical "Pollo Tropical") [Popeyes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popeyes "Popeyes") [Raising Cane's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raising_Cane%27s_Chicken_Fingers "Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers") [Roy Rogers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Rogers_Restaurants "Roy Rogers Restaurants") [Slim Chickens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slim_Chickens "Slim Chickens") [Wingstop](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wingstop "Wingstop") [WingStreet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizza_Hut#WingStreet "Pizza Hut") [Zaxby's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaxby%27s "Zaxby's") |
| [Frozen desserts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frozen_dessert "Frozen dessert") | [Andy's Frozen Custard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy%27s_Frozen_Custard "Andy's Frozen Custard") [Baskin-Robbins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baskin-Robbins "Baskin-Robbins") [Ben & Jerry's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_%26_Jerry%27s "Ben & Jerry's") [Braum's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braum%27s "Braum's") [Bruster's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruster%27s_Ice_Cream "Bruster's Ice Cream") [Carvel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carvel_\(franchise\) "Carvel (franchise)") [Cold Stone Creamery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_Stone_Creamery "Cold Stone Creamery") [Dairy Queen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dairy_Queen "Dairy Queen") [Dippin' Dots](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dippin%27_Dots "Dippin' Dots") [Fosters Freeze](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fosters_Freeze "Fosters Freeze") [Friendly's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendly%27s "Friendly's") [Graeter's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graeter%27s "Graeter's") [Häagen-Dazs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A4agen-Dazs "Häagen-Dazs") [Handel's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handel%27s_Homemade_Ice_Cream_%26_Yogurt "Handel's Homemade Ice Cream & Yogurt") [La Michoacana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Michoacana_\(ice_cream\) "La Michoacana (ice cream)") [MaggieMoo's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MaggieMoo%27s_Ice_Cream_and_Treatery "MaggieMoo's Ice Cream and Treatery") [Marble Slab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marble_Slab_Creamery "Marble Slab Creamery") [Menchie's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menchie%27s_Frozen_Yogurt "Menchie's Frozen Yogurt") [Oberweis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oberweis_Dairy "Oberweis Dairy") [Orange Leaf](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_Leaf_Frozen_Yogurt "Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt") [Pinkberry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinkberry "Pinkberry") [Popbar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popbar "Popbar") [Red Mango](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Mango "Red Mango") [Rita's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita%27s_Italian_Ice "Rita's Italian Ice") [Sweet Frog](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_Frog "Sweet Frog") [Tastee-Freez](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tastee-Freez "Tastee-Freez") [TCBY](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TCBY "TCBY") [Tropical Sno](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_Sno "Tropical Sno") [Tutti Frutti](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tutti_Frutti_Frozen_Yogurt "Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt") [Yogen Früz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yogen_Fr%C3%BCz "Yogen Früz") [Yogurtland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yogurtland "Yogurtland") |
| [Hamburgers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamburger "Hamburger") | [A\&W]() [Arctic Circle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_Circle_Restaurants "Arctic Circle Restaurants") [Back Yard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_Yard_Burgers "Back Yard Burgers") [Big Boy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Boy_Restaurants "Big Boy Restaurants") [BurgerFi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BurgerFi "BurgerFi") [Burger King](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burger_King "Burger King") [Carl's Jr.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl%27s_Jr. "Carl's Jr.") [Checkers/Rally's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checkers_and_Rally%27s "Checkers and Rally's") [Cook Out](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cook_Out_\(restaurant\) "Cook Out (restaurant)") [Culver's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culver%27s "Culver's") [Fatburger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatburger "Fatburger") [Five Guys](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Guys "Five Guys") [Freddy's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddy%27s_Frozen_Custard_%26_Steakburgers "Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers") [Fuddruckers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuddruckers "Fuddruckers") [Habit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habit_Burger_%26_Grill "Habit Burger & Grill") [Hardee's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardee%27s "Hardee's") [Hwy 55](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hwy_55_Burgers_Shakes_%26_Fries "Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries") [In-N-Out](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-N-Out_Burger "In-N-Out Burger") [Jack's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack%27s "Jack's") [Jack in the Box](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_in_the_Box "Jack in the Box") [Johnny Rockets](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Rockets "Johnny Rockets") [Krystal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krystal_\(restaurant\) "Krystal (restaurant)") [McDonald's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonald%27s "McDonald's") [Milo's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milo%27s_Hamburgers "Milo's Hamburgers") [Mooyah](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mooyah "Mooyah") [MrBeast Burger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MrBeast_Burger "MrBeast Burger") [Roy Rogers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Rogers_Restaurants "Roy Rogers Restaurants") [Shake Shack](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shake_Shack "Shake Shack") [Smashburger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smashburger_\(restaurant_chain\) "Smashburger (restaurant chain)") [Sonic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_Drive-In "Sonic Drive-In") [Steak 'n Shake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steak_%27n_Shake "Steak 'n Shake") [Wayback](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayback_Burgers "Wayback Burgers") [Wendy's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendy%27s "Wendy's") [Whataburger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whataburger "Whataburger") [White Castle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Castle_\(restaurant\) "White Castle (restaurant)") |
| [Hot dogs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_dog "Hot dog") | [Nathan's Famous](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan%27s_Famous "Nathan's Famous") [Portillo's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portillo%27s_Restaurants "Portillo's Restaurants") [Wienerschnitzel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wienerschnitzel "Wienerschnitzel") |
| [Mexican](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_cuisine "Mexican cuisine") / [Tex-Mex](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tex-Mex "Tex-Mex") | [Baja Fresh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baja_Fresh "Baja Fresh") [Cafe Rio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cafe_Rio "Cafe Rio") [Chevys](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevys_Fresh_Mex "Chevys Fresh Mex") [Chipotle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chipotle_Mexican_Grill "Chipotle Mexican Grill") [Del Taco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Del_Taco "Del Taco") [El Torito](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Torito "El Torito") [Fuzzy's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuzzy%27s_Taco_Shop "Fuzzy's Taco Shop") [Green/Red Burrito](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CKE_Restaurants "CKE Restaurants") [La Salsa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Salsa "La Salsa") [Moe's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moe%27s_Southwest_Grill "Moe's Southwest Grill") [On the Border](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Border_Mexican_Grill_%26_Cantina "On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina") [Pancheros](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancheros_Mexican_Grill "Pancheros Mexican Grill") [Qdoba](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qdoba "Qdoba") [Roberto's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto%27s_Taco_Shop "Roberto's Taco Shop") [Rubio's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubio%27s_Coastal_Grill "Rubio's Coastal Grill") [Salsarita's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salsarita%27s_Fresh_Mexican_Grill "Salsarita's Fresh Mexican Grill") [Taco Bell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taco_Bell "Taco Bell") [Taco Bueno](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taco_Bueno "Taco Bueno") [Taco Cabana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taco_Cabana "Taco Cabana") [Taco John's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taco_John%27s "Taco John's") [TacoTime](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TacoTime "TacoTime") [Tijuana Flats](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tijuana_Flats "Tijuana Flats") [Torchy's Tacos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torchy%27s_Tacos "Torchy's Tacos") |
| [Pizza](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizza "Pizza") / [Italian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_cuisine "Italian cuisine") | [Blaze Pizza](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaze_Pizza "Blaze Pizza") [Cicis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicis_Pizza "Cicis Pizza") [Domino's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domino%27s "Domino's") [Donatos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donatos_Pizza "Donatos Pizza") [Fazoli's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fazoli%27s "Fazoli's") [Fox's Pizza Den](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox%27s_Pizza_Den "Fox's Pizza Den") [Godfather's Pizza](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godfather%27s_Pizza "Godfather's Pizza") [Hungry Howie's Pizza](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungry_Howie%27s_Pizza "Hungry Howie's Pizza") [Hunt Brothers Pizza](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunt_Brothers_Pizza "Hunt Brothers Pizza") [Jet's Pizza](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet%27s_Pizza "Jet's Pizza") [Little Caesars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Caesars "Little Caesars") [Marco's Pizza](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco%27s_Pizza "Marco's Pizza") [MOD Pizza](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOD_Pizza "MOD Pizza") [Mountain Mike's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_Mike%27s_Pizza "Mountain Mike's Pizza") [Papa Gino's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papa_Gino%27s "Papa Gino's") [Papa John's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papa_John%27s "Papa John's") [Papa Murphy's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papa_Murphy%27s "Papa Murphy's") [Pizza Hut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizza_Hut "Pizza Hut") [Pizza Patrón](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizza_Patr%C3%B3n "Pizza Patrón") [Pizza Ranch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizza_Ranch "Pizza Ranch") [Rosati's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosati%27s "Rosati's") [Round Table Pizza](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Round_Table_Pizza "Round Table Pizza") [Sbarro](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sbarro "Sbarro") [Shakey's Pizza](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakey%27s_Pizza "Shakey's Pizza") [Straw Hat Pizza](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_Hat_Pizza "Straw Hat Pizza") |
| [Salads](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salad "Salad") | [Just Salad](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_Salad "Just Salad") [Salad and Go](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salad_and_Go "Salad and Go") [Saladworks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saladworks "Saladworks") [Sweetgreen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweetgreen "Sweetgreen") |
| [Sandwiches](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandwich "Sandwich") | [Arby's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arby%27s "Arby's") [Blimpie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blimpie "Blimpie") [Capriotti's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capriotti%27s "Capriotti's") [Charleys](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charleys_Cheesesteaks "Charleys Cheesesteaks") [Cousins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousins_Subs "Cousins Subs") [D'Angelo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%27Angelo_Grilled_Sandwiches "D'Angelo Grilled Sandwiches") [Erbert & Gerbert's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erbert_%26_Gerbert%27s "Erbert & Gerbert's") [Firehouse Subs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firehouse_Subs "Firehouse Subs") [The Honey Baked Ham Company](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Honey_Baked_Ham_Company "The Honey Baked Ham Company") [Jason's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason%27s_Deli "Jason's Deli") [Jersey Mike's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jersey_Mike%27s_Subs "Jersey Mike's Subs") [Jimmy John's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_John%27s "Jimmy John's") [Lee's Sandwiches](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee%27s_Sandwiches "Lee's Sandwiches") [Lenny's Sub](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lennys_Grill_%26_Subs "Lennys Grill & Subs") [McAlister's Deli](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McAlister%27s_Deli "McAlister's Deli") [Mendocino Farms](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mendocino_Farms "Mendocino Farms") [Miami Grill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_Grill "Miami Grill") [Newk's Eatery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newk%27s_Eatery "Newk's Eatery") [Penn Station](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penn_Station_\(restaurant\) "Penn Station (restaurant)") [Port of Subs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_of_Subs "Port of Subs") [Potbelly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potbelly_Sandwich_Shop "Potbelly Sandwich Shop") [Primo Hoagies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primo_Hoagies "Primo Hoagies") [Quiznos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiznos "Quiznos") [Rax](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rax_Roast_Beef "Rax Roast Beef") [Runza](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runza_\(restaurant\) "Runza (restaurant)") [Sandella's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandella%27s_Flatbread_Caf%C3%A9 "Sandella's Flatbread Café") [Schlotzsky's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schlotzsky%27s "Schlotzsky's") [Steak Escape](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steak_Escape "Steak Escape") [Subway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subway_\(restaurant\) "Subway (restaurant)") [Togo's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOGO%27S "TOGO'S") [Which Wich?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Which_Wich%3F "Which Wich?") |
| [Seafood](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seafood "Seafood") | [Arthur Treacher's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Treacher%27s "Arthur Treacher's") [California Fish Grill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Fish_Grill "California Fish Grill") [Captain D's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_D%27s "Captain D's") [H. Salt Esquire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._Salt_Esq._Fish_%26_Chips "H. Salt Esq. Fish & Chips") [Joe's Crab Shack](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe%27s_Crab_Shack "Joe's Crab Shack") [Long John Silver's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_John_Silver%27s "Long John Silver's") [Skippers Seafood & Chowder House](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skippers_Seafood_%26_Chowder_House "Skippers Seafood & Chowder House") |
| Other | [Cava](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cava_Group "Cava Group") [German Doner Kebab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Doner_Kebab "German Doner Kebab") [The Halal Guys](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Halal_Guys "The Halal Guys") [Noodles & Company](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noodles_%26_Company "Noodles & Company") [Pita Pit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pita_Pit "Pita Pit") [Skyline Chili](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyline_Chili "Skyline Chili") [Taziki's Mediterranean Café](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taziki%27s_Mediterranean_Caf%C3%A9 "Taziki's Mediterranean Café") [WaBa Grill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WaBa_Grill "WaBa Grill") |
| Defunct | [Bresler's 33 Flavors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bresler%27s_33_Flavors "Bresler's 33 Flavors") [Brigham's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigham%27s_Ice_Cream "Brigham's Ice Cream") [Burger Chef](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burger_Chef "Burger Chef") [Burgerim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgerim "Burgerim") [Carrols](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrols_Restaurant_Group "Carrols Restaurant Group") [D'Lites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%27Lites "D'Lites") [Dawn Donuts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawn_Donuts "Dawn Donuts") [Druther's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Druther%27s "Druther's") [Henry's Hamburgers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry%27s_Hamburgers "Henry's Hamburgers") [Hot 'n Now](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_%27n_Now "Hot 'n Now") [Hot Sam Pretzels](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Sam_Pretzels "Hot Sam Pretzels") [Lum's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lum%27s "Lum's") [Naugles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naugles "Naugles") [Nestlé Toll House](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nestl%C3%A9_Toll_House_Caf%C3%A9 "Nestlé Toll House Café") [Red Barn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Barn_\(restaurant\) "Red Barn (restaurant)") [Sandy's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy%27s "Sandy's") [Seattle's Best Coffee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle%27s_Best_Coffee "Seattle's Best Coffee") [Souplantation/Sweet Tomatoes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Souplantation_and_Sweet_Tomatoes "Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes") [Teavana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teavana "Teavana") [T.J. Cinnamons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T.J._Cinnamons "T.J. Cinnamons") [Tully's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tully%27s_Coffee "Tully's Coffee") [Wetson's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetson%27s "Wetson's") [White Tower](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Tower_Hamburgers "White Tower Hamburgers") [Zantigo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zantigo "Zantigo") |
[Portals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents/Portals "Wikipedia:Contents/Portals"):
- [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Foodlogo2.svg) [Food](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Food "Portal:Food")
-  [United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:United_States "Portal:United States")
-  [Companies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Companies "Portal:Companies")
-  [1920s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:1920s "Portal:1920s")
Retrieved from "[https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A%26W\_Restaurants\&oldid=1342944353](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A%26W_Restaurants&oldid=1342944353)"
[Categories](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Category "Help:Category"):
- [Companies based in Lexington, Kentucky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Companies_based_in_Lexington,_Kentucky "Category:Companies based in Lexington, Kentucky")
- [Privately held companies based in Kentucky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Privately_held_companies_based_in_Kentucky "Category:Privately held companies based in Kentucky")
- [Drive-in restaurants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Drive-in_restaurants "Category:Drive-in restaurants")
- [Fast-food chains of the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Fast-food_chains_of_the_United_States "Category:Fast-food chains of the United States")
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A\&W Restaurants
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| Readable Markdown | This article is about the American restaurant chain. For the Canadian restaurant chain, see [A\&W (Canada)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_\(Canada\) "A&W (Canada)").
| | |
|---|---|
| [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:All_American_Food_Logo.svg) | |
| [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A%26W_restaurant_in_Page,_Arizona.jpeg)A now closed A\&W restaurant in [Page, Arizona](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Page,_Arizona "Page, Arizona") | |
| [Trade name](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_name "Trade name") | A\&W[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-justia-1) |
| Company type | [Private](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privately_held_company "Privately held company") |
| Industry | [Restaurant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restaurant "Restaurant") |
| Genre | [Fast food](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_food "Fast food") |
| Founded | June 1923; 102 years ago in [Lodi, California](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lodi,_California "Lodi, California"), U.S.[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-John_A._Jakle,_Keith_A._Sculle_1999-2) |
| Founder | [Roy W. Allen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_W._Allen "Roy W. Allen") Frank Wright |
| Headquarters | [Lexington, Kentucky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexington,_Kentucky "Lexington, Kentucky"), U.S.[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-3) |
| Number of locations | 900+[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-fact_sheet_2021-4) |
| Area served | United States Southeast Asia |
| Key people | [Kevin Bazner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Bazner "Kevin Bazner") (Chairman of the Board) Betsy Schmandt CEO President )[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-fact_sheet_2021-4) |
| Products | [Hamburgers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamburger "Hamburger"), [fried chicken](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fried_chicken "Fried chicken") and [tenders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_tenders "Chicken tenders"), [hot dogs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_dog "Hot dog"), [root beer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_beer "Root beer"), [root beer floats](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_cream_float#Root_beer_float "Ice cream float"), [cheese curds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheese_curd "Cheese curd"), [waffles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waffles "Waffles"), [soft serve](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_serve "Soft serve"), [french fries](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_fries "French fries"), [milkshakes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milkshake "Milkshake") and [rice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice "Rice") |
| Revenue |  \$330 million[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-fact_sheet_2021-4) (2020) |
| Owner | A Great American Brand, LLC |
| Number of employees | approx. 35,000 (2019[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-5)) |
| Website | [awrestaurants.com](https://awrestaurants.com/) |
**A\&W Concentrate Company**, [doing business as](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_name "Trade name") **A\&W Restaurants**, or simply **A\&W**,[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-justia-1) is an American fast food restaurant chain distinguished by its ["Burger Family" combos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamburger "Hamburger"), draft [root beer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_beer "Root beer") and [root beer floats](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_beer_float "Root beer float").[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Smith-OCAFD_2007-6)[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Patton_2017-7) A\&W's origins date back to 1919 when [Roy W. Allen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_W._Allen "Roy W. Allen") set up a roadside drink stand offering root beer at a parade honoring returning [World War I](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I "World War I") veterans in [Lodi, California](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lodi,_California "Lodi, California").[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-krn-8)[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Smith-OCAFD_2007-6) Allen's employee, Frank Wright, partnered with him in 1922 and they founded their first A\&W restaurant in [Sacramento, California](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramento,_California "Sacramento, California"), in 1923.[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-John_A._Jakle,_Keith_A._Sculle_1999-2) The company name was taken from the initials of their last names – Allen and Wright. The company became famous in the United States for its "frosty mugs" – the mugs were kept in a [freezer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freezer "Freezer") and filled with [A\&W Root Beer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Root_Beer "A&W Root Beer") just before being served to customers.
Evolving into a franchise in 1926, the company today has over 900 locations in 16 countries, with 460 in the United States,[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-ScrapeHero2024-9) Southeast Asian countries and Germany, serving a fast-food menu of [hamburgers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamburger "Hamburger"), [hot dogs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_dog "Hot dog") and [french fries](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_fries "French fries").[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Smith_2012-10) A number of outlets serve as [drive-in](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drive-in "Drive-in") restaurants that have [carhops](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carhop "Carhop").[\[11\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-11) Previously owned by [Yum! Brands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yum!_Brands "Yum! Brands"), the chain was sold in December 2011 to a consortium of A\&W franchisees through A Great American Brand, LLC.[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Patton_2017-7)[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-blue-12) [A\&W restaurants in Canada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_\(Canada\) "A&W (Canada)") have been part of a separate and unaffiliated chain since 1972.
### Founding and early years
\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A%26W_Restaurants&action=edit§ion=2 "Edit section: Founding and early years")\]
On June 20, 1919, [Roy W. Allen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_W._Allen "Roy W. Allen") opened his first root beer stand in [Lodi, California](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lodi,_California "Lodi, California"). The first day was for a homecoming celebration of soldiers who returned from battle in [World War I](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I "World War I").[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-June1919-13) The following day, his stand was open for regular customers, selling root beer glasses for 5 cents (equivalent to \$0.93 in 2025).[\[14\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-inflation-US-14)[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-15) The following year, Allen opened a second stand in [Stockton, California](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockton,_California "Stockton, California").[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-June1919-13) Shortly afterward, the effect of [the period of prohibition that existed in the United States from 1920 to 1933](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prohibition_in_the_United_States "Prohibition in the United States") gave Allen and his stand with a beverage with "beer" in the name a heavy rebound.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Float_On-16) Four years later, A\&W began when Allen and Frank Wright opened their drive-in restaurant in Sacramento, California, combining both of their initials for the name, and selling the root beer from Allen's stand. Curbside service was provided by tray boys and tray girls. In 1924, Allen purchased Frank Wright's stake in the business. In 1925, Allen began [franchising](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franchising "Franchising") the root beer, while the franchisee added the other menu items and operated at their discretion. Most of the restaurants that opened under this scheme were on the highways of the [Central Valley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Valley_\(California\) "Central Valley (California)") region, mainly for travelers.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Float_On-16) This may have arguably been the first successful food-franchising operation. Allen sold the company in 1950 and retired.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-krn-8) A lot of World War I veterans eventually founded A\&W franchises throughout the US, while some of their descendants still own franchises.[\[17\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-17)
A\&W's initial menu relied heavily on root beer and snacks, such as popcorn and peanuts, as well as sandwiches on sliced bread.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Float_On-16)
In 1927, [J. Willard Marriott](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Willard_Marriott "J. Willard Marriott") gained franchise rights for [Washington, D.C.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,_D.C. "Washington, D.C.") and the neighboring cities of [Baltimore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore "Baltimore") and [Richmond](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond,_Virginia "Richmond, Virginia"). Subsequently, he moved to Washington to open a root beer stand with Hugh Colton. These stands subsequently became [Hot Shoppes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriott_Corporation "Marriott Corporation"), paving the way for the later creation of [one of the largest hospitality corporations in the world](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriott_International "Marriott International").[\[18\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-MarriottCulture-18) As of 1933, A\&W had a total of 171 stands,[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-June1919-13) increasing to 260 by 1941.[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-19)
A\&W survived the [Great Depression](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Depression "Great Depression") and labor shortages during [World War II](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II "World War II") but benefitted from the post-war recovery of the American economy, with fast food and drive-in restaurants beginning to take shape.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Float_On-16) The first franchise convention was held in [La Crosse, Wisconsin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Crosse,_Wisconsin "La Crosse, Wisconsin") in 1949, but was limited to [Wisconsin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisconsin "Wisconsin") franchisees.[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-20)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A_and_W_Burger_Family_\(Hillsboro,_Oregon\).jpg)
A 1950s A\&W Burger Family display in Hillsboro, Oregon[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Baskas_2010-21)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A%26W_Restaurants_EkoCheras_Mall_20230531_152417.jpg)
A\&W Restaurant at the EkoCheras Mall, [Kuala Lumpur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuala_Lumpur "Kuala Lumpur"), Malaysia
In the expansion years of the 1950s and 1960s, franchisees were signing 20- or 25-year contracts under the older model.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-krn-8) The chain expanded into Canada in 1956, opening restaurants in [Winnipeg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg "Winnipeg") and [Montreal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal "Montreal"). By 1960, A\&W had 2,000 restaurants.[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Smith-OCAFD_2007-6)[\[22\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-history-22) In November 1956, F. R. "Fran" Loetterle became the president of the chain.[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-23)
In 1963, the chain opened its first store on [Okinawa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okinawa_Island "Okinawa Island"), which at the time was [under American control](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Civil_Administration_of_the_Ryukyu_Islands "United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands").[\[24\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-24) In the following years, the chain branched into other foreign markets, including [Guam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guam "Guam") (first territory outside of the North American continent to open a restaurant, in 1961),[\[25\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-25) opened by [Scotty Moylan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotty_Moylan "Scotty Moylan"),[\[26\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-kuam-26) [Mexico](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico "Mexico"),[\[27\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-27) the [Philippines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines "Philippines") (some sources say it opened in the 1990s[\[28\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-28)) and [Malaysia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia "Malaysia").[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Smith-OCAFD_2007-6) The first restaurant in Malaysia (Malaya at the time) was opened on December 24 that year[\[29\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-29) by Al and Geri Lieboff, a couple from [Las Vegas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas "Las Vegas"), who got the franchising rights for Malaysia and Singapore. Setting up the chain seemed to be complicated, as they were unable to find a proper site, and in the recruitment process, Malayans had no consent to adorning Western "cabaret girl" style clothes.\[*[clarification needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify "Wikipedia:Please clarify")*\] Already at the time of setup, kids were starting to favor chicken, burgers, and hot dogs rather than rice and curry, and within the next five years, would also see a rise in new locations up to 22 within five years.[\[30\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-icwa-30)
The first restaurant in Europe opened in [Mannheim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mannheim "Mannheim") (near [Stuttgart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuttgart "Stuttgart")), [West Germany](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Germany "West Germany") in 1962.[\[31\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-31) At the time, a city influenced by US military presence, the restaurant was showing signs of success for its novelty, the first drive-in restaurant in Germany, and had already made headlines in German newspapers. At the time, it was the 2283rd overall founded by the chain.[\[32\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-32) There were already plans to introduce restaurants and drive-ins in other key European markets, such as the United Kingdom, according to the chain's president.[\[33\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-33)
Dale Mulder opened up a [Lansing, Michigan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lansing,_Michigan "Lansing, Michigan") A\&W franchise in 1961.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-krn-8) In 1963, Mulder added the bacon cheeseburger to his menu after a customer made repeated orders for bacon to be added to his cheeseburger. Thus A\&W is credited with inventing the bacon cheeseburger.[\[34\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-34)
### United Fruit Co. and United Brands Company subsidiary
\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A%26W_Restaurants&action=edit§ion=4 "Edit section: United Fruit Co. and United Brands Company subsidiary")\]
In 1963, the company was sold again, followed by another sale in 1967 to [United Fruit Co.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Fruit_Company "United Fruit Company") conglomerate. AMK Corporation purchased United Fruit in 1970. Then AMK formed United Brands Company to hold A\&W.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-krn-8)[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Smith-OCAFD_2007-6)
In 1971, A\&W Beverages Inc.—a [beverage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverage "Beverage") subsidiary—began supplying bottled A\&W products to grocery stores. The bottled products would become available nationally.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-krn-8) In 1972, [A\&W's Canadian division](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_\(Canada\) "A&W (Canada)") was sold to [Unilever](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unilever "Unilever").
A\&W attempted to open restaurants in mainland [Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan "Japan") in the early 1970s, specifically in Fukuoka prefecture and the regions of Kanto and Kansai. The chain's performance on the mainland was sluggish in contrast to Okinawa due to several factors, such as the [1973 oil crisis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973_oil_crisis "1973 oil crisis"), prompting the chain to withdraw from the market. A\&W's Japanese operations are still handled from Okinawa.[\[35\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-35) There were further fruitless attempts to bring the chain to the mainland: in the 1980s, the Okinawan branch briefly attempted to open restaurants in [Kagoshima Prefecture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kagoshima_Prefecture "Kagoshima Prefecture") but ended up limiting itself to Okinawa,[\[36\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-nikkei_20120510-36) while in the 2000s a pilot restaurant existed in [Tokyo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo "Tokyo"), which was quickly withdrawn.[\[37\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-37)
1978 saw the introduction of a standard menu for use in all restaurants in the USA.[\[38\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-38)
In the 1970s, A\&W had more stores than [McDonald's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonald%27s "McDonald's"),[\[39\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-PC2008-39) with a peak in 1974 of 2,400 units.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-krn-8) [Oshkosh, Wisconsin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oshkosh,_Wisconsin "Oshkosh, Wisconsin"), franchise manager Jim Brajdic said: "Problems back then, including a lawsuit, franchisee discontent, and inconsistencies in the operation, caused the chain to flounder and branches to close."[\[39\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-PC2008-39) A\&W moved to a modern-style franchise agreement that introduced royalty payments and new standards. However, many franchisees refused the revised terms as their 20- or 25-year original agreements expired.\[*[example needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:AUDIENCE "Wikipedia:AUDIENCE")*\] In 1980, the number of restaurants had fallen to 1,300 in the United States (mostly in the Midwest and the North West), Asia, and Europe. In 1980, the Singaporean franchisee Temenggong Ltd. had increased the number of restaurants in the country, while nine new restaurants were planned in Malaysia. There were also plans to open restaurants in the Philippines and Hong Kong.[\[40\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-40) Negotiations to sell the chain began in November 1981.[\[41\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-41)
### Taubman Investment Co. subsidiary
\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A%26W_Restaurants&action=edit§ion=5 "Edit section: Taubman Investment Co. subsidiary")\]
In 1982, [A. Alfred Taubman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._Alfred_Taubman "A. Alfred Taubman") purchased A\&W[\[42\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-bb-42) and placed it under Taubman Investment Co.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-krn-8) Taubman only purchased the restaurant company and not [A\&W Beverages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Root_Beer "A&W Root Beer"). The chain dropped to fewer than 500 locations in the mid-1980s. A freeze on issuing franchises was put in place.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-krn-8) Taubman wanted to restructure the chain by changing its "outdated" image.[\[43\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-image-43) Franchisees were being neglected in the United Fruit phase. Taubman opted to withdraw agreements with 100 franchisees that were performing poorly and ousted 80% of its workforce. With this, the new management decided to split its fast-food restaurants into two units – the conventional orange roof A\&W restaurants, which were still the majority, and A\&W Great Food Restaurants.[\[43\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-image-43)
In 1983, A\&W opened its first restaurant in [Thailand](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand "Thailand"), at the [Central Ladprao](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Ladprao "Central Ladprao") shopping mall in [Bangkok](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangkok "Bangkok").[\[44\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-44)
In 1985,[\[45\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-45) A\&W began offering the Third Pounder to compete with McDonald's [Quarter Pounder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarter_Pounder "Quarter Pounder"). As advertised, the Third beat the Quarter in taste tests and was less expensive by weight. In his 2007 memoir, former owner A. Alfred Taubman claimed research had revealed that it had been unsuccessful in part due to Americans' widespread [innumeracy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Innumeracy "Innumeracy"), specifically their inability to understand fractions: 1/3 was perceived as smaller than 1/4 (due to the smaller denominator) despite being a larger quantity.[\[46\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-46) The burger was relaunched in 2021 as the 3/9 Pound burger, humorously attempting to capitalize on the now-popular fractions misunderstanding story.[\[47\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-47)
In 1985, the chain struggled in Singapore, losing its relevance to newer, larger chains and its dominance in the fried chicken area to KFC. The chain was about to amp up its operations in the Asian region, with a possible launch in Hong Kong as well as three new restaurants in Thailand.[\[48\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-48)
On April 21, 1985, its first restaurant opened in [Indonesia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia "Indonesia"), in the [Melawai](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Melawai&action=edit&redlink=1 "Melawai (page does not exist)") area of [South Jakarta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Jakarta "South Jakarta"), its capital.[\[49\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Christa_Bourg_2009,_page_142-49)[\[50\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-bab-50) Currently, Indonesia is the chain's largest international market, which as of February 2023 claimed 243 restaurants in 30 cities.[\[51\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-51) A restaurant in [Ximending](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ximending "Ximending"), Taiwan opened on February 22, 1986.[\[52\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-52) Its two units in [Kuwait](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwait "Kuwait") were closed in 1988 owing to security concerns.[\[53\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-53) It was in Kuwait, during a US-Malaysia trip, that Kevin Bazner was held hostage in August 1990 when the plane he was on board was set for refueling;[\[54\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-54) he was released in December.[\[55\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-55)
Negotiations were held with [Sonic Drive-In](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_Drive-In "Sonic Drive-In") for a potential buying of the chain, but the plans fell in October 1986 due to a decline in franchises.[\[56\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-56) Expansion plans were formulated in August 1987 with the opening of twenty new restaurants in a one-year period.[\[57\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-57)
On March 6, 1988, the first conventional A\&W outlet opened in the Philippines at Fiesta Carnival in [Cubao](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quezon_City "Quezon City"), followed by a second at Gift Gate Center on November 26. The second restaurant's reputation was damaged by a fire of unknown origin that broke out in May 1990. Nonetheless, the chain expanded with new outlets and products by the end of 1990. The Philippine chain was the first A\&W to introduce chicken nuggets, a product that even the American operations wanted from there.[\[58\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-58) The chain also sponsored a team in the [Philippine Basketball League](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Basketball_Association "Philippine Basketball Association"), which they withdrew in 1992.[\[59\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-59)
#### A\&W Great Food Restaurants
\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A%26W_Restaurants&action=edit§ion=6 "Edit section: A&W Great Food Restaurants")\]
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lodi_the_birthplace_of_A%26W_Root_Beer_since_1919.jpg)
Lodi the birthplace of A\&W Root Beer since 1919
A new format concept, A\&W Great Food Restaurants, was developed. Ten corporate-owned locations were opened to test the concept: a sit-down, upscale, family-theme restaurant with a large salad bar and homemade ice cream.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-krn-8) The first such branch opened in 1978 (1979, according to some sources[\[43\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-image-43)) at the Lake Forest Shopping Mall in [Gaithersburg, Maryland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaithersburg,_Maryland "Gaithersburg, Maryland").[\[60\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-60) Emphasis in these restaurants was made on low-calorie foods that covered almost the entirety of the foods found in the fast-food spectrum, except pizza. By 1986, there were plans to have 250 to 300 locations within ten years.[\[43\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-image-43)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A%26W_Root_Beer_and_restaurant_in_Lodi,_California.jpg)
A\&W Root Beer and restaurant in Lodi, California
In 1987, the company was headquartered in [Livonia, Michigan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livonia,_Michigan "Livonia, Michigan"), and Mulder became CEO and president. The freeze was lifted, and a push occurred in 1986, adding 60 franchise units.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-krn-8) In March 1989, A\&W made an agreement with [Minnesota](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota "Minnesota")\-based Carousel Snack Bars to convert that chain's 200 stores (mostly kiosks in shopping malls) to A\&W Hot Dogs & More,[\[22\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-history-22)[\[61\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-61) Some A\&W Hot Dogs & More are still operating.[\[39\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-PC2008-39) aiming to finish the conversion within two years.[\[62\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-62) In the same year, A\&W bought the Burger City chain, converting its nine drive-thru kiosks to A\&W units.[\[63\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-63)
George E. Michel, who had worked with the Canadian chain for twenty years, was appointed president of the American A\&W Restaurants in January 1991, becoming CEO in January 1992.[\[64\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-64) His presidency used its long history as a pretext for nostalgia both in the United States and abroad.[\[65\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Crains5DEC1994-65)
### Sale to Sidney Feltenstein; Grotech subsidiary
\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A%26W_Restaurants&action=edit§ion=7 "Edit section: Sale to Sidney Feltenstein; Grotech subsidiary")\]
In December 1994, Taubman sold A\&W to Sidney Feltenstein, with the aim of pushing the chain's international expansion further, while still maintaining its headquarters in Livonia. At the time, there were 790 restaurants (688 in the United States and 102 abroad), with the bulk of the international locations located in Malaysia, Thailand and Japan, as well as in Mexico and the [United Arab Emirates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates "United Arab Emirates"). Earlier in 1994, its hundredth international location opened at a tourist attraction in [Bangkok](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangkok "Bangkok"): a crocodile farm.[\[65\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Crains5DEC1994-65) In January 1995, operations were taken over by Grotech Capital Partners, for a sum of \$20 million, with Feltenstein as the chain's new CEO.[\[66\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-66)
An agreement was signed in 1996 with [Walmart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walmart "Walmart") to provide restaurants in seven locations. The menu would add items depending on the region, with the rest being its standard fare.[\[67\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-67) That year, its restaurants were renovated to feature an aesthetic referred to by Feltenstein as "contemporary nostalgia". The move mirrored that of [Dairy Queen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dairy_Queen "Dairy Queen"), which had also opened a test location with a similar feel.[\[68\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-68) A\&W also operated restaurants in [Monterrey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monterrey "Monterrey"), a key city in northern Mexico.[\[69\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-69) In 1997, A\&W acquired Carousel Snack Bars, including its 175 units in malls.[\[70\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Christa_Bourg_2009,_page_172-70) The agreement made the chain the owner of these units, while continuing to franchise restaurants.[\[71\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-71)
The chain aimed to increase its presence in the second half of 1996 by opening co-branded locations and nontraditional sites such as gas stations, while abroad it planned an increase in the number of units, having signed development agreements in [Oman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oman "Oman") and had already opened stores in [Dubai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubai "Dubai"). There were also plans for the opening of units in [Seoul](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seoul "Seoul") and increasing its presence in Singapore, as well as attempting to target the Latin American market.[\[72\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-72) For the Middle East, it made a licensing comeback after approximately a decade, after leaving the market in the late 80s due to political uncertainties.[\[73\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-73) In early 1997, it announced the opening of locations in colleges and universities.[\[74\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-74) The chain relocated its corporate headquarters to [Farmington Hills](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farmington_Hills "Farmington Hills") on March 30, 1998. As part of an \$80 million expansion plan, there were plans to open 500 restaurants in two years and close 100 outdated restaurants.[\[75\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Farmington-75) A new location, which had previously housed an A\&W site in [Fargo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fargo,_North_Dakota "Fargo, North Dakota") from 1971 to 1980, opened in mid-March 1997 as a pilot restaurant for a new design to be implemented in new locations.[\[76\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Forum22FEB1997-76)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sign_of_former_A%26W_Restaurant_at_Beijing_Puppet_Theatre_\(20240417141622\).jpg)
Remains of a former A\&W restaurant at the [Beijing Puppet Art Theatre](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Beijing_Puppet_Art_Theatre&action=edit&redlink=1 "Beijing Puppet Art Theatre (page does not exist)"), April 2024
A\&W entered the [mainland Chinese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China "China") market in 1996, the franchisee for the country being Aidewei, and had eight restaurants in [Beijing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing "Beijing").[\[77\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-xinhua-77) Later, due to arrears of franchise fees since 2000, Aidewei lost the A\&W trademark in 2002. The eight restaurants weren't operating well and were plagued by mismanagement. An outlet in Yansha with 140 seats in a crowded, strategic location turned out to have limited business, while the restaurant in Anzhen had few customers.[\[77\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-xinhua-77) Following the buyout of the parent chain by [Yum! Brands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yum!_Brands "Yum! Brands") in 2002, it was announced in March 2003 that negotiations with Aidewei had broken down, leading to the franchisee's bankruptcy that same year. The restaurants closed successively from October 2002 to September 2003.[\[78\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-78) The "father of American fast food", as dubbed by the Chinese press, didn't convince the local culture and tastes, especially with the rise of local fast food.[\[77\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-xinhua-77) There were also concerns about the Chinese branch operating without authorization, refusing to pay franchise fees since September 2000.[\[79\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-79)
In 1997 a small A\&W restaurant opened in [Festivalgate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festivalgate "Festivalgate") in [Osaka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osaka "Osaka"), offering standard A\&W fare.[\[80\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-A&WOsaka-80) The restaurant closed in 1999.[\[81\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-A&WOsaka2-81)
The first [Qatari](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar "Qatar") restaurant opened on December 18, 1997 (Qatar's [National Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Day_\(Qatar\) "National Day (Qatar)")) with Al-Muftah Group as the franchisee. There were also plans to open a second restaurant in the country, as well as two restaurants in [Cairo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairo "Cairo") and six more in the UAE during 1998. The fare was similar to most A\&W restaurants, with the addition of local items.[\[82\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-82) At the end of the month, it opened a unit in [Seoul](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seoul "Seoul") (owned by 2F Enterprises) and one in [Brunei](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunei "Brunei") (owned by a subfranchise of A\&W Singapore).[\[83\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-83) As of June 1998, A\&W only had two restaurants in Mexico.[\[84\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-84) The Cairo branch opened on August 1, 1998, under local franchise American Egyptian Foreign Investments, with [Egypt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt "Egypt") becoming the seventeenth country outside of the United States to open a location.[\[85\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-85)
The first co-branded A\&W restaurant, tied with Mexican food chain Amigos, opened in [Lincoln](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln,_Nebraska "Lincoln, Nebraska") in 1997.[\[86\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-86) There were plans to increase the amount of co-branded locations across Nebraska by four in the second half of 1998. The goal of the co-branded restaurant was to allure more customers who did not prefer Mexican food.[\[87\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-87) On March 16, 1999, it announced the opening of a restaurant in [Dhaka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhaka "Dhaka") with franchisee Global Suplies Limited due in September that year, with four more planned.[\[88\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-88) The restaurant in Lodi took part in a world record for the largest root beer float of 2562.5 gallons on June 19, 1999, the eve of the eightieth anniversary of the chain.[\[89\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-89) That same year, the chain attempted to enter the [Korean](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea "South Korea") market by finding local partners,[\[90\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-90)[\[91\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-91) aiming to grow in the Korean market in the first half of 2000. The plan was ultimately shelved.[\[92\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-92)
A\&W merged with [Long John Silver's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_John_Silver%27s "Long John Silver's") to form Yorkshire Global Restaurants based in [Lexington, Kentucky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexington,_Kentucky "Lexington, Kentucky") in March 1999.[\[93\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-93)[\[94\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-94) [Kevin Bazner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Bazner "Kevin Bazner") was promoted president of the chain in July.[\[95\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-95) In 2000, Yorkshire agreed to test multi-branded locations with [Tricon Global Restaurants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yum!_Brands "Yum! Brands"). A grocery location opened in February that year in Idaho.[\[96\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-96) By March 2002, the Yorkshire-Tricon multi-branding test consisted of 83 KFC/A\&Ws, six KFC/Long John Silver's, and three Taco Bell/Long John Silver's and was considered successful by the companies.[\[97\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-pr-97)
In December 2000, A\&W announced new openings in less conventional locations, such as casinos, airports, gas stations, convention centers and convenience stores, for 2001, as part of its growth plans. At the time, the chain had more than 1,000 locations in 47 states and over 200 international locations in 14 countries.[\[98\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-98) The chain around the time emphasized its aesthetics on "contemporized nostalgia".[\[99\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-99) It also saw a success in co-branded restaurants, following the success of a trial in [Butte](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butte "Butte") in 1998, which, owing to its success, in the spring of 2000 led to the announcement of the opening of 300 joint KFC-A\&W restaurants by 2005.[\[100\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-100)
Tricon bought both A\&W and LJS in March 2002, shortly before the merger with Yorkshire was finalized.[\[101\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-101)
### Yum! Brands subsidiary
\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A%26W_Restaurants&action=edit§ion=8 "Edit section: Yum! Brands subsidiary")\]
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Co-branded_A%26W_and_Long_John_Silver%27s_in_Gillette,_Wyoming.jpg)
A co-branded A\&W and Long John Silver's in [Gillette, Wyoming](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gillette,_Wyoming "Gillette, Wyoming").
In March 2002, Yorkshire merged with Tricon Global Restaurants to form Yum! Brands.[\[97\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-pr-97)[\[102\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-sale-102) A few weeks later, Malaysian company KUB took over the franchises in Southeast Asia, aiming to restore its prestige in Malaysia alone and increasing its market share.[\[103\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-103) Subsequently, in January 2003, Yum! announced that A\&W and Long John Silver's would move their operational base from Lexington to [Louisville](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisville,_Kentucky "Louisville, Kentucky"), as operating the chains from Lexington was considered "impractical and cost-inefficient", preferring to operate all of its chains from Louisville.[\[104\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-104) Under Yum's management, A\&W added franchises with a nostalgic look and modern technology. They have a [carhop](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carhop "Carhop") design with drive-thrus, and some have picnic tables.[\[39\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-PC2008-39) The chain didn't seek to compete against McDonald's, instead preferring to carve up its own niche. 2004 saw the return of the Papa Burger brand at a restaurant in [Dayton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dayton,_Ohio "Dayton, Ohio") - the Burger Family brand originally retired in the United States in the 1980s, being replaced by the Deluxe Burgers - and was the only name of the old line that was reinstated, with the other burgers having new names.[\[105\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-105)
In September 2001 the Singapore branch was taken over by KUB, who also oversaw the restaurants in Malaysia. At the time of takeover, it had twelve restaurants, but by November 2002, the number had dwindled to eight. Its restaurants had already been downgraded: the Ang Mo Kio restaurant shut down, the Tampines restaurant refused to repair its air conditioning systems, and [cable TV](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DirecTV "DirecTV") was switched off in all outlets. Food sales had decreased by about 5-12%.[\[106\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-106) The chain quit the Philippine market in 2004 owing to several factors: lack of interest in its standard fare, lack of interest among locals, expensive cost and a general sense of unfamiliarity with local palates. The chain failed to adapt to local tastes and quietly shut down in the summer of 2004.[\[107\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-107)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:KFC-AW-Cologne-November-2003.jpg)
Joint KFC/A\&W restaurant in Cologne, Germany, in November 2003
The chain attempted to enter large European markets thanks to joints with KFC. In Germany the first non-military A\&W restaurant opened in [Garbsen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garbsen "Garbsen") near [Hanover](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanover "Hanover") on May 27, 2003[\[108\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-108) followed by a second in [Cologne](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cologne "Cologne") in July. A third in [Berlin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin "Berlin") was scheduled for early September.[\[109\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-109)
A\&W opened its first outlet in [Bangladesh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladesh "Bangladesh") on December 15, 2004.[\[110\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-110) The outlet reportedly closed in 2024. Indonesia hit a record milestone, as the hundredth restaurant opened in [Bintaro Utama](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bintaro_Utama&action=edit&redlink=1 "Bintaro Utama (page does not exist)") on October 20, 2004.[\[49\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Christa_Bourg_2009,_page_142-49) By the end of 2004, all A\&W restaurants in the Philippines were closed.[\[111\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-111)
Most A\&W stores that opened in the U.S. during Yum!'s ownership were co-branded with another of Yum!'s chains—[Long John Silver's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_John_Silver%27s "Long John Silver's"), [Pizza Hut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizza_Hut "Pizza Hut"), [Taco Bell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taco_Bell "Taco Bell"), or [KFC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFC "KFC").[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Smith_2012-10)
In 2009, its operations in Southeast Asia were in a mixed situation. Operations in Indonesia and Bangladesh were thriving, while the restaurants in Thailand and Malaysia were facing uncertainties. The Malaysian franchisee KUB planned to increase the number of restaurants to 60, up from 37 in 2012, despite net losses of \$1.5 million.[\[112\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-112) For its 90th anniversary, A\&W announced an expansion plan to open fifteen new drive-ins in a concept the chain dubbed "Three-D Drive In: Drive-In, Drive-Through, Dine-In". Growth was more expeted in the states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Oregon, where some of these Three-D units were set up in 2008.[\[113\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-113)
### A Great American Brand LLC
\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A%26W_Restaurants&action=edit§ion=9 "Edit section: A Great American Brand LLC")\]
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A%26W_Ice_Cold_Root_Beer_Restaurant_Neon_Sign_-_La_Crosse,_Wisconsin_\(24308198209\).jpg)
A\&W Ice Cold Root Beer Restaurant Neon Sign - [La Crosse, Wisconsin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Crosse,_Wisconsin "La Crosse, Wisconsin") in 2016
In January 2011, Yum! Brands announced its intention to sell A\&W along with Long John Silver's. Citing poor sales for both divisions and overshadowing by its other chains,[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Float_On-16) Yum! planned to focus on international expansion for its remaining brands, with particular emphasis on growth in [China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China "China").[\[114\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-LJS-A&W_sale-114) In September 2011, Yum! announced that it would sell the chain to A Great American Brand, a consortium of various A\&W franchisees in the United States and overseas.[\[102\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-sale-102) The sale was finalized on December 19, 2011, under the leadership of returning CEO Kevin M. Bazner.[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-blue-12) Administration of A Great American Brand was divided between the national A\&W franchisee association, the largest overseas franchisee and Bazner. With the purchase, A\&W relocated its headquarters back to Lexington, employing a staff of 30 in late 2011, aiming to double to 60 within a five-year period while setting a growth target after that. Potential targets for growth were going to be small towns, as well as non-conventional locations, such as shopping malls, airports and universities. The chain had 1,200 restaurants at the time, 850 of which were in the US, with the remaining primarily in Asia. The chain, instead of competing heavily against larger chains, continued to rely on its core strength, smaller cities and towns of the USA.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Float_On-16)
In early 2013, A\&W introduced its first new product in several years: a six-ounce version of its soft-serve blended dessert treat. Mini Polar Swirls were the first product to be launched on [Vine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vine_\(service\) "Vine (service)").[\[115\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-115) The following summer, 250 of A\&W's restaurants began hand-breading their chicken tenders, moving towards higher-quality menu items and expanding their chicken category. In April 2014, the Hand-Breaded Chicken Tender Texas Toast Sandwich was added to the menu as a limited-time offering, along with a campaign to create the world's longest branded [hashtag](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hashtag "Hashtag").[\[116\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-116) In June 2014, A\&W launched two new flavors of its Polar Swirl dessert treat: [Sour Patch Kids](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sour_Patch_Kids "Sour Patch Kids") and [Nutter Butter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutter_Butter "Nutter Butter").[\[117\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-117)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A%26W_Prototype,_Lexington_\(32072516776\).jpg)
A\&W Burgers Chicken Floats in Lexington, Kentucky in 2017
In October 2013, A\&W opened its first new concept restaurant, A\&W Burgers Chicken Floats.[\[118\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-118) The new concept focuses on fresh made-to-order food and heavily emphasizes customer service. The menu features burgers made with fresh beef and a choice of toppings, hand-breaded chicken tenders, all-beef hot dogs, and several sides. The new management gave A\&W a significant boost in the number of locations, with 2017 scheduled to have more openings than closures.[\[119\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-119)
For 2018, A\&W projected an increase in its franchising operations and opening new restaurants.[\[120\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-120)
In April 2019, A\&W returned to Singapore after a 16-year absence, its first location being at [Jewel Changi Airport](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewel_Changi_Airport "Jewel Changi Airport").[\[121\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-121)[\[122\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-122)
In June 2019, the A\&W chain started moving its headquarters to the [University of Kentucky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Kentucky "University of Kentucky") [Coldstream Research Campus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coldstream_Research_Campus "Coldstream Research Campus") in 2019.[\[123\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-123)
A\&W announced in March 2022 that it was going to withdraw from the Thai market due to economic losses. The restaurants shut down on March 20.[\[124\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-bangkokpost.com-124)[\[125\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-125)
A franchise was given to western New York in early 2023, with three locations, the first of which in [Niagara Falls](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niagara_Falls "Niagara Falls"), set to open between May and June of that year.[\[126\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-126)
There are nearly 1,000 A\&W Restaurants worldwide that are owned or franchised through A Great American Brand, with approximately 475 of these restaurants located in the U.S. as of October 2024.[\[127\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-businesswire.com-127)[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-ScrapeHero2024-9)
A\&W rebounded its profits in the first half of 2024, emphasis on its growth is given mainly to single-brand restaurants, as well as restaurants in less conventional locations.[\[128\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-AWSep2024-128) In November 2024, the chain announced its entrance to the [Milwaukee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milwaukee "Milwaukee") and [Madison](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madison,_Wisconsin "Madison, Wisconsin") markets in [Wisconsin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisconsin "Wisconsin").[\[129\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-129)
Betsy Schmandt took over the role of A\&W's CEO and president from Kevin Bazner on March 4, 2025; Bazner continues as a chairman.[\[130\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-130) Her strategy centers on "newstalgia", in an attempt at increasing the brand's relevance with younger people, by improving its marketing, as well as offering a more consistent brand identity, as well as more consistent operations.[\[131\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-131) In April, an agreement was signed to open three restaurants in the [Memphis metropolitan area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memphis_metropolitan_area "Memphis metropolitan area"), with the first of the three locations, the one in Millington, scheduled to open by the end of 2025.[\[132\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-132)
A\&W is the only major fast-food chain in the United States to be owned entirely by franchisees since the 2011 sale from Yum! Brands to A Great American Brand, LLC., which is mostly under the control of the National A\&W Franchisee Association (NAWFA). The current owners rely heavily on single-brand restaurants, in contrast to combined, co-branded restaurants, which came from prior administrations. As of December 2021, there were 900 restaurants in the US and Asia.[\[133\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-133) In the United States alone, the states with the most restaurants are [California](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California "California"), followed by [Wisconsin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisconsin "Wisconsin") and [Michigan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan "Michigan").[\[134\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-134) As of year-end 2023, A\&W has 455 franchised restaurants in the US market alone. The number of co-branded locations has been on the decline with 243 such units.[\[128\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-AWSep2024-128) As of January 2025, A\&W has made it to the Franchise 500 list for six consecutive years, standing at 210th place in the 2024 ranking.[\[135\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-135) The number of restaurants in the United States and in Asia is almost equiparable, with the chain steadily decreasing its number of units in the United States and increasing elsewhere, a trend that has been following since 2015.[\[136\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-136)
A\&W doesn't do national advertising; the primary factor for such being the lack of restaurants in certain parts of the United States.[\[137\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-137) Its first attempt at doing a national television commercial was on June 16, 1969, when it booked for a slot on [NBC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBC "NBC")'s [Monday Night at the Movies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_NBC_Monday_Movie "The NBC Monday Movie") to advertise take-home gallons of root beer.[\[138\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-138)
In 1976, A\&W Restaurants participated in the [Easter Seals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easterseals_\(U.S.\) "Easterseals (U.S.)") Telethon, where money from large root beer mugs was collected by the local restaurant on behalf of the TV station broadcasting the telethon in the area.[\[139\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-139)
In 1997, the chain adopted *All American Food* as its slogan in order to achieve widespread brand recognition.[\[76\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Forum22FEB1997-76) The chain increased its marketing budget in February 2000, eyeing for a new line of burgers in January 2001.[\[140\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-140)
For the summer of 2007, the chain launched the *Moove to American* campaign, which was created to counter competing chains relying exclusively on foreign beef; the campaign started on June 28 with a stunt featuring 35 cows sent on a barge to the [Statue of Liberty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_Liberty "Statue of Liberty"). The aim was to petition the National Cattlemen's Beef Association to support consumption of U.S. beef. There was also a campaign to set up a new custom burger, with the winner heading over to Louisville to work for its serving in restaurants.[\[141\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-141)
A grassroots partnership with [Green Bay Packers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Bay_Packers "Green Bay Packers") receiver [Greg Jennings](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Jennings "Greg Jennings") began in 2009, where Papa Burgers were sold at a price of 85 cents in Green Bay restaurants if Jennings made a touchdown. Due to its success, the campaign expanded to include all of Wisconsin in 2010.[\[142\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-prnewswire.com-142) Jennings was also appointed as a pitchman for Wisconsin even outside the specialized burger promotion, in a contract signed on October 1, 2009; in exchange, A\&W donated \$10,000 to The Greg Jennings Foundation.[\[143\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-143)
In January 2013, A\&W Restaurants appointed Lexington-based advertising agency Cornett Integrated Marketing as its new agency of record.[\[144\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-144) The contract was renewed in January 2024.[\[145\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-145)
In January 2019, ahead of its hundredth anniversary, A\&W removed the [ampersand](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ampersand "Ampersand") from its logo as part of a tongue-in-cheek campaign to bring back the ampersand to the alphabet as its 27th letter.[\[146\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-146)
Beginning in October 2020, in order to recoup economic losses from the closure of several of its restaurants, A\&W set up a series of quizzes on its website.[\[147\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-147) For Halloween that year, it released a web stunt called *The Onion Ring*, a parody of *[The Ring](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ring_\(2002_film\) "The Ring (2002 film)")*.[\[148\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-148)
A\&W unveiled a new campaign in 2024, capitalizing on the ampersand of its logo and the tagline *Burgers, Floats & Then Some*. Packaging was also changed accordingly.[\[149\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-149)
### Collectors' Mug and free floats
\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A%26W_Restaurants&action=edit§ion=12 "Edit section: Collectors' Mug and free floats")\]
The first time A\&W Restaurants offered a day of free root beer floats was in 2004; under the old management, it was held on June 20, the date of A\&W's anniversary, though it is unknown if it donated the proceeds, unlike the current administration. Mid-year, A\&W announces the following year's Collectors' Mug, which has a single design for each year. In 2005, it had a full-color image of [The Great Root Bear](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Root_Bear "The Great Root Bear") printed on it.[\[150\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-150) By 2010, the event had changed to August 6. It was the chain's first attempt at a digital promotion, where users who liked its Facebook page would receive a digital coupon to redeem a free float.[\[142\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-prnewswire.com-142)
A\&W supports [Disabled American Veterans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disabled_American_Veterans "Disabled American Veterans") and, since 2013, collects funds for it on National Root Beer Float Day, which is observed on August 6. Donation figures for 2019 were of a record \$175,000.[\[151\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-151) In the 2000s it was held in June and was known as National Float Day.[\[152\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-152)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A_%26_W_sign_in_Middlebury,_Vermont.jpg)
The roadside sign in front of the [Middlebury, Vermont](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middlebury,_Vermont "Middlebury, Vermont"), location featuring the bear
In the 1960s, a character named Chubby Chicken appeared on all Chubby burgers.[\[153\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Beck_Romano_2009-153)
In 1963, A\&W introduced four choices of hamburgers and their corresponding [Burger Family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Burger_Family "The Burger Family") members: Papa Burger, Mama Burger, Teen Burger, and Baby Burger.[\[153\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Beck_Romano_2009-153)[\[154\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Dotz_Husain_2009-154)[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Baskas_2010-21) Each burger had a wrapper featuring a cartoon image of the corresponding character.
The chain in the United States also used [Dennis the Menace](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_the_Menace_\(U.S._comics\) "Dennis the Menace (U.S. comics)") as a bespoke mascot in the 1960s, with special comics for the restaurants appearing mainly in print advertising.[\[155\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-155)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A_%26_W_Root_Beer_sign,_Wittenberg,_Wisconsin_LCCN2017709548.tif)
A Rooty (Great Root Bear) statue at the [Wittenberg, Wisconsin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wittenberg,_Wisconsin "Wittenberg, Wisconsin") location in 1988
[Rooty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Root_Bear "The Great Root Bear"), the Great American Root Bear, originated as a prototype mascot in kids' meals in the US, but it was in Canada in 1974 that it gained further recognition,[\[156\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-RootyHistoryCanada-156) as a counter to the [Ronald McDonald](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_McDonald "Ronald McDonald") character of [McDonald's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonald%27s "McDonald's")[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Smith-OCAFD_2007-6)[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Smith_2012-10) and first appeared in the United States and in Asia shortly afterwards.[\[157\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-RootySG1974-157) However, the character's introduction was almost aborted when marketing received [focus group](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focus_group "Focus group") research results that reported a poor reaction to him \[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed "Wikipedia:Citation needed")*\]. In reaction, the marketing director, acting on instinct about the appeal of the character, ordered the researcher to return to [Toronto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto "Toronto") with the cover story that he never presented the report. The researcher complied, and Rooty was presented to the franchisees as is. Rooty proved a popular marketing success.[\[158\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-158) Rooty's adoption implied the phasing out of the Burger Family and the renaming of almost all of the burgers in the line outside of Canada.[\[159\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-159)
Throughout the 1970s, '80s, and '90s, Rooty was the face of A\&W, both the bottled drinks and the restaurant chain, on television and print advertising. His presence all but disappeared in the late 1990s, but in 2011, under A Great American Brand's ownership, Rooty came out of retirement. He has since been featured in print ads, on A\&W's website, as the voice of their official [Twitter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter "Twitter") account, and in a variety of [YouTube](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube "YouTube") and Vine videos.[\[160\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Koh_2017-160) A bronze statue of the bear was erected at the lobby of the current headquarters.[\[161\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-161) In 2013, Rooty became the first mascot to have an official [LinkedIn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LinkedIn "LinkedIn") profile,[\[162\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-162) which was quickly shut down as Rooty was not considered "real" by the authorities at Linkedin.[\[160\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Koh_2017-160)
The mascot made national headlines on January 24, 2023, when a parody tweet referencing the [M\&M's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%26M%27s "M&M's") controversy was posted to its social media profiles, showing Rooty wearing pants, claiming that the mascot's lack of pants was "polarizing".[\[163\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-A&WScandal1-163) Outrage started emerging from conservative sectors, including [Fox News](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_News "Fox News") (the report also aired on sister network [Fox Business](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_Business "Fox Business")), claiming it to be real.[\[164\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-A&WScandal2-164) In a follow-up tweet, A\&W said that the announcement was a joke.[\[165\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-A&WScandal3-165) Spokesperson Liz Bazner said that the initial post was "purely in jest" and that A\&W has no plans to change Rooty's outfit.[\[166\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-A&WScandal4-166)
In March 1998, the characters from the comic strip *[Blondie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blondie_\(comic_strip\) "Blondie (comic strip)")*, including Blondie and Dagwood Bumstead, were licensed for use at A\&W franchises as part of an "All American Food" campaign.[\[167\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-167) A tie-in burger was scheduled for July that year.[\[75\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_note-Farmington-75)
- [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fried_chicken_and_rice1.JPG "Fried chicken with rice, Jakarta, Indonesia")
Fried chicken with rice, Jakarta, Indonesia
- [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A%26W_waffle_ice_cream.jpg "A&W waffles ice cream, Malaysia")
A\&W waffles ice cream, Malaysia
- [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:DRIVE-IN_RESTAURANT_-_NARA_-_547855.jpg "An A&W drive-in, in New York, 1973")
An A\&W drive-in, in New York, 1973
- [A\&W (Canada)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_\(Canada\) "A&W (Canada)")
- [A\&W Root Beer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Root_Beer "A&W Root Beer")
- [List of drive-in restaurants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_drive-in_restaurants "List of drive-in restaurants")
- [List of hamburger restaurants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hamburger_restaurants "List of hamburger restaurants")
- [List of hot dog restaurants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hot_dog_restaurants "List of hot dog restaurants")
1. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-justia_1-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-justia_1-1)
["A & W - Trademark Details"](https://trademarks.justia.com/781/55/a-78155885.html). *[Justia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justia "Justia") Trademarks*. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
2. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-John_A._Jakle,_Keith_A._Sculle_1999_2-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-John_A._Jakle,_Keith_A._Sculle_1999_2-1)
Jakle, John A.; Sculle, Keith A. (1999). [*Fast Food: Roadside Restaurants in the Automobile Age*](https://books.google.com/books?id=0nYcgnWKWXgC&pg=PA165). The Johns Hopkins University Press. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)")
[9780801869204](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780801869204 "Special:BookSources/9780801869204")
. Retrieved August 25, 2013 – via Google Books.
3. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-3)**
Sloan, Scott (December 9, 2011). ["A\&W returning headquarters to Lexington"](http://www.kentucky.com/2011/12/09/1987955/aw-moving-headquarters-to-lexington.html). *[Lexington Herald-Leader](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexington_Herald-Leader "Lexington Herald-Leader")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20121105063045/http://www.kentucky.com/2011/12/09/1987955/aw-moving-headquarters-to-lexington.html) from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
4. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-fact_sheet_2021_4-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-fact_sheet_2021_4-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-fact_sheet_2021_4-2)
["May 2021 A\&W Fact Sheet"](https://web.archive.org/web/20211121000448/https://awrestaurants.com/sites/default/files/2021%20Media%20Fact%20Sheet%20%26%20Links.pdf) (PDF). *May 26, 2021*. Archived from [the original](https://awrestaurants.com/sites/default/files/2021%20Media%20Fact%20Sheet%20%26%20Links.pdf) (PDF) on November 21, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
5. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-5)**
["A\&W Franchising Overview"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210820183007/https://franchising.awrestaurants.com/). Archived from [the original](https://franchising.awrestaurants.com/) on August 20, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
6. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Smith-OCAFD_2007_6-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Smith-OCAFD_2007_6-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Smith-OCAFD_2007_6-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Smith-OCAFD_2007_6-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Smith-OCAFD_2007_6-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Smith-OCAFD_2007_6-5)
Smith, A.F. (2007). [*The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink*](https://books.google.com/books?id=AoWlCmNDA3QC&pg=PT27). Oxford Companions. Oxford University Press, USA. p. 27. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)")
[978-0-19-530796-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-530796-2 "Special:BookSources/978-0-19-530796-2")
. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
7. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Patton_2017_7-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Patton_2017_7-1)
Patton, Janet (August 4, 2017). ["After Yum, A\&W returned to its roots: Real root beer, burgers"](http://www.kentucky.com/entertainment/restaurants/article165463832.html). *Lexington Herald-Leader*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170813050257/http://www.kentucky.com/entertainment/restaurants/article165463832.html) from the original on August 13, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
8. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-krn_8-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-krn_8-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-krn_8-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-krn_8-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-krn_8-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-krn_8-5) [***g***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-krn_8-6) [***h***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-krn_8-7) [***i***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-krn_8-8) [***j***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-krn_8-9) [***k***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-krn_8-10)
Deck, Cecilia (November 19, 1989). ["Fast-food Pioneer A\&w Survives To Map Comeback"](https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-11-19-8903110146-story.html). *Chicago Tribune*. Knight-Ridder Newspapers. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181002134250/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-11-19-8903110146-story.html) from the original on October 2, 2018. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
9. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-ScrapeHero2024_9-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-ScrapeHero2024_9-1)
["Number of A\&W Restaurants locations in the United States in 2024"](https://www.scrapehero.com/location-reports/A%26W%20Restaurants-USA/). [Scrape Hero](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Scrape_Hero&action=edit&redlink=1 "Scrape Hero (page does not exist)"). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240920124301/https://www.scrapehero.com/location-reports/A%26W%20Restaurants-USA/) from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
10. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Smith_2012_10-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Smith_2012_10-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Smith_2012_10-2)
Smith, A.F. (2012). [*Fast Food and Junk Food: An Encyclopedia of What We Love to Eat*](https://books.google.com/books?id=7-WcKK01H1cC&pg=PA2). ABC-CLIO. p. 2. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)")
[978-0-313-39393-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-313-39393-8 "Special:BookSources/978-0-313-39393-8")
. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
11. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-11)**
[*Restaurant Business*](https://books.google.com/books?id=LV4sAQAAMAAJ). Restaurant Business. 1995. p. 182. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
12. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-blue_12-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-blue_12-1)
["It's Final! Franchisees Buy Out Franchisor A\&W"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120422124156/http://www.bluemaumau.org/11096/it%E2%80%99s_final_franchisees_buyout_aw_brand). Blue Maumau. 23 December 2011. Archived from the original on 22 April 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
13. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-June1919_13-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-June1919_13-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-June1919_13-2) The American Drive-In Restaurant, by Michael Witzel, 1994, page 51.
14. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-inflation-US_14-0)**
1634–1699:
[McCusker, J. J.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_J._McCusker "John J. McCusker") (1997). [*How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda*](https://www.americanantiquarian.org/proceedings/44525121.pdf) (PDF). [American Antiquarian Society](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Antiquarian_Society "American Antiquarian Society").
1700–1799:
[McCusker, J. J.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_J._McCusker "John J. McCusker") (1992). [*How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States*](https://www.americanantiquarian.org/proceedings/44517778.pdf) (PDF). [American Antiquarian Society](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Antiquarian_Society "American Antiquarian Society").
1800–present:
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. ["Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–"](https://www.minneapolisfed.org/about-us/monetary-policy/inflation-calculator/consumer-price-index-1800-). Retrieved February 29, 2024.
15. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-15)** A Great American Brand - 90 Years of A\&W, by Christa Bourg, 2009, page 8.
16. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Float_On_16-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Float_On_16-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Float_On_16-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Float_On_16-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Float_On_16-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Float_On_16-5)
["Float On: 100 Years of A\&W"](https://www.kentucky.com/news/business/article44142516.html). The San Francisco Chronicle. 31 May 2019. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190531190300/https://www.sfchronicle.com/travel/article/Float-On-100-Years-of-A-W-in-California-13910259.php) from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
17. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-17)**
["The Welch A\&W family: From military service to restaurant service"](https://racinecountyeye.com/2025/05/20/welch-veteran-owned-aw-caledonia/). *The Racine County Eye*. May 20, 2025. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20260310163553/https://racinecountyeye.com/2025/05/20/welch-veteran-owned-aw-caledonia/) from the original on March 10, 2026. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
18. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-MarriottCulture_18-0)**
["J. Willard Marriott"](http://www.marriott.com/culture-and-values/j-willard-marriott.mi). *www.marriott.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20171021203643/http://www.marriott.com/culture-and-values/j-willard-marriott.mi) from the original on October 21, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
19. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-19)** A Great American Brand - 90 Years of A\&W, by Christa Bourg, 2009, page 32.
20. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-20)** A Great American Brand - 90 Years of A\&W, by Christa Bourg, 2009, page 34.
21. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Baskas_2010_21-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Baskas_2010_21-1)
Baskas, H. (2010). [*Oregon Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities, and Other Offbeat Stuff*](https://books.google.com/books?id=EGNjKKGuFfsC&pg=PA125). Curiosities Series. Globe Pequot Press. p. 125. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)")
[978-0-7627-6201-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7627-6201-9 "Special:BookSources/978-0-7627-6201-9")
. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
22. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-history_22-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-history_22-1)
Knight, Peter & Annette (2009). ["A\&W Root Beer - Our History"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150811164802/http://awrootbeer.com/aw_history.php). awrootbeer.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.awrootbeer.com/aw_history.php) on August 11, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
23. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-23)** A Great American Brand - 90 Years of A\&W, by Christa Bourg, 2009, page 44.
24. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-24)**
Fackler, Martin (February 20, 2012). ["Where the Songs Linger, but the Tune Is Different"](https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/21/world/asia/in-okinawa-some-still-toast-era-of-us-control.html). *[The New York Times](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times "The New York Times")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200111211026/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/21/world/asia/in-okinawa-some-still-toast-era-of-us-control.html) from the original on January 11, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
25. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-25)** Milestones in the History of A & W Restaurants, Inc., by A & W Restaurants, Inc., January 1995.
26. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-kuam_26-0)**
["Businessman Scotty Moylan dies at 94"](http://www.kuam.com/Global/story.asp?S=13040012). [KUAM-TV](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KUAM-TV "KUAM-TV"). August 25, 2010. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160303180510/http://www.kuam.com/Global/story.asp?S=13040012) from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
27. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-27)** A Great American Brand - 90 Years of A\&W, by Christa Bourg, 2009, page 62.
28. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-28)**
Forson, Psyche Williams; Counihan, Carole (2013). [*Taking Food Public: Redefining Foodways in a Changing World*](https://books.google.com/books?id=QeXZAAAAQBAJ&dq=%22a%26w%22+%22philippines%22&pg=PA375). Routledge. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)")
[978-1-134-72627-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-134-72627-1 "Special:BookSources/978-1-134-72627-1")
.
29. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-29)**
["Page 23 Advertisements Column 1"](https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19631221-1.2.144.1). *The Straits Times*. December 21, 1963. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240731144349/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19631221-1.2.144.1) from the original on July 31, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
30. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-icwa_30-0)**
Nolte, Richard (March 3, 1964). ["A\&W Root Beer Comes to Town: 12,000 miles and I never left home"](http://www.icwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/GDN-34.pdf) (PDF). *Institute of Current World Affairs*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230607032015/http://www.icwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/GDN-34.pdf) (PDF) from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
31. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-31)** A Great American Brand - 90 Years of A\&W, by Christa Bourg, 2009, page 57.
32. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-32)**
S, G. (July 13, 1962). ["Heiße Würstchen hinterm Steuerrad"](http://www.zeit.de/1962/28/heisse-wuerstchen-hinterm-steuerrad). *Die Zeit*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130605011533/http://www.zeit.de/1962/28/heisse-wuerstchen-hinterm-steuerrad) from the original on June 5, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
33. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-33)**
[*A\&W Now International With Drive-In In Germany*](https://books.google.com/books?id=oXZPAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22a%26w%22+%22mannheim%22&pg=PA9&article_id=6482,3562677). Ocala Star-Banner.
34. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-34)**
Jason, Jason (June 22, 2015). ["14 Things You Didn't Know About A\&W Restaurants"](https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/the-history-of-aw-restaurants-aw-root-beer). *Thrillist*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160920202639/https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/the-history-of-aw-restaurants-aw-root-beer) from the original on September 20, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
35. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-35)**
["沖縄のA＆Wって、何で本州に来ないんですか？"](https://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q1282420127). chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230502104145/https://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q1282420127) from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
36. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-nikkei_20120510_36-0)** [米国の味「憧れ」大切に A\&W、県内専念 25店根付く](http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNZO41217790Z00C12A5LX0000/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240129155100/https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNZO41217790Z00C12A5LX0000/) January 29, 2024, at the [Wayback Machine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayback_Machine "Wayback Machine") 日本経済新聞、2012年5月10日
37. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-37)** [フランチャイジングの萌芽とA\&W沖縄 小嶌正稔（2005）](http://www.toyo.ac.jp/fba/keieironshu/pdf64/03_kojima.pdf)\[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot "Wikipedia:Link rot")*\]
38. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-38)** History of A\&W Restaurants, Inc. - The Taste America Loves to Remember, by A\&W Restaurants, Inc., 1995.
39. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-PC2008_39-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-PC2008_39-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-PC2008_39-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-PC2008_39-3)
Wallenfang, Maureen (September 24, 2008). ["A\&W chain banks on state for its rebirth"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-post-crescent-aw-chain-banks-on-sta/172158298/). *The Post-Crescent*. Appleton, Wisconsin. p. A-10. Retrieved May 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
40. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-40)**
["It all began with the root beer"](https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/newnation19800327-1.2.68.2). *New Nation*. March 27, 1980. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231204120223/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/newnation19800327-1.2.68.2) from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
41. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-41)**
["In Brief: United Brands subsidiary sale"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-in-brief-united-brands/172158098/). *The Boston Globe*. Boston, Massachusetts. November 11, 1981. p. 77. Retrieved May 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
42. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-bb_42-0)**
Burke, Heather (April 18, 2015). ["Alfred Taubman, Mall Developer, Ex-Sotheby's Chair, Dies at 91"](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-18/alfred-taubman-mall-developer-ex-sotheby-s-chair-dies-at-91). *Bloomberg.com*. Bloomberg. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220927155350/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-18/alfred-taubman-mall-developer-ex-sotheby-s-chair-dies-at-91) from the original on September 27, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
43. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-image_43-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-image_43-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-image_43-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-image_43-3)
[*A\&W struggling to find new image*](https://books.google.com/books?id=O7orAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA29). The Telegraph.
44. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-44)**
["awthai - About A\&W"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090122180954/http://www.awthai.com/html/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=28). awthai.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.awthai.com/html/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=28) on January 22, 2009. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
45. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-45)**
["A\&W advertisement, Chelsea Standard, May 1, 1985"](http://dtsearch.chelseadistrictlibrary.org/dtsearch/Chelsea%20Library/multi_by_year/1985/1985-05-01-ChelseaStandard.pdf) (PDF). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230728150619/http://dtsearch.chelseadistrictlibrary.org/dtsearch/Chelsea%20Library/multi_by_year/1985/1985-05-01-ChelseaStandard.pdf) (PDF) from the original on July 28, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
46. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-46)**
Green, Elizabeth (July 23, 2014). ["Why do Americans Stink at Math?"](https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/27/magazine/why-do-americans-stink-at-math.html). *The New York Times*.
47. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-47)**
Opheli Garcia Lawler (October 22, 2021). ["A\&W Forgives Your Lousy Math Skills, Brings Back Burger Bigger Than a Quarter Pounder"](https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/aw-new-39-pound-burger-available-nationwide). *[Thrillist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrillist "Thrillist")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220417183332/https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/aw-new-39-pound-burger-available-nationwide) from the original on April 17, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
48. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-48)**
["A & W hungry like a bear for top spot in fast food"](https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19850211-1.2.40.4). *The Straits Times*. February 11, 1985. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230314201144/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19850211-1.2.40.4) from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
49. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Christa_Bourg_2009,_page_142_49-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-Christa_Bourg_2009,_page_142_49-1) A Great American Brand - 90 Years of A\&W, by Christa Bourg, 2009, page 142.
50. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-bab_50-0)**
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165. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-A&WScandal3_165-0)**
["Is now a good time to mention this is a joke? 😅"](https://twitter.com/awrestaurants/status/1618272834723418112). twitter.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230125162235/https://twitter.com/awrestaurants/status/1618272834723418112) from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
166. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-A&WScandal4_166-0)**
["Why A\&W put pants on its cartoon bear after M\&M's spokes candies gaffe"](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mms-spokescandies-green-mm-aw-mascot-rooty-the-bear-mascot/). *CBS News*. January 25, 2023. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230125200539/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mms-spokescandies-green-mm-aw-mascot-rooty-the-bear-mascot/) from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
167. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants#cite_ref-167)**
["'Blondie,' 'Dagwood' to pitch for A\&W"](http://adage.com/article/news/blondie-dagwood-pitch-a-w/22562/). *[Advertising Age](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advertising_Age "Advertising Age")*. March 4, 1998. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084913/http://adage.com/article/news/blondie-dagwood-pitch-a-w/22562/) from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
- [Official website](http://www.awrestaurants.com/) |
| Shard | 152 (laksa) |
| Root Hash | 17790707453426894952 |
| Unparsed URL | org,wikipedia!en,/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants s443 |