Established in British Columbia in 1956, A&W Food Services Canada (TSX: AW) has since expanded its fast-food burger franchises from the Western Canada region into Ontario and Quebec. A portion of the restaurants' profits are distributed to shareholders of The A&W Revenue Royalties Income Fund, which owns the trademarks of A&W products. Their parent organization is currently A Great American Brand, LLC, and previously was Yum! Brands.
A&W is the first Canadian fast-food chain to market itself as using steroid- and hormone-free beef in its burgers, as well as presenting itself as a proponent of environmental sustainability (Source: Eurmonitor International, 2014 via Passport GMID database). In June 2019, A&W became the first franchise restaurant chain to turn 100 (Source: bloomberg.com).