Who Owns A&W Root Beer?

A&W Root Beer was founded in 1919 by Roy Allen and Frank Wright in Sacramento, California, as a root beer stand. The brand was created with a unique formula featuring vanilla and spice flavors that became its signature taste profile.

The original A&W concept combined a root beer beverage with a drive-in restaurant experience, creating a popular destination for consumers seeking refreshing beverages and food. The brand expanded rapidly throughout the 1920s and 1930s, becoming one of America's most iconic root beer brands.

Throughout the mid-20th century, A&W Root Beer became famous for its distinctive taste and the A&W restaurant chain, which served the beverage alongside food offerings. The brand maintained strong consumer loyalty and became a staple of American popular culture.

In 2008, A&W Root Beer became part of the Dr Pepper Snapple Group portfolio through various acquisitions and consolidations. When Keurig Dr Pepper was formed in 2018 through the merger of Keurig Green Mountain and Dr Pepper Snapple Group, A&W Root Beer came under Keurig Dr Pepper's ownership.

Under Keurig Dr Pepper ownership, A&W Root Beer has continued to maintain its classic formula and brand identity while benefiting from the company's distribution networks and marketing resources. The brand has expanded into new product formats and maintained its position as a leading root beer brand.