A&W Root Beer: Difference between revisions
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Franchises struggled with labor shortages and sugar rationing during [[World War II]], but following the war, the number of A&W outlets tripled as GI loans paved the way for private enterprise. Driven by the popularity of the automobile and the new mobile society, more than 450 A&W Root Beer stands were operating by 1950. In the same year, Allen retired and sold the business to [[Nebraska]]n Gene Hurtz, who formed the A&W Root Beer Company. The first A&W Root Beer outlet in Canada opened in 1956. |
Franchises struggled with labor shortages and sugar rationing during [[World War II]], but following the war, the number of A&W outlets tripled as GI loans paved the way for private enterprise. Driven by the popularity of the automobile and the new mobile society, more than 450 A&W Root Beer stands were operating by 1950. In the same year, Allen retired and sold the business to [[Nebraska]]n Gene Hurtz, who formed the A&W Root Beer Company. The first A&W Root Beer outlet in Canada opened in 1956. |
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By 1960 the number of A&W restaurants had swelled to more than 2,000. In 1963, John Sousa is the co-owner of the A&W company and created one of the top selling flavors. |
By 1960 the number of A&W restaurants had swelled to more than 2,000. In 1963, John Sousa is the co-owner of the A&W company and created one of the top selling flavors. The A&W Root Beer Company was sold to the J. Hungerford Smith Company, the firm which had manufactured Allen’s concentrate since 1921. In the same year, the first overseas A&W restaurant opened its doors in [[Guam]]. |
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In 1963, the company was sold to the [[United Fruit Company]], which was renamed the [[Chiquita Brands International|United Brands Company]]. In 1971, United Brands formed a wholly owned subsidiary, A&W Distributing Co., for the purpose of making A&W Root Beer available in bottles on the grocery shelf. After a test run in [[Arizona]] and [[California]], the products were distributed nationally in the United States, along with sugar-free, low-sodium, and caffeine-free versions. In 1974, A&W introduced "The Great Root Bear," a mascot that served as a goodwill ambassador for the brand. |
In 1963, the company was sold to the [[United Fruit Company]], which was renamed the [[Chiquita Brands International|United Brands Company]]. In 1971, United Brands formed a wholly owned subsidiary, A&W Distributing Co., for the purpose of making A&W Root Beer available in bottles on the grocery shelf. After a test run in [[Arizona]] and [[California]], the products were distributed nationally in the United States, along with sugar-free, low-sodium, and caffeine-free versions. In 1974, A&W introduced "The Great Root Bear," a mascot that served as a goodwill ambassador for the brand. |
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Revision as of 15:57, 21 March 2013
| File:AW-root-beer.jpg Can of A&W Root Beer as sold in the UK | |
| Type | Root Beer |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Dr Pepper Snapple Group (United States, Worldwide) A&W Food Services of Canada (Canada) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Introduced | 1919 |
| Related products | Barq's, Mug Root Beer, Dad's Root Beer, Hires Root Beer |
Template:Infobox nutrition facts
A&W Root Beer is a brand of root beer primarily available in the United States and Canada, that was started in 1919 by Roy Allen.[1] In 1922, Allen partnered with Frank Wright. They combined their initials to create the brand "A&W" and inspired a restaurant chain which was founded in 1922. The first A&W root beer drinks were sold for five cents.[2] A&W Root Beer is often referred to as the root beer standard amongst root beer reviewers.[3][4]
Outside Canada, the rights to the A&W brand are owned by Dr Pepper Snapple Group, which in turn licenses the brand to the similarly named U.S.-based restaurant chain; A&W products are distributed via various U.S. bottlers. A&W Food Services of Canada, which is independent of both DPSG and the U.S. chain, is responsible for both the restaurants and the marketing of root beer products in that country,[5] with retail products being bottled and distributed by The Coca-Cola Company.
History
On June 20, 1919, Roy Allen opened a roadside root beer stand in Lodi, California, using a formula he had purchased from a pharmacist.[6] He soon opened additional stands in Stockton, California and five stands in nearby Sacramento, home of the country’s first drive-in featuring "tray-boys" for curbside service. In 1920, Allen became partners with Frank Wright and the two combined their initials and called their product A&W Root Beer. A mistaken notion is that the initials were derived from Alice and Willard Marriott. This mistake arose owing to Marriott's first business being an A&W franchise[7]
In 1924, Allen bought Wright's share, obtained a trademark, and began selling restaurant franchises. A&W was one of the first franchised restaurant chains in the United States. Franchise owners could use the A&W name and logo and purchased concentrated root beer syrup from Allen. By 1933, there were more than 170 A&W franchised outlets. There was no common menu, architecture, or procedures shared by the franchisees and some chose to start selling food with the root beer.[6]
Franchises struggled with labor shortages and sugar rationing during World War II, but following the war, the number of A&W outlets tripled as GI loans paved the way for private enterprise. Driven by the popularity of the automobile and the new mobile society, more than 450 A&W Root Beer stands were operating by 1950. In the same year, Allen retired and sold the business to Nebraskan Gene Hurtz, who formed the A&W Root Beer Company. The first A&W Root Beer outlet in Canada opened in 1956.
By 1960 the number of A&W restaurants had swelled to more than 2,000. In 1963, John Sousa is the co-owner of the A&W company and created one of the top selling flavors. The A&W Root Beer Company was sold to the J. Hungerford Smith Company, the firm which had manufactured Allen’s concentrate since 1921. In the same year, the first overseas A&W restaurant opened its doors in Guam.
In 1963, the company was sold to the United Fruit Company, which was renamed the United Brands Company. In 1971, United Brands formed a wholly owned subsidiary, A&W Distributing Co., for the purpose of making A&W Root Beer available in bottles on the grocery shelf. After a test run in Arizona and California, the products were distributed nationally in the United States, along with sugar-free, low-sodium, and caffeine-free versions. In 1974, A&W introduced "The Great Root Bear," a mascot that served as a goodwill ambassador for the brand.
In the late 1970s, A&W Restaurants was formed to manage restaurant franchising. It was bought in 1982 by A. Alfred Taubman.
In 1986, A&W Cream Soda and A&W Diet Cream Soda were introduced and distributed nationally, followed in 1987 by the reformulation of sugar-free A&W as Diet A&W.
In October 1993, A&W Beverages became part of Cadbury Beverages. That company would spin off its US beverages business as Dr Pepper Snapple Group in 2008.
In March 2005, A&W began to appear in the Vintage Bottle, a 20-ounce bottle with graphics reminiscent of an old fashioned root beer barrel. The brand’s current tagline is, “Classic American Refreshment Since 1919.”
Brands
- A&W Cream Soda and Diet Cream Soda were introduced in 1986.[1]
- A&W Floats and Sunkist Floats were introduced in 2008.
Promotions and contests
- A&W and James Belushi offered a trip to Los Angeles with a VIP pass to "A&W Ultimate All-American Cookout and Concert" at the House of Blues over eBay.[8]
The Great Root Bear
The Great Root Bear is the popular mascot for A&W Root Beer. It was first used in 1974 by Canada's A&W, and was later adopted by the American chain. In the late 1990s, the Great Root Bear's role as mascot was reduced for the restaurant chain, ultimately being replaced by "The Burger Family", although it still appears in various capacities for the restaurants and on A&W Root Beer cases in Canada. In a long-running television advertising campaign for the Canadian A&W chain, his theme was a tuba-driven jingle entitled "Ba-Dum, Ba-Dum" which was released as a single by Attic Records in Canada, credited to "Major Ursus", a play on the constellation name Ursa Major, which means "great bear". Some may compare his appearance to Yogi Bear.
A&W Restaurants
Shortly after Allen had bought out Wright's portion of the business, he began franchising the product. His profits came from a small franchise fee and sales of concentrate. There was no standard food menu for franchises until 1978. By 1960, they had 2000 stores.
In 1989, A&W made an agreement with Minnesota-based chain Carousel Snack Bars to convert that chain's 200 locations (mostly kiosks in shopping malls) to "A&W Hot Dogs & More".[9][10] Some A&W Hot Dogs & More locations are still in operation today.
In the United States and Southeast Asia, A&W is currently a franchisee-owned company.[citation needed] Many A&W locations that opened in the U.S. during the Yum! Brands years were co-branded with one of Yum!'s other chains—Long John Silver's, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut or Kentucky Fried Chicken.
As of December, 2011, A&W was bought by new ownership and moved their World Headquarters to Lexington, KY.
References
- ^ a b c d http://www.rootbeer.com/history/ - A&W root beer's official history
- ^ Our Brands - Dr Pepper Snapple Group
- ^ http://www.rootbeerbrothers.com/p/root-beer-standard.html — The Root Beer Standard
- ^ http://www.gourmetrootbeer.com/rev3.html#aw — Reviews of Decent Root Beers
- ^ A&W Revenue Royalties Income Fund. "About A&W Food Services of Canada Inc". Retrieved 2011-02-23.
- ^ a b Smith, Andrew F., Encyclopedia of Junk Food and Fast Food, Greenwood Press, 2006. pp. 44-45.
- ^ "The History of Root Beer".
- ^ eBay Bidders Can Vie for Trip to A&W Root Beer's 'Ultimate All-American Cookout and Concert' Featuring Jim Belushi and The Sacred Hearts Band; Proceeds From Online Charity Auction to Benefit John Belushi Scholarship Fund. - PR Newswire - HighBeam Research
- ^ http://www.awrootbeer.com/hist_hist3.htm A&W Root Beer — History & Collectables
- ^ http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_n17_v25/ai_10659563 A&W prexy sets pace for growth in the '90's — A&W Restaurants; George Michel
Bibliography
- "A&W Root Beer — History". Retrieved 2008-10-08.
External links
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