DiscoverA Deeper DiveHow the CEO of A&W taps into brand nostalgia
How the CEO of A&W taps into brand nostalgia

How the CEO of A&W taps into brand nostalgia

Update: 2025-07-09
Share

Description

How does a 106-year-old brand keep customers coming back? By tapping into nostalgia.

This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast A Deeper Dive features A&W CEO Betsy Schmandt. 

This is the latest in our series of podcasts recorded during the National Restaurant show.

This is a great conversation. We wanted to get to know Betsy, who was named chief executive of the chain earlier this year.

A&W was founded in 1919, making it one of the oldest restaurant chains in the country. Betsy talks about that history and we talk about some of the memories we’ve had visiting the concept growing up. Schmandt discusses why that works for the brand and how the company plans to tap into consumer nostalgia.  

We also talk extensively about hospitality and why consumers today expect a lot more from their restaurants—and what A&W is doing about it. We also talk about the chain’s history of drive-ins and we talk about ways the company is adding technology into its restaurants. Betsy reveals a few things in that part of the conversation. 

We’re talking A&W on A Deeper Dive so please check it out. 

Comments 
00:00
00:00
x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

How the CEO of A&W taps into brand nostalgia

How the CEO of A&W taps into brand nostalgia

Restaurant Business Magazine