A&W Franchise Restaurants Post Another Month of Double-Digit Sales Growth

A&W Restaurants is closing in on its best annual comp-sales performance in five years, having posted a 13.5% increase in September. October sales also are expected to be up by more than 10%. If the double-digit sales growth trend continues, A&W will surpass 2015, when sales were up 9.9% over the previous year.

According to Chief Executive Kevin Bazner, new locations opened this year are contributing to the brand’s performance. “The new A&Ws have consistently opened to long lines, with sales continuing to exceed expectations,” Bazner said. “Our franchise partners - and our support team - worked exceptionally hard to get these new restaurants staffed and opened, so it’s very rewarding to see everyone’s efforts pay off.”

The newest restaurant opened November 9 in Mountain Lake, Minnesota, southwest of Minneapolis-St. Paul. There are six locations under construction. They are scheduled to open in 2021. Franchise agreements have been signed for an additional nine units. All will be either stand-alone A&Ws or convenience store sites.

“The pace of development - especially permitting and construction - is clearly picking up from this spring and summer,” Bazner said. “A&W’s performance has created quite a bit of buzz, which in turn is attracting a large number of prospects.”

He noted that A&W’s restaurant sales and development in Southeast Asia also are rebounding. This year its international franchisees have opened 11 locations, with five more expected by the end of December. A company-owned location is being added next month in Singapore.