A&W plans to add 200 restaurants in Canada by 2020

Denis Pérez (left) with his son Tim, Operations Manager for the three A&W locations they own together. Image: CNW Group, A&W Food Services of Canada Inc.

TORONTO -- Fast-food chain A&W Food Services of Canada plans to open more than 200 franchisee-owned restaurants by 2020, via the companies Urban Franchise Program.

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The Urban Franchise Program is part of a bold, Canada-wide expansion strategy that aims to open 200 A&W restaurants across the country, including 70 in Québec alone, by 2020.

The burger joint already boasts 879 locations in the country, mostly in Western Canada, and the expansion will focus on Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces.

The company re-invented itself in recent years as an option for diners seeking higher-quality ingredients.

In 2013, A&W started serving beef raised without the use of added hormones or steroids, and followed that up with chicken and pork raised without antibiotics, eggs from hens that don’t eat animal by-products, and organic coffee.

The company has previously said it’s seen an uptick in sales because of this shift.

A&W also recently announced it will start serving all-day breakfast on Feb. 27, less than a week after competitor McDonald’s Canada does the same.

SOURCE The Canadian Press