A&W Canada: History, Key Facts and Reviews

1919-1956: an American root beer name reaches Winnipeg

A&W Canada carries an American name but is a Canadian company. The A and the W stand for Roy W. Allen, who opened a root beer stand in Lodi, California, on June 20, 1919, and Frank Wright, who became his partner in 1922 (Wikipedia). The American chain crossed the border in 1956, and the first Canadian A&W opened that year in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Wikipedia). For its first 16 years the Canadian business was a subsidiary of the US company, which is why the brand’s origin story starts in California.

1963-1975: the Burger Family and the Great Root Bear

The Teen Burger, A&W Canada’s signature, comes from the Burger Family that A&W introduced in 1963, with a Papa, a Mama, a Teen and a Baby burger. In Canada the Teen is a beef patty with bacon, cheese, Teen Sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, ketchup and mustard on a sesame bun; our Teen Burger copycat recipe rebuilds it at home. In 1975, facing the growth of McDonald’s in Canada, the chain launched advertising starring an orange-clad mascot, the Great Root Bear.

1972-2002: Unilever, a Canadian buyout and the stock market

A&W Canada has been independent of the American A&W since 1972, when Unilever bought the Canadian restaurants. From then on the two chains were unaffiliated. The US chain, now owned by its franchisees and based in Lexington, Kentucky, has its own management and its own menu. In 1995 senior management bought the Canadian chain from Unilever, and on February 15, 2002, the A&W Revenue Royalties Income Fund was listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

2013-2026: from 774 restaurants to 1,113

A&W Canada has added about 340 restaurants since 2013. In March of that year it opened its 100th Quebec restaurant, on Sainte-Catherine Street East in Montreal, and counted 774 across Canada (A&W); the 800th followed in downtown Montreal on November 21, 2013. Beyond Meat burgers arrived in July 2018. On October 17, 2024, A&W Food Services of Canada took over the remaining units of the income fund, and it now trades in Toronto under the symbol AW. In fiscal 2025 it opened 26 restaurants, ended the year with 1,094 and reached C$1.92 billion in system sales (A&W). On September 6, 2026, it had 1,113, and on October 16 chief executive Susan Senecal presented a new strategy that includes more Pret A Manger shops (A&W). Our guide to A&W in Montreal lists the city’s addresses.

Key dates

• 1919: Roy W. Allen opens a root beer stand in Lodi, California.
• 1956: the first Canadian A&W opens in Winnipeg.
• 1963: A&W introduces the Burger Family, including the Teen Burger.
• 1972: Unilever buys the Canadian business, which splits from the US chain.
• 1995: senior management buys A&W Canada from Unilever.
• 2002: the A&W Revenue Royalties Income Fund lists on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
• 2024: A&W Food Services of Canada takes over the fund and trades as AW.
• 2026: 1,113 restaurants across Canada on September 6.