1972
-
- The logo on the 3 1/2 ounce, 8 ounce, and 14 ounce root beer mugs from the Indiana Glass Company is changed to include an orange/brown map of the continental United States surrounding the A & W lettering. [29]
1973
-
- A & W International introduces the official Ambassador of Fun, the Great Root Bear. [110.94]
- Year
- Number of A & W restaurants in the US: 2300. [110.104]
1974
- February 28
- A & W (USA) begins using an image as a trade-mark of a walking bear in a sweater with an oval A & W logo on its chest. [44]
- A & W (USA) begins using "ROOTBEAR" as a trade-mark. [44]
- May 4
- A & W (USA) begins using an image of a standing bear in a sweater with an oval A & W logo on its chest. [44]
- (month unknown)
- A & W Beverages introduces Sugar-Free A & W Root Beer. [10] [11] [110.99]
- A & W Beverages introduces the Great Root Bear, a life-size mascot that serves as a goodwill ambassador. [10] [11]
- September 18
- A & W (USA) begins using "GREAT ROOTBEAR" as a trade-mark. [44]
- November
- Ed Weber leaves A & W International, replaced by Ron Berkey as President. [110.99]
vvv advertisement vvv
^^^ advertisement ^^^
- Year
- Number of A & W restaurants in the US: 2400. [110.99]
1975
- January 1
- A & W International has a float in the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. The float wins the Mayor's Trophy for originality. [110.105]
- April
- A & W Beverages first uses an image with text "FROSTY MUG TASTE" as applied to soft drinks. [44]
- (month unknown)
- Jim Lynch replaces Ron Berkey as President of A & W International. [110.99]
1976
-
- A & W International sponsors a float in the Easter Seal parade, and the Great Root Bear appears on the Easter Seal Telethon. [110.101]
- May 28
- In Los Angeles Court, A & W International files lawsuit against the National A & W Franchisee Association, mainly over issue of sales of A & W Root Beer in bottles and cans. [110.102]
- (month unknown)
- A & W Root Beer in bottles and cans becomes the leading root beer sold in the United States. [11] [110.99]
- The A & W company newsletter A & W News Dispenser is renamed A & W News Bearer. [110.104]
- The logo on the 3 1/2 ounce, 8 ounce, and 14 ounce root beer mugs from the Indiana Glass Company is changed to remove the US map surrounding the A & W lettering. [29]
1977
- May
- James C. Doherty is elected Chief Executive Officer of A & W International. [110.103]
- December 9
- A agreement is signed between A & W International and the National A & W Franchisee Association, saying that United Brands can sell A & W Root Beer in cans and bottles to supermarkets, but not to other restaurants. [110.103]
- Year
- Number of A & W restaurants in the US: 1200. [110.104]
1978
-
- A standard core menu is introduced to all A & W restaurants in the US. [10] [11]
- United Brands Company forms A & W Restaurants, Incorporated as a wholly-owned subsidiary, for managing the restaurant franchises. [10] [11] [110.104]
- The A & W Great Food Restaurant concept is launched, with the first restaurant opening in the Lake Forest Shopping Mall in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The new concept offers quality dining with prompt service, in which hamburgers, salad bars, ice cream bars, and root beer are served. [10] [110.123] (1979 [11])
- The Indiana Glass Company adds an oval-shaped escutcheon to the 8 ounce and 14 ounce A & W root beer mugs, to assist in locating the logo decal. [29]
- August 1
- A & W's (USA) service mark of an image of a walking bear with the A & W oval logo on its chest is registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office. [44]
- September
- A & W (USA) begins using "A & W Great Food Restaurant" as a trade-mark. [44]
- December 12
- A & W International's "GREAT ROOTBEAR" is registered as a service mark. [44]
- December 19
- A & W International's "ROOTBEAR" is registered as a service mark. [44]
1979
- January
- A & W (USA) begins using "WHERE THE FOOD'S AS GOOD AS THE ROOT BEER" as a slogan. [44]
- (month unknown)
- The A & W national comvention is held in Hawaii. [110.73]
- Frank Dwyer is named new President of A & W International. [110.104]
1980
-
- The Indiana Glass Company removes the oval-shaped escutcheon from the 8 ounce and 14 ounce A & W root beer mugs. [29]
1981
- January 26
- A & W International changes its name to A & W Restaurants. [44]
- (month unknown)
- The A & W franchisee national convention is held in Reno, Nevada, with theme "Building for Tomorrow". [110.120]
- November 10
- United Brands Company announces it is negotiating the sale of A & W Restaurants to Taubman Investment Company, likely to be completed by the end of the month. United Brands will retain A & W trademarks and continue to own A & W Beverages. [100.D5]
- November 23
- A & W Restaurants transfers ownership of the A & W logo (oval double-boomerang with A & W) to United Brands Company. United Brands Company then transfers ownership to A & W Beverages. [44]
1982
- January
- United Brands Company sells A & W Restaurants to Taubman Investment Company, owned by A. Alfred Taubman, a shopping center and real estate developer, for $4 million. [10] [18.156]
- (month unknown)
- Corporate headquarters of A & W Restaurants is moved from Santa Monica, California, to Michigan. [11]
- A & W Restaurants temporary ceases granting new franchises, during a reorganization and planning period. [11]
- (1980s) A & W Restaurants opens the forst White Mountain Creamery ice cream outlet. [110.127]
- August
- A & W Beverages first uses an image with text "GET THAT FROSTY MUG SENSATION" as applied to soft drinks. [44]
1983
- January 25
- A & W Restaurants' "A & W Great Food Restaurant" is registered as a service mark. [44]
- August 6
- United Brands Company sells A & W Beverages to a consortium that creates A & W Brands Incorporated, with Lou Lowenkron as chairman and CEO. [1.34] [2.10] [11] [18.158]
1984
- August 14
- A & W Brands is granted a registered trademark of an image with text "GET THAT FROSTY MUG SENSATION" as applied to soft drinks. [44]
- Year
- Number of A & W restaurants in the US: 675, with another 50 units abroad (excluding Canada). [110.123]
1985
- April 21
- The first A & W restaurant opens in Indonesia, in Melawi township, Jakarta. [110.142]
1986
-
- Taubman Investment Company announces it will be selling A & W Restaurants. [110.130]
- Sonic Industries Incorporated (with 950 drive-in restaurants) offers to buy A & W Restaurtants (with 514 US and 46 international restaurants), but not the Great Food Restaurants. (The deal is rejected when an extension is requested to secure funding.) [110.130]
- May
- A & W Brands' management team, together with Hicks & Haas, buys the company for US$72-74 million from the consortium of owners. [2.10] [18.158] [19.69] [110.132] (US$72 million)
- June 16
- The A & W Brands begins using an image of their oval A & W logo with stylized "Cream Soda" underneath in red and blue. [44]
- June
- A & W Brands introduces A & W Cream Soda, and A & W Diet Cream Soda. [2.10] [110.132]
- (month unknown)
- A grilled chicken sandwich is introduced to A & W restaurants. [11]
- A & W Restaurants begins granting franchise licenses again. [11]
- A & W Brands buys Squirtco, maker of Squirt brand grapefruit soft drink, for US$35 million. [2.10] [18.160] (1987 [110.132])
- September
- E. Dale Mulder, former franchisee and Executive Director of the National A & W Franchise Association, is appointed president of A & W Restaurants. [10] [11] [110.132]
- November 25
- A & W's (USA) image of a standing bear in a sweater with an oval A & W logo on its chest is registered as a trade-mark. [44]
1987
- May
- A & W Brands sells 40 percent of its total stock at US$11 each, raising US$37 million. [16.112] [18.158] [19.83] (US$22.5 million [2.10])
- May 11
- A & W Brands changes its name to A & W Concentrate Company. [44]
- June 22
- The A & W Concentrate Company begins using a modified oval logo with an extra brown oval around the former logo, for candy. [44]
- (month unknown)
- The A & W Concentrate Company introduces Diet A & W Root Beer, with NutraSweet. [110.132]
- August 11
- The A & W Concentrate Company is granted a registered trademark of the A & W logo on soft drinks, potato chips, non-dairy creamer, chicken, cheese sandwiches, hamburger sandwiches, hot-dog sandwiches, instant coffee, salt, sugar, catsup. (first use October 21, 1963) [44]
- October 20
- A & W Concentrate buys Vernors Inc., maker of Vernors brand ginger ale, for US$10 million. [2.10] [18.160] (1988 [110.133])
- October 30
- A & W Concentrate Company applies for a trade-mark of a modified oval logo with an extra brown oval around the former logo. [44]
- November
- The Henry Ford Museum in Greenfield Village, Michigan, opens "The Automobile in American Life" exhibit, including A & W signs, mugs, a tray, etc. [110.136]
1988
-
- An A & W franchisee convention is held, for first time since 1981. [110.121]
- A & W Restaurants introduces Curly Fries to its restaurants. [11]
- The first drive-thru only A & W outlet opens in Flint, Michigan. [11]
- A & W Restaurants closes its two units in Kuwait due to security concerns. [110.146]
- August 25
- A & W Concentrate Company applies for a trade-mark on an image of their oval A & W logo with stylized "Cream Soda" underneath in red and blue. [44]
- August 29
- A & W Concentrate Company's image of their oval A & W logo with stylized "Cream Soda" underneath in red and blue is registered as a trade-mark. [44]
- October 18
- The A & W Concentrate Company is granted a registered trademark for an oval logo with an extra brown oval around the former logo as applied to candy. [44]
- Year
- Number of A & W restaurants in the US: 536, with sales of $164.5 million. [110.134]
1989
-
- Carousel Snack Bars signs an agreement with A & W Restaurants to convert over 200 mall and food court outlets to "A & W Hot Dogs & More" during the next two years. [1] [110.134]
- A & W Restaurants acquires Burger City, converting its nine drive-thru kiosks to A & W units. [110.134]
- Cholesterol-free Curly Fries become the standard for A & W restaurants, replacing the straight-cut fries. [11]
- August 29
- The A & W Concentrate Company is granted a registered trademark for an image with text "A & W CREAM SODA" as applied to soft drinks. [44]
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