At least 45 international and domestic locations to open this year
LEXINGTON, Ky.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/RootBeer?src=hash” target=”_blank”gt;#RootBeerlt;/agt;–Just two months shy of A&W Restaurants’ 100th
anniversary, its Second
Century Growth Initiative is kicking into high gear with the opening
of a flagship company-owned restaurant in Singapore’s new Jewel Changi
Airport. It is the latest of at least 45 international and domestic
locations expected to open this year.
A&W returned to Singapore April 17 after a 16-year absence. In 1966 it
was the first American quick-service restaurant to enter the country and
remains beloved throughout Southeast Asia. Guests waited up to three
hours for Root Beer Floats and Coney Dogs, as well as other all-American
and regional favorites.
Jewel Changi Airport is both an urban center for local residents and an
international hub. Open 24 hours, the 80-seat A&W is testing menu and
service initiatives to be used in future locations. A total of 35
restaurants will open this year across Southeast Asia, where A&W is
focusing much of its international expansion.
In the U.S., A&W currently has 17 franchised U.S. restaurants in various
stages of development, with five to open in May and June. Two new
franchisees recently signed agreements for restaurants in Las Vegas and
Tonopah, Nevada, with the Tonopah A&W the brand’s first hotel and casino
location. New development agreements also were signed earlier this year
for Bingham Lake, Minn., Prescott Valley, Ariz. and Yermo, Calif.
“Since A&W franchisees acquired the company in 2011, we’ve been working
to rebuild the brand worldwide,” said CEO Kevin Bazner. “The amazing
responses to our Singapore return, combined with the interest we are
seeing from new U.S. franchisees, clearly show that A&W is a
second-century growth brand.”
Earlier this year, A&W announced an incentive plan consisting of lower
royalties for new U.S. franchisees. On June 20, it will become the first
American restaurant chain to turn 100. There are currently more than 960
restaurants worldwide – 597 in the U.S. and 372 in Asia.
A&W still makes Root Beer fresh in each restaurant from real cane sugar,
water and a proprietary blend of herbs, bark, spices and berries that
are served in a frosty mug alongside burgers, fries, chicken tenders and
other All American Food® favorites.
Visit http://www.awfranchising.com
for more information.
Contacts
Ritter Communications, Brad Ritter
[email protected]
866.284.2170
