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In an interview with <a href="https://hospitalitytech.com/aws-growth-plan-prioritizes-drive-thru?utm_source=omeda&amp%3Butm_medium=email&amp%3Butm_campaign=NL_HT_Alert&amp%3Butm_keyword=&amp%3Boly_enc_id=1883B7223256J2U&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=hospitality-technology-aws-growth-plan-prioritizes-drive-thru-2716460" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hospitality Technology</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-palumbo-3373008/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=hospitality-technology-aws-growth-plan-prioritizes-drive-thru-2716460" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">John Palumbo</a>, senior director of franchise development of <a href="https://franchising.awrestaurants.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=hospitality-technology-aws-growth-plan-prioritizes-drive-thru-2716460" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">A&amp;W</a>, discussed the brand's plan to prioritize its standalone drive-thru model in 2021. <a href="https://1851franchise.com/awrestaurants">A&amp;W</a>, the iconic franchise with 500-plus locations across the country and 300 standalone units, has inked nine new U.S. locations, all which include drive-thrus. This expansion comes at a time when nine out of 10 consumers are visiting drive-thrus according to <a href="https://bluedot.io/library/state-of-what-feeds-us-4-report-restaurants/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=hospitality-technology-aws-growth-plan-prioritizes-drive-thru-2716460" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The State of What Feeds Us Study</a>. The 102-year old brand experienced a sales growth of 19.6% over 2020 and while many quick service restaurants are scaling down the size of their locations, A&amp;W is resisting the trend.&nbsp;“Some operators are looking to reduce the size of their dining rooms – to reduce costs and buildout costs,” said Palumbo. “Not A&amp;W. Dining rooms are important for our legacy model. You can’t have a Root Beer in a frosty mug through the drive-thru.”A typical A&amp;W restaurant is around 2,100 feet, which allows for a dining room area to cater to guests coming for a <a href="https://1851franchise.com/awrestaurants/aw-wraps-up-q2-with-14-new-restaurant-commitments-and-20-more-deals-in-the-pipeline-2716368#franchisor">nostalgic experience</a>. A&amp;W’s plan for standalone location growth stems from the brand experiencing its ninth year of consecutive growth, and it plans to open <a href="https://1851franchise.com/awrestaurants/aw-saw-a-9-comp-sales-increase-in-2020-now-the-franchise-is-focusing-on-its-standalone-model-to-drive-growth-in-2021-2715767#franchisor">20</a> new locations in 2021.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.Read the full article <a href="https://hospitalitytech.com/aws-growth-plan-prioritizes-drive-thru?utm_source=omeda&amp%3Butm_medium=email&amp%3Butm_campaign=NL_HT_Alert&amp%3Butm_keyword=&amp%3Boly_enc_id=1883B7223256J2U&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=hospitality-technology-aws-growth-plan-prioritizes-drive-thru-2716460" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">here</a>.

Hospitality Technology: A&W’s Growth Plan Prioritizes Drive-Thru

1851 Franchise

A&W’s senior director of franchise development discusses the brand’s focus on standalone drive-thru locations as it experiences a large sales growth in 2021.

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Hospitality Technology: A&W’s Growth Plan Prioritizes Drive-Thru

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