1851

The name&nbsp;<a href="https://franchising.awrestaurants.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-root-beer-sales-give-aw-restaurants-a-critical-edge-on-the-qsr-competition-2718604" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">A&amp;W</a> is synonymous with root beer. After more than a century of serving crowd-pleasing burgers, fries, chicken tenders and other American-food favorites, the iconic franchise is still most closely associated with its famous frosted mugs of fresh-made root beer. In recent years, that beloved menu offering has provided a critical edge for A&amp;W Restaurants as the brand continues to experience a high volume of beverage sales while competitors see drink sales plummet.Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, QSR brands have experienced a boom in drive-thru and to-go sales at the expense of dine-in. For most brands, that shift was celebrated, indicating the segment’s resilience in the rapidly changing foodservice landscape. A dip in beverage sales as a result of that shift has largely been seen as a necessary concession —&nbsp; but it's a concession that A&amp;W has not had to make, thanks to the brand’s fan-favorite root beer.“Most concepts had no way to maintain solid beverage sales over the past two years,” said A&amp;W CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-bazner-7b4a546?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-root-beer-sales-give-aw-restaurants-a-critical-edge-on-the-qsr-competition-2718604" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kevin Bazner</a>. “Customers typically already have beverages at home, so if they are picking up take out or going through the drive-thru, they tend to skip the drink. But A&amp;W hasn’t lost a step with regards to beverage sales.”Even at the height of the pandemic, when more than 90% of A&amp;W's sales came from drive-thru and to-go orders, Bazner says beverage sales — specifically root beer —&nbsp;remained at or near pre-pandemic levels.“People come to us specifically for root beer,” he said. “It’s a handcrafted product, made fresh at every one of our locations around the globe. And it's always been served in a frosted mug, which has helped make it iconic. We have the second-highest beverage sales in the QSR industry, and 75% of our carbonated beverage sales are root beer, so it’s a major part of our brand."Beverages are among the highest-margin menu items in the foodservice industry, so Bazner says A&amp;W’s continued success in that category is no small win for franchise owners.&nbsp;“Beverages are incredibly profitable — anyone who has worked in this business can tell you that,” he said. “In the QSR segment, most brands see about 75% or 80% of customers purchase a beverage. At A&amp;W, it’s about 90%, which means our restaurant owners are getting higher check averages with minimal overhead.”Because A&amp;W’s root beer is made in-store, franchise owners also save on distribution costs. Rather than paying for gallons of root beer to be shipped to each store, the franchise only has to purchase concentrate, which is mixed with water at the store. “The savings are dramatic, and they add up quickly,” Bazner said.Throughout the pandemic, A&amp;W took a number of steps to keep its frosted mugs of rootbeer top of mind among consumers.“We launched a big social media push that put our root beer front and center,” Bazner said. “Any time we feature the frosted mug on social media, we see response and engagement increase.”A&amp;W’s beverage sales go beyond the frosted mug. The franchise also offers bulk root beer sales, including gallons and growlers, which Bazner says customers happily pay a premium for.“People will pay more than they would at the grocery store for a gallon of root beer from A&amp;W because they love and trust the product,” he said. “Throughout the pandemic, we found opportunities to bundle those bulk sales with other items. Typically, when most QSR brands offer larger, packaged meals, they exclude beverages because people have those at home, but we’re able to offer a gallon of root beer with a family meal, and it’s a compelling selling point."A&amp;W has served the same root beer, with only minor modifications, for the past 102 years. “Not only is it iconic, it's a genuine comfort to people,” Bazner said. “It’s familiar, it’s consistent, and it’s a large part of the reason we have such a strong relationship with our customers.”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=how-root-beer-sales-give-aw-restaurants-a-critical-edge-on-the-qsr-competition-2718604" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://franchising.awrestaurants.com/</a>

How Root Beer Sales Give A&W Restaurants a Critical Edge On The QSR Competition

1851 Franchise

As diners increasingly opt for takeout and drive-thru service, most quick-service brands are experiencing plummeting beverage sales, but not for the century-old American franchise.

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

how-root-beer-sales-give-aw-restaurants-a-critical-edge-on-the-qsr-competition

Comfort Keepers

Comfort Keepers - Midyear Press Release 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Comfort Keepers® Hits Mid-Year Stride With Strong Franchise Growth and Rising Demand for In-Home Care

comfort-keepers-franchise-midyear-momentum-2025

petbar

petbar - Garrett Dewan - Why I'm Investing - 1851 Franchise

Why Garrett Dewan Is Choosing To Reinvest in petbar

petbar-franchise-austin-garrett-dewan-multi-unit

Paris Baguette

NJBIZ: Paris Baguette Ramps Up Expansion With New Franchises, Facility and 2030 Growth Target

njbiz-paris-baguette-ramps-up-expansion-with-new-franchises-facility-and-2030-growth-target

Busy Bee Jumpers

Top 10 Reasons To Buy a Busy Bee Jumpers Franchise in 2025

top-10-reasons-to-buy-a-busy-bee-jumpers-franchise-in-2025

Home Halo

home-halo-former-athletes-frachisees-image

Why Former College Athletes Can Make Winning Home Halo Franchise Owners

former-college-athletes-home-halo-franchise

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 Development Website Builder

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

Wendy's CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down - Breaking News - 1851 Franchise

Wendy’s CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down Amid Challenges, Leaving Franchisees Facing Uncertainty

wendys-ceo-transition-kirk-tanner-franchisee-uncertainty

"Come in, We're OPEN" sign against abstract background

Small Business Optimism Dips, Raising Concerns for Franchise Owners

small-business-optimism-dips-raising-concerns-for-franchise-owners

Photo of Roof Scientist truck and trailer

Roof Scientist Expands Into Northern Indianapolis as Entrepreneur Dale Speckman Launches New Business in Fishers

roof-scientist-expands-into-northern-indianapolis

Image of Donald Trump pointing with red stripes in the background

August 1 Tariff Deadline Is Said to Have ‘No Extensions’: What This Could Mean for Franchises

august-1-tariff-deadline-franchise-impact

What June’s Jobs Report Means for the Franchise Industry

what-junes-jobs-report-means-for-the-franchise-industry

Unlocking Superpowers: How KidStrong Is Building the Next Generation of Confident Kids — and Thriving Franchise Owners

kidstrong-franchise-confident-kids

Image of a kid growing up, developing with kidstrong, high fiving and smiling. 

How KidStrong has Become the Franchise Disrupting Child Development by Partnering with Purpose-Driven Franchise Owners 

kidstrong-franchise-opportunity-child-development

Picture of kids for franchise business Kidstrong which focuses on child development and fitness

KidStrong Is Pediatrician-Recommended for Raising Confident, Capable Kids and Families Can't Get Enough

kidstrong-child-development-program

Bringing Robots to Main Street: How Elad Inbar’s RobotLAB Franchise Is Powering the Local AI Revolution

bringing-robots-to-main-street-how-elad-inbars-robotlab-franchise-is-powering-the-local-ai-revolution

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery 

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery in Overland Park, Kansas

paris-baguette-franchise-overland-park-khandelwal

Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

From Corporate Careers to Community Roots: Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

kansas-couple-opens-childrens-lighthouse-gardner-olathe

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

How Root Beer Sales Give A&W Restaurants a Critical Edge On The QSR Competition

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS