• by Teresa Buyikian , June 10, 2024

Getting older just got a little bit sweeter -- but only if you’re over 100.

To commemorate the QSR chain’s 105^th birthday, A&W Restaurants announced a special offer, only available to those who have been around almost as long as the chain itself.

Beginning this month, A&W customers 100 years old and older will receive free Root Beer Floats -- for life.

"We love our fans of all ages," said Liz Bazner, vice president of marketing and innovation for A&W Restaurants in a release, "but there are around 108,000 centenarians in the U.S. that brands overlook. These are people that have been with A&W since the beginning. We wouldn't have survived the last century without them, so we wanted to show our appreciation with something special just for them."

To promote the centenarian free floats, A&W tapped 95-year-old “granfluencer” @Baddiewinkle, who has over three million followers, as the official spokesperson for the campaign.

"I've been a fan of A&W and their Root Beer Floats for my whole life," said Baddiewinkle in the release, "so I think it's super cool that they're showing some love to the Greatest Generation. I'm only 95, so I'm just jelly that I don't qualify yet. But I'm totally gonna do it when I grow up."

Additional online marketing efforts feature two WWII veterans enjoying their floats: 104-year-old Hazel Calloway and 100-year-old Glendell Bennett. The chain opened its first location in 1919 in Lodi, CA, during the homecoming celebration for WWI veterans, and has continued to support military veterans through work with Disabled American Veterans (DAV).

The chain hasn’t totally left those under 100 behind; customers ages 13 and up can get a free Root Beer Float every year on their birthday by joining A&W’s loyalty program, Rooty's Mug Club, at awrestaurants.com/100.