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References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2006 December 18.

1980 The Indiana Glass Company removes the oval-shaped escutcheon from the 8 ounce and 14 ounce A & W root beer mugs. [29] 1981 January 26 A & W International changes its name to A & W Restaurants. [44] November 10 United Brands Company announces it is negotiating the sale of A & W Restaurants to Taubman Investment Company, likely to be completed by the end of the month. United Brands will retain A & W trademarks and continue to own A & W Beverages. [100.D5] November 23 A & W Restaurants transfers ownership of the A & W logo (oval double-boomerang with A & W) to United Brands Company. United Brands Company then transfers ownership to A & W Brands. [44] 1982 United Brands Company sells A & W Restaurants to A. Alfred Taubman, a shopping center and real estate developer. [10] [18.156] Corporate headquarters of A & W Restaurants is moved from Santa Monica, California, to Michigan. [11] A & W Restaurants temporary ceases granting new franchises, during a reorganization and planning period. [11] August A & W Brands first uses an image with text "GET THAT FROSTY MUG SENSATION" as applied to soft drinks. [44] 1983 January 25 A & W Brands Inc.'s "A & W Great Food Restaurant" is registered as a service mark. [44] August 6 United Brands Company sells A & W Beverages to A & W Brands. [1.34] [2.10] [11] [18.158] 1984 August 14 A & W Brands is granted a registered trademark of an image with text "GET THAT FROSTY MUG SENSATION" as applied to soft drinks. [44] 1986 May A & W Brands' management team, together with Hicks & Haas, buys the company for US$74 million. [2.10] [18.158] (US$72 million [19.69]) June 16 The A & W Brands begins using an image of their oval A & W logo with stylized "Cream Soda" underneath in red and blue. [44] June A & W Brands test markets Cream Soda. [2.10] (month unknown) A grilled chicken sandwich is introduced to A & W restaurants. [11] A & W Restaurants begins granting franchise licenses again. [11] A & W Brands buys Squirtco, maker of Squirt brand grapefruit soft drink, for US$35 million. [2.10] [18.160] September E. Dale Mulder, former franchisee and Executive Director of the National A & W Franchise Association, is appointed president of A & W Restaurants. [10] [11] November 25 A & W's (USA) image of a standing bear in a sweater with an oval A & W logo on its chest is registered as a trade-mark. [44] 1987 May A & W Brands sells 40% of its total stock at US$11 each, raising US$37 million. [16.112] [18.158] [19.83] (US$22.5 million [2.10]) May 11 A & W Brands changes its name to A & W Concentrate Company. [44] June 22 The A & W Concentrate Company begins using a modified oval logo with an extra brown oval around the former logo, for candy. [44] August 11 The A & W Concentrate Company is granted a registered trademark of the A & W logo on soft drinks, potato chips, non-dairy creamer, chicken, cheese sandwiches, hamburger sandwiches, hot-dog sandwiches, instant coffee, salt, sugar, catsup. (first use October 21, 1963) [44] October 20 A & W Brands buys Vernors Inc., maker of Vernors brand ginger ale, for US$10 million. [2.10] [18.160] October 30 A & W Concentrate Company applies for a trade-mark of a modified oval logo with an extra brown oval around the former logo. [44] 1988 A & W Restaurants introduces Curly Fries to its restaurants. [11] The first drive-thru only A & W outlet opens in Flint, Michigan. [11] August 25 A & W Concentrate Company applies for a trade-mark on an image of their oval A & W logo with stylized "Cream Soda" underneath in red and blue. [44] August 29 A & W Concentrate Company's image of their oval A & W logo with stylized "Cream Soda" underneath in red and blue is registered as a trade-mark. [44] October 18 The A & W Concentrate Company is granted a registered trademark for an oval logo with an extra brown oval around the former logo as applied to candy. [44] 1989 Carousel Snack Bars signs an agreement with A & W Restaurants to convert over 200 mall and food court outlets to "A & W Hot Dogs and More" during the next two years. [1] Cholesterol-free Curly Fries become the standard for A & W restaurants, replacing the straight-cut fries. [11] August 29 The A & W Concentrate Company is granted a registered trademark for an image with text "A & W CREAM SODA" as applied to soft drinks. [44] 1990 January 25 The A & W Concentrate Company first uses an image and text "A & W, THERE'S JUST MORE TO IT." as applied to soft drinks. [44] April 2 The A & W Concentrate Company renews its registered trademark of a bull's eye logo with "A & W ROOT BEER" granted in 1930. [44] 1991 January George E. Michel, a 20 year veteran of A & W Food Services of Canada, is appointed president and chief operating officer of A & W Restaurants. [10] [11] February 28 The A & W Concentrate Company renews its registered trademark of the logo of an oval double-boomerang with "A & W". [44] (month unknown) Dale Mulder becomes chief executive officer of A & W Restaurants. [11] 1992 January George E. Michel becomes chief executive officer of A & W Restaurants. [10] August 11 The A & W Concentrate Company is granted a registered trademark of an image with text "FROSTY MUG TASTE" as applied to soft drinks. [44] December 1 A & W Concentrate Company begins using an image with the oval A & W logo, old stylized "Root Beer" under it, "FROSTY MUG TASTE" on a small banner, and a generic mug. [44] 1993 September 9 Cadbury Schweppes PLC agrees to buy US-based A & W Brands Inc. for US$334 million. [31.9] [33.B5] [47] October 13 British-based Cadbury Schweppes P.L.C completes a buy out of A & W Brands, for US$334 million. [3.D5] (Cadbury Beverages [11]) 1994 March 8 A & W Concentrate Company's image with the oval A & W logo, old stylized "Root Beer" under it, "FROSTY MUG TASTE" on a small banner, and a generic mug is registered as a trade-mark. [44] December Sagittarius Acquisitions, backed by investment company Grotech Capital, buys A & W Restaurants from A. Alfred Taubman for about US$20 million. Sagittarius' head, Sidney Feltenstein, is a former executive vice president of marketing for Burger King Worldwide, and former key executive with Dunkin' Donuts. [10] [36] (1995 [11]) (A & W Restaurant Acquisition Company buys A & W Restaurants [11]) 1995 October A & W Restaurants licenses some of its food products to Hot Choice, for use in A & W Diner Hot Food Vending Machines in California. [39] 1996 February 1 The A & W Concentrate Company first uses an image of a barrel and text "Barrel Aged, Bold Taste!". [44] February Sidney Feltenstein unveils a new logo for A & W Restaurants at the annual operators' meeting, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The logo adds "All American Food" under the traditional oval logo. [36] A & W Restaurants introduces new french fries, designed to stay crisp and hot longer than the previous variety. [36] March Coca-Cola Enterprises informs Dr. Pepper / Cadbury North America that it will cease distributing A & W Root Beer by June 18. [45.D4] March 28 Dr. Pepper / Cadbury North America announces that Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. had decided to stop distributing A & W Root Beer. [46.D4] April Coca-Cola Enterprises ceases distributing A & W Root Beer in certain markets, replacing it with Barq's root beer. [23.70] April 16 The A & W (USA) slogan "WHERE THE FOOD'S AS GOOD AS THE ROOT BEER" is registered as a trade-mark. [44] May A & W Restaurants signs a deal with TCBY Enterprises, to put TCBY dessert items in some A & W Restaurants, and vice-versa. [38] A & W Restaurants and Wal-Mart sign an agreement in which Wal-Mart will host A & W restaurants in seven of its stores in the US. [40] 1997 June 24 A & W Restaurants moves its world headquarters from Livonia to Farmington Hills, in Michigan, USA. [41] (month unknown) There are presently 714 A & W Family Restaurants, and 10 A & W Drive-in Restaurants in the United States and Canada. [79.623] 1998 January 6 The A & W Concentrate Company is granted a registered trademark of an image of a barrel and text "Barrel Aged, Bold Taste!". [44] (month unknown) In the United States, advertising agency Foote, Cone & Belding unveils new television ads for A & W Root Beer to A & W bottlers. [76.3] August 19 The A & W Root Beer Company of Canada Inc. applies for a registered trade-mark on the phrase "A & W EXPRESS". [71] Year Sales of A & W Root Beer for the year in the United States are up 2.2% despite little advertising. A & W Root Beer ranks number three in the country behind Mug (#2) and Barq's (#1). [76.3] [77.71] 1999 March After an absence of two years, A & W Root Beer returns to American television with "It's good to be thick headed" ads designed to appeal to a young male audience. [76.3] (month unknown) Yorkshire Global Restaurants is created in Lexington, Kentucky, following the merger of Long John Silver's and A & W All American Food Restaurants. [81.C2] 2001 September 7 The A & W Concentrate Company renews its registered trademark of a logo first used in 1955. [44] 2002 March 12 Tricon Global Restaurants announces it is buying A & W All American Food Restaurants and Long John Silver's from Yorkshire Global Restaurants, for US$320 million. [81.C2] June 6 A & W Restaurants first uses a drawing with text "THICKSTER" as applied to sandwiches. [44] (month unknown) Tricon Global Restaurants changes its name to Yum! Brands. [101] September 10 A & W Concentrate Company is granted a registered trademark of "A & W ROOT BEER" as applied to root beer and concentrates and syrups for making root beer. [44] 2004 March 1 A & W Restaurants first uses an image with text "WISCONSIN FRESH CHEESE CURDS LEGENDARY TASTE!". [44] March 25 A & W Restuarants first uses "CURIOUSLY DELICIOUS" as applied to cheese curds. [44] April 13 A & W Restaurants is granted a registered trademark of a drawing with text "THICKSTER" as applied to sandwiches. [44] May A & W Restaurants in the US adds Cheese Curds to its menu across the country. [101] June 21 A & W Restaurants in the US celebrates its 85th anniversary and the first day of summer with a National Float Day. Participating restaurants give away a free A & W Root Beer Float with any purchase from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. [101] 2005 April 1 A & W Restaurants in the US celebrates the national introduction of Cheese Curds in 2004 by giving a free Root Beer to any customer purchasing Cheese Curds during the day. [101] June 20 A & W Restaurants in the US celebrates its 86th anniversary and the first day of summer with the second annual National Float Day. Participating restaurants give away a free A & W Root Beer Float with any purchase from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. [101] July A & W Restaurants in the US introduces the limited edition 2005 A & W collector mug. The 20-ounce glass mug is imprinted with a color image of the Great Root Bear. [101] August 2 The A & W Concentrate Company renews its registered trademark of the target logo. [44] November 1 A & W Restuarants is granted a registered trademark of "CURIOUSLY DELICIOUS" as applied to cheese curds. [44] December 13 A & W Restaurants is granted a registered trademark of an image with text "WISCONSIN FRESH CHEESE CURDS LEGENDARY TASTE!". [44] 2006 January 10 The A & W Concentrate Company is granted a registered trademark of image of a barrel and text "Barrel Aged, Bold Taste!". [44]

End of 1980-2006. The complete timeline can be purchased in a PDF file for US$10 from the author. You can pay now directly via PayPal. When I receive notification from PayPal, I will email you the PDF file. or send me an email to request my mailing address to mail payment. 1918-1979 1980-end A list of references to all source material is available. Other web pages of interest: Chronology of A & W Root Beer (Canada) Mug Shots - A & W Root Beer mugs Polsson's Garage Sale - A&W Glass Mugs This Day in History

Last updated: 2006 December 18. Copyright © 1996-2009 Ken Polsson (email: kpolsson@islandnet.com). URL: http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/awhistus/ Link to Ken P's home page.