1851

Just before the end of 2021,&nbsp;<a href="https://franchising.awrestaurants.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=aw-opens-400th-international-location-plans-for-more-growth-abroad-2718602" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">A&amp;W</a>, the iconic American-food franchise known for its superior food and frosted mugs of root beer, opened its 400th international location. The Surabaya, Indonesia restaurant represents a major landmark for the century-old brand and an indication of A&amp;W’s growth strategy for 2022 and beyond, as the brand doubles down on its efforts to take advantage of white space abroad and establish successful restaurants in new markets around the world.“A&amp;W has been a popular franchise concept in international markets for decades,” said CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-bazner-7b4a546?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=aw-opens-400th-international-location-plans-for-more-growth-abroad-2718602" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kevin Bazner,</a> who ran the brand’s international division from 1988 until 2000. “There is a deep affection for the American way of life in so many countries, and A&amp;W is the perfect example of that way of life, so people really see it as a taste of America.”A&amp;W was the first American quick-service brand to open in a number of international markets, beating even global QSR behemoths like McDonald’s to markets like Okinawa and Malaysia in 1963 and Singapore in 1966. Today, there are more than 370 A&amp;W locations across Asia, including one in Singapore’s new Jewel Changi Airport.But A&amp;W still has a wealth of valuable white space available to franchisees across Asia, and the brand is actively pursuing development opportunities throughout Southeast Asia, including markets in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and Laos.Tellingly, all of the brand’s growth in international markets belongs to existing A&amp;W franchise owners, suggesting that owners are finding their most substantial growth opportunities after their initial signing with the brand.“We aren’t even recruiting new franchise partners in many of these markets,” Bazner said. “All of the growth we’re seeing is from existing operators who are reinvesting their profits and scaling their businesses to take advantage of the demand they are seeing in their markets.”Bazner says that growth among existing franchisees is a critical indicator of the health of the franchise. “Selling franchises is easy, but that’s not our primary goal,” he said. “We want to ensure that each and every one of our franchise owners is set up to succeed, so when we see the bulk of our growth coming from existing owners who have made the decision to expand, that tells us that we are moving in the right direction.”The health of A&amp;W’s franchise system is also evident in the brand’s sales numbers, which continue to climb year after year both in the U.S. and abroad. In 2021, year-over-year same-store sales were up a whopping 10.2% across the franchise system, following the previous year’s 9.2% leap. Over the past decade, average unit volume has climbed by over 67%.“By every available metric, we are continuing not only to grow but to experience exactly the type of growth that is going to contribute to the success of our franchise owners,” Bazner said.&nbsp;In addition to A&amp;W’s development efforts across Southeast Asia, the brand is also eying expansion opportunities in the Middle East, Canada and at home in the U.S.“This franchise model has proven successful everywhere we’ve taken it, and even after more than a hundred years, we continue to experience increased demand,” Bazner said. “So we’re continuing to grow strategically in the markets where we see the most opportunity and where our franchise owners are best-positioned for success.”The total investment necessary to begin operation, not including rent or land costs, is $871,000 to $1,454,750 for a Freestanding Restaurant; $401,000 to $1,013,750 for an Inline Restaurant; and $276,000 to $704,000 for a Captive Restaurant, including a $15,000-$30,000 franchise fee. To learn more about franchise opportunities with A&amp;W Restaurants, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://franchising.awrestaurants.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=aw-opens-400th-international-location-plans-for-more-growth-abroad-2718602" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://franchising.awrestaurants.com/</a>.

A&W Opens 400th International Location, Plans For More Growth Abroad

1851 Franchise

The iconic American-food franchise has a long history of international success, proving its viability in virtually any market.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

aw-opens-400th-international-location-plans-for-more-growth-abroad

Sola Salons

Sola Salons Targets Chicago for Strategic Franchise Growth

sola-salons-targets-chicago-for-strategic-franchise-growth

Melting Pot

Photo of Melting Pot white chocolate fondue

How Melting Pot Franchisees Drive Year-Round Success Through Strategic Promotions and Local Marketing

melting-pot-franchise-year-round-success

Crust Pizza Co.

Crust Pizza Co. - Technology Piece - CTO Nick Fontenot - May 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Crust Pizza Co. Builds the Future of Franchising With Tech-First Strategy

crust-pizza-co-technology-nick-fontenot-cto

Paris Baguette

Paris Baguette’s Recipe for Expansion: Leadership, Community and A Vision for 1,000 Cafés by 2030

paris-baguettes-recipe-for-expansion-leadership-community-and-a-vision-for-1000-cafes-by-2030

Seniors Helping Seniors®

Franchisee Spotlight with Billy and Anita Clark and Seniors Helping Seniors

Heart and Purpose: Couple Launch Seniors Helping Seniors® Franchise in Northern Arizona

heart-and-purpose-couple-launch-seniors-helping-seniors-franchise-in-northern-arizona

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands - 1851 Franchise

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands

doordash-acquistions-deliveroo-sevenrooms

Crumbl Franchise Investment - TSG Consumer Partners -  1851 Franchise

TSG Consumer Partners Takes Minority Stake in Crumbl, Signaling Franchise Growth Potential

crumbl-franchise-investment-tsg-consumer

Yum Brands Reports Strong Q1 Results with Big Boost from Taco Bell

yum-brands-reports-strong-q1-results-with-big-boost-from-taco-bell

QSR: McDonald’s Gains Momentum With Chicken Innovation, Value Deals and Franchisee Support

mcdonalds-franchise-recovery-chicken-strategy-value-deals-2025

The Future of Franchising: Trends and Predictions for 2025 and Beyond

the-future-of-franchising-trends-and-predictions-for-2025-and-beyond

District Taco Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-district-tacos-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

DonutNV Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-donutnv-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Photo of Happinest Brands vans and teams standing together

Happinest Brands Closes Strong Q1 With Strategic Growth, System-Wide Enhancements

happinest-brands-q1-2025-growth

The Fashion Class Franchise - Deep Dive - Costs, Fees, ROI - 1851 Franchise

The Fashion Class Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

fashion-class-franchise-deep-dive

Franchisee spotlight image with Randy and Sandy Craft, Children's Lighthouse logo on blue background

The Crafts’ Successful Journey from New Parents to Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees

the-crafts-successful-journey-from-new-parents-to-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees

Layoffs Surge to Pandemic-Era Highs, Opening Doors for Franchise Growth

layoffs-surge-to-pandemic-era-highs-opening-doors-for-franchise-growth

Franchisee spotlight image with photo of Robert Trujillo and UWRG logo on blue background

How Robert Trujillo Expanded His Construction Business With UWRG

how-robert-trujillo-expanded-his-construction-business-with-uwrg

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: Building Your Brand’s Growth Machine

ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises

A&W Opens 400th International Location, Plans For More Growth Abroad

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS