A&W began franchising in 1921, making it one of the earliest and often-cited first fast-food franchises in the United States.
Roy W. Allen opened the first A&W root beer stand in Lodi, California, in 1919. The business expanded when Allen partnered with Frank Wright, and the name combined their initials. Franchisees were licensed to sell A&W root beer, helping the brand spread beyond its original stand.
A&W is especially associated with root beer, draft beverages, and drive-in restaurants. The 1921 date refers to the start of franchising, not the opening of the first A&W location. That distinction is a common source of confusion in franchise histories.
Other early restaurant chains also expanded through licensing and franchising, but A&W’s early date is why it is frequently mentioned in accounts of fast-food franchising.