Founded in 1919 and now approaching 1,000 locations globally, A&W Restaurants is the original franchised restaurant brand—still evolving over a century later. As CEO of A&W Restaurants, Betsy Schmandt shares how to modernize a legacy brand without losing its soul—balancing innovation, quality, and technology with deep community connection. Her perspective challenges CEOs to think differently about differentiation in crowded markets, the power of local ownership, and how culture and consistency drive long-term brand relevance.
The interview was recorded on April 7th, 2026.