Modern heritage design brings together A&W’s iconic past with a guest experience centered on genuine hospitality A&W Restaurants today announced the launch of its new restaurant prototype, a design that honors the brand’s iconic past while creating a relevant, differentiated experience for today’s guests. Inspired by A&W’s classic diner restaurants and its original roadside root […]
Source: Franchise Times Legacy fast-food chain A&W is taking steps to integrate its 107-year history into modernization efforts. The brand’s CEO sees the blend as a no-brainer: We really want to make sure we have that sense of history, but it’s got to feel of today. It’s no easy feat to make 107 years old […]
Source: QSR Magazine Dee Wells is proof that growth can be quiet Dee Wells began her franchising journey at just 15 and has built a legacy bringing A&W restaurants to small towns across America. Her story is a reminder that impactful growth doesn’t have to be loud—it often happens quietly, with patience, persistence, and confidence. […]
Source: Franchising World Franchising is experiencing a cultural and operational shift. As the industry continues to evolve, so does ownership and franchisor management. Franchising is no longer one-size-fits-all, and buyers aren’t cookie-cutter. The industry’s evolution over the last decade has been remarkable. What was one largely a top-down, mandate-driven relationship between franchisors and franchisees has […]
Source: QSR Magazine From small-town memories to CEO, Betsy Schmandt is steering the 106-year-old brand toward modernization, Midwest expansion, and sustainable franchise growth. From sipping Root Beer Floats during her small-town Ohio childhood to stepping into the CEO role at one of America’s most nostalgic brands, Betsy Schmandt is ready to lead the next chapter […]
Source: Post and Courier Root beer floats, onion rings, hot dogs and burgers are on the menu at a new Darlington restaurant. A&W, a fast food chain known for root beer and burgers, is officially open. The new location is the second in South Carolina, following one in Rock Hill. The restaurant opened June 4 at […]
Source: Racine County Eye Phil Welch of Franksville is a second-generation US Military Veteran and a third-generation business owner. Welch served in the U.S. Navy from 1994-2000, and his father, Frank Welch Jr, is an Army Veteran who served during the Vietnam War. Phil is a third generation owner of the A&W Restaurant in Caledonia. […]
Source: Nation’s Restaurant News Schmandt calls the strategy ‘newstalgia’ as A&W balances tech and marketing innovation with staying true to its roots A&W Restaurants Inc. is one of the oldest fast-food chains in America, but new CEO Betsy Schmandt believes that even a 105-year-old brand can evolve. She calls it “newstalgia:” a strategy that modernizes […]
Source: Franchise Times Meredeth Jones is no stranger to the A&W brand, and she knows she’s not alone. “Everyone knows the name A&W … and a lot of brands have to work really hard for that brand recognition,” Jones said. “We have the name after being in business for 105 years. We have that brand […]
