**History and Growth of A&W Root Beer:**
– Founded in 1919 by Roy W. Allen in Lodi, California.
– Partnership with Frank Wright in 1920 led to the creation of the A&W brand.
– By 1933, there were 170 A&W franchises.
– Expansion into Canada in 1956.
– Over 2,000 A&W restaurants by 1960.
– Continuous growth and changes in ownership and management over the years.
**A&W Root Beer Products and Brands:**
– Introduction of A&W Sugar-Free (later Diet A&W), A&W Cream Soda, and A&W Diet Cream Soda.
– Launch of A&W Floats, Sunkist Floats, and A&W TEN (low-calorie root beer).
– Rebranding of Diet A&W to A&W Zero Sugar in 2020.
– A&W Canada introduced a root beer brewed with natural ingredients in 2017.
– Offering a variety of products to cater to different consumer preferences.
**Promotions, Contests, and Marketing Campaigns:**
– Engaging consumers through promotions like free root beer giveaways and contests.
– Collaborations with celebrities like Jim Belushi for unique experiences.
– Encouraging community participation and involvement in events.
– Marketing activities include charity auctions, technology-free pledges, and the use of mascots like Rooty.
– Utilizing various campaigns and slogans to promote A&W products.
**The Great Root Bear Mascot and Branding:**
– Introduction of The Great Root Bear (Rooty) as the mascot in 1973.
– Iconic symbol for A&W in both Canada and the United States.
– Role in branding and advertising, including a tuba-driven jingle.
– Revival in A&W’s online presence in 2011 after a period of reduced visibility.
– Significant contribution to A&W’s brand image and recognition.
**Legal Cases, Ownership, and Business Relationships:**
– Involvement in legal battles like United States v. Forty Barrels and Twenty Kegs of Coca-Cola.
– Connection with Coca-Cola entities in ownership stakes and legal disputes.
– Former holdings include companies like Beverage Partners Worldwide and Columbia Pictures.
– Business relationships with entities like Bambi and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.
– Varied ownership ties with Coca-Cola entities over time.
A&W Root Beer is an American brand of root beer that was founded in 1919 by Roy W. Allen and primarily available in the United States and Canada. Allen partnered with Frank Wright in 1922, creating the A&W brand and inspiring a chain of A&W Restaurants founded that year. Originally, A&W Root Beer sold for five cents (equivalent to $0.88 in 2023).
 | |
| Type | Root Beer |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Keurig Dr Pepper (United States, Worldwide) A&W Canada, Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Company (Canada) Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines (Philippine restaurant only) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Introduced | 1919 |
| Related products | Barq's, Mug Root Beer, Dad's Root Beer, Hires Root Beer, A&W Cream Soda |
| Website | www |
| Nutritional value per 8.1 fl oz / 1 cup / 240 ml | |
|---|---|
| Energy | 120 kcal (500 kJ) |
31 | |
| Sugars | 31 |
| Dietary fiber | 0 |
0 | |
| Saturated | 0 |
| Trans | 0 |
0 | |
| Vitamins | Quantity %DV† |
| Vitamin A equiv. | 0% 0 μg |
| Vitamin C | 0% 0 mg |
| Minerals | Quantity %DV† |
| Calcium | 0% 0 mg |
| Iron | 0% 0 mg |
| Potassium | 0% 0 mg |
| Sodium | 1% 30 mg |
| Other constituents | Quantity |
| Cholesterol | 0 |
| †Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults, except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies. | |
The rights to the A&W brand (except in Canada) are owned by Keurig Dr Pepper, which in turn licenses the brand to the U.S.-based A&W Restaurant chain. A&W Root Beer products are distributed via various U.S. bottlers. A&W Food Services of Canada, which is independent of both Keurig Dr Pepper and the U.S. restaurant chain, is responsible for the restaurants and marketing of root beer products in Canada, with retail products bottled and distributed by the Coca-Cola Company. The U.S. variant is also sold as an import drink in Southeast Asia and Italy (where A&W has restaurants), as well as in Australia, Chile, and other countries.