<Tr> <Th> Parent </Th> <Td> United Fruit Company (1967--1970) United Brands Company (1970--1982) Yum! Brands (2002--2011) A Great American Brand LLC (2011--present) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Website </Th> <Td> awrestaurants.com </Td> </Tr> <P> A&W Restaurants, Inc. is a chain of fast - food restaurants distinguished by its draft root beer and root beer floats and burgers . Its origins date back to 1919 when Roy W. Allen opened a walk - up root beer stand in Lodi, California . Allen's employee Frank Wright partnered with him and founded this first restaurant in Sacramento, California, in 1923 . The company name was taken respectively from the initials of their last names--Allen and Wright . The company became famous in the United States for its "frosty mugs," where the mugs would be kept in the freezer and eventually get filled with A&W Root Beer before they were served to customers . </P> <P> Evolving into a franchise in 1926, the company today has locations throughout much of the world with each serving a typical fast - food menu of hamburgers, French fries, and hot dogs . A number of outlets serve as drive - in restaurants that have carhops . Previously owned by Yum! Brands, the chain was sold in December 2011 to a consortium of A&W franchisees through A Great American Brand, LLC . A&W restaurants in Canada have been part of a separate and unaffiliated chain since 1972 . </P>

What does the a and w stand for in a&w