America's Original
Fast Food Chain

It began with the world’s best root beer. A secret concoction of herbs, spices, barks and berries. Mr. Roy Allen unveiled the special elixir when he opened the first root beer stand one hot summer day in 1919, and served his rich, creamy beverage to thirsty parade spectators watching WWI vets returning home.

So positive was the response, that Allen took on a partner, Mr. Frank Wright, and the A&W name was born.

As true pioneers in the food service industry, A&W has achieved many notable "Firsts." In 1923, A&W developed and opened the nation’s first car hop service restaurant. And in 1925, Allen began selling franchises to others, enabling them to open their own A&W drive-ins and vending booths, thus establishing America’s first franchised restaurant chain, and the very archetype for fast food.

The list of "firsts" was soon expanded, and A&W became the place for first jobs, first dates, first softball victory celebrations and more, as Americans embraced the A&W concept, and made it an integral part of their everyday lives.

And as America grew, so did A&W, expanding to locations across the country and around the world, now in shopping malls, airports, convenience stores and colleges, serving burgers, hot dogs, fries and of course the trademark A&W Root Beer and A&W Root Beer Floats, to generation after generation.

Clearly, A&W has stood the test of time, The tremendous staying power of the A&W brand is testament to its potential as a vital concept, poised for growth. Today, the A&W system is energized and ready to capitalize on its years of invaluable experience, in order to take advantage of the nearly limitless development opportunities that exist in the marketplace.