---
title: "QSR Magazine: It’s Going To Take More Than a Pandemic To Stop A&W"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/11be0ba3-bcf0-4034-a070-4890680282a4
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/qsr-magazine-its-going-to-take-more-than-a-pandemic-to-stop-aw-2715768
category: "Burger"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Burger"
published: 2021-05-19T22:17:10.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T02:25:22.624Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/3172ef9410c436e69e3f567a95e67bd96012.jpg
---

# QSR Magazine: It’s Going To Take More Than a Pandemic To Stop A&W

**TL;DR:** A&W's CEO Kevin Bazner discussed the brand's decision against a ghost kitchen concept and its comeback built on quality initiatives, with a 9.7% surge in 2020 and 30% increase in sales from 2019 numbers. The brand's success is credited to its 2011 acquisition by a group of core franchisees and the fact that a majority of A&W's 550-plus restaurants offered a drive-thru option.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2021-05-19. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/qsr-magazine-its-going-to-take-more-than-a-pandemic-to-stop-aw-2715768).*

## Story

While speaking with QSR Magazine, the CEO of A&W, Kevin Bazner, discussed how the 102-year-old brand decided against a ghost kitchen concept when the pandemic hit and how the brand’s comeback was built on quality initiative. Bazner credited the brand’s success to its 2011 acquisition by a group of core franchisees and the fact that a majority of A&W's 550-plus restaurants offered a drive-thru option. While the brand, like many others, experienced a setback when the pandemic hit, A&W restaurants saw a 9.

7% surge in 2020 and marked the ninth year of consecutive growth for the brand. So far in 2021, the brand has experienced a 30% increase in sales from 2019 numbers. Bazner explained that the drive-thru factor cannot be overlooked when discussing a brand’s success.

“Our playbook really hasn’t changed,” Bazner said. “If anything, this past year really supported it. One thing that doesn’t get talked about enough, especially in lockdown stretches, is how drive-thru blares as a ‘WE’RE OPEN’ signal to guests. It’s the herd counter to quarantine life. Is it safe to eat at a restaurant? Well, 10 cars are lined up outside A&W.”

In the past year, A&W restaurants with drive-thrus saw a sales increase of 14%. To handle the increase of customers using the drive-thru, corporate helped with franchisee support in creating a second makeshift lane.

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- QSR Magazine (publication)
- franchisee support (topic)
- pandemic impact (topic)
- A&W Restaurants (company)
- drive-thru sales (topic)
- quality initiatives (topic)
- ghost kitchen concept (topic)

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Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/qsr-magazine-its-going-to-take-more-than-a-pandemic-to-stop-aw-2715768). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/11be0ba3-bcf0-4034-a070-4890680282a4).