A&W Restaurants has kicked off its 90th anniversary celebration by announcing plans to open 15 of its new "Three-D" prototypes this year. A&W Restaurants, founded in 1919 in Lodi, Calif., pioneered the drive-in restaurant concept. Its new "Three-D" prototype offers drive-in, drive-through and dine-in services.
The company tested the concept with five franchise-run units last year in Wisconsin, and plans to roll out the additional units this year in Wisconsin, Michigan and Oregon. In addition, all new-build A&W's will use the "Three-D" format.
Yum! Brands franchises just over 1,000 A&W units in the United States, including about 650 that are co-branded with the franchisor's other concepts, such as KFC, Taco Bell and Long John Silver's. Another 362 A&W units are standalone restaurants, including about 150 with drive-in service.
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