A&W Restaurants is notable for being the first successful food franchise company. Today all operations are 100% franchise owned, many of which have been family owned and operated for over 20 years. There are over 1000 U.S. and international locations serving many happy customers each day. A&W Restaurants, Inc., America’s first restaurant chain to turn 100, is one of the country’s best-known and most beloved restaurants. Its original craft Root Beer, still handmade fresh in-house with real cane sugar, water and a proprietary blend of herbs, bark, spices and berries and served in a frosty mug, made its debut on June 20, 1919. A&W All American Food is served quickly at affordable prices.