• by Teresa Buyikian , March 5, 2025

One veteran fast-food chain is getting a brand new leader.

This week 105-year-old A&W Restaurants announced it has named Betsy Schmandt as CEO and president. Schmandt had been serving as both COO and president, and has now assumed the CEO reins from Kevin Bazner, who will continue on as chairman of the company. 

Over the last 18 months in the COO role, Schmandt was responsible for “ensuring efficiency, productivity and alignment with the businesses' long-term strategic goals,” according to the brand.

"Since joining A&W, Betsy has quickly made an impact here by providing strategic direction, operational insights and innovative ideas to propel our brand ahead. Her passion and dedication to the brand is what assures us she's the right person for the role," said Bazner in the announcement. release.

Prior to A&W, Schmandt spent over seven years in executive roles at Mrs. Fields Famous Brands, most recently as the president of franchising at Mrs. Fields and TCBY. Earlier in her career Schmandt spent time at The Licensing Company, and over eight years at Godiva Chocolatier.

A&W operates approximately 850 locations in the U.S. and Asia, with 600 of those single-brand A&W stand-alone restaurants and 230 which are co-branded with KFC or Long John Silver's. At the brand’s high in the 1970s, it had over 2,000 locations, shrinking to less than 500 by the mid-1980s, according to a recent article on TastingTable.com.

The brand still relies on the original 1919 recipe for its signature Root Beer Float, which is made fresh in each restaurant with cane sugar, water and a “proprietary blend of herbs, bark, spices and berries,” served in a frosted mug.