About A and W
A&W is America's original root beer, born on 20th June 1919 when Roy W. Allen served his first frosty mug to World War I veterans at a homecoming celebration in Lodi, California. This iconic American brand has been refreshing generations with its distinctive vanilla-forward, smooth root beer flavour for over a century—making it one of the oldest franchised brands in the United States. The name A&W comes from the last initials of founders Roy Allen and Frank Wright, who partnered in 1922 and began franchising the product. Their roadside root beer stands became one of America's first restaurant franchises, growing from humble beginnings to over 2,000 locations by 1960. The brand's beloved mascot, the Great Root Bear (also known as Rooty), has represented the brand since 1973. A&W Root Beer is crafted with a proprietary blend of ingredients including aged vanilla, which gives it the smooth, creamy character that distinguishes it from other root beers. The caffeine-free recipe delivers that quintessential American root beer experience—slightly sweet with hints of wintergreen, anise, and other botanicals that have made the flavour profile instantly recognisable worldwide. Building on their root beer success, A&W introduced Cream Soda in 1986, which quickly captured over 40% of the cream soda market by 1989. Their cream soda became the top brand in the category, known for its smooth vanilla flavour that complements the original root beer heritage. Both products are now caffeine-free. Currently owned by Keurig Dr Pepper (alongside brands like 7Up, Canada Dry, and Snapple), A&W Root Beer and Cream Soda are available at UK supermarkets as part of the American import selection. Grocefully helps shoppers find these authentic American sodas at the best prices across UK retailers.