Frosty mugs of A&W Root Beer will make summer more refreshing for guests at the seven A&W Restaurants that have opened so far in 2017. A&W, back in growth mode under franchisee ownership, has 11 more locations in development.
So far this year, A&W has opened traditional outlets in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin and Fowlerville, Michigan. Five more shops have opened in gas and convenience store developments, including ones in Barron, Wisconsin; Tonkawa, Oklahoma; Dinuba, California; Sigourney, Iowa and Orbisonia, Pennsylvania. Future c-store locations include Freemont, Nebraska; Bemidji, Minnesota; Berkeley and Hayward, California; Salome, Arizona and Mount Pleasant, Iowa. Traditional restaurants are being built in Siren, Wisconsin; Stansbury and Taylorsville, Utah; Florrisant, Missouri and Carbondale, Illinois. All are scheduled to open their doors this year. A&W welcomed 15 restaurants in 2016.
“Current and new franchisees are expressing their confidence in the A&W brand by signing development agreements, opening restaurants across the country and participating in our system remodeling program,” says Kevin Bazner, president and CEO. “It is gratifying that many of our new restaurants are being opened by current franchise partners.” Currently, there are 30 remodeling projects underway. More than 100 A&W Restaurants co-branded with KFC locations are scheduled for remodeling in 2017. A&W locations are consistently experiencing double-digit sales increases following renovations.
A group of long-time franchisees acquired A&W from YUM! Brands in 2011. There are currently 634 U.S. restaurants and 328 international. So far this year, 22 international A&W locations have opened, primarily in Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.
