Yahoo Finance: A&W Discusses How the Worker Shortage Continues To Wreak Havoc on U.S. Restaurants

In a recent segment with Yahoo Finance, A&W CEO Kevin Bazner discussed the labor challenge for restaurants and the industry’s efforts to attract new workers. Bazner shared how the industry was experiencing a shortage in labor prior to the pandemic, but the past 18 months have accelerated the trend. A&W, the 102-year-old iconic American brand with 500-plus-units, has been able to thrive despite the restaurant industry’s challenges during the pandemic thanks to new technology initiatives designed to keep up with the changing consumer landscape.

The brand saw its ninth year of consecutive growth in 2020.

“A lot of what we're doing with technology is putting more of the ordering, whether it's tablets, whether it's QR codes, whether it's kiosks (although with those, the jury's out as to whether they've outlived their time), whether it’s self-ordering kiosk, is putting more control in the hands of the consumer for the ordering process — online ordering, etc.,” said Bazner.

Despite the challenges over the past 18 months, A&W is on track to exceed its goal of signing 20 new franchise agreements in 2021 as it prioritizes the growth of its standalone models.