QSR Magazine: A&W CEO on the Enduring Popularity of Root Beer, Surviving the Labor Shortage and a Comeback of Epic Proportions

Kevin Bazner, CEO of A&W, discussed how the 102-year-old classic American brand was able to navigate the past 18 months and how it plans to continue to expand in the future.

A&W will celebrate its ten-year anniversary of ownership by a franchisee-owned group this December, and Bazner discussed how the brand has put a greater emphasis on quality since the acquisition. The brand, which is literally older than sliced bread, has now survived and thrived during the Great Depression and two historic pandemics. A&W saw its ninth year of consecutive growth in 2020 and wrapped up the first half of 2021 with 14 signed franchise agreements and another 20 in the pipeline.

Bazner discussed how quality is A&W’s competitive advantage against other quick-service restaurant brands and how, over the past 18 months, the brand has been able to be reintroduced to local communities. Many A&W franchisees work in their stores so the community knows them, and the brand even has several third- and fourth-generation franchisees.

Bazner also discussed how the brand is facing the work shortage by evolving and focusing on franchisee support, retention and recruitment. A&W was recently named one of QSR Magazine’s 17 best restaurant franchising deals in 2021.