InBusiness Madison: A&W Could Add 20 Restaurants to the Madison Area

In an interview with InBusiness Madison, A&W Senior Director of Franchise Development, John Palumbo, discusses that while the COVID-19 pandemic hit the restaurant industry hard, the brand saw its 9th year of consecutive growth with a 9.7% increase in 2020. A&W, the 102-year-old franchise brand known for its root beer floats, is looking to grow its presence in the Madison market with up to 20 new restaurants and is on the lookout for potential franchise partners.

“Madison is one of the many markets where A&W aims to grow,” said Palumbo in the interview. “This does not mean we’re zeroed in on adding 20 restaurants in downtown Madison. We look at all the communities that feed into Madison, like Waunakee, Fitchburg, Sun Prairie, Waterloo and more. We’re strategic in identifying the perfect spot to open an A&W Restaurant. We look to see if there’s demand for a fast-casual restaurant, if a location is underserved by bigger chains and more.”

A&W is uniquely positioned for exponential growth after its stand-alone, drive-thru model drove the brand throughout the pandemic. The brand is prioritizing the growth of the standalone models, which also include a full dining room soon, as the units saw a 14% increase in average unit volume over the past year. There are currently 550-plus A&W locations across the country, including 300 standalone restaurants.