FRANCHISE·WATCH·DESK

FDD ITEM 20 · FISCAL 2023–2025

A&W Item 20: outlets, closures & growth

In its latest FDD Item 20 (fiscal 2025), A&W reported 208 franchised outlets at year end. 10 of 213 franchised outlets open at the start of the year left the system — an annualized exit rate of 4.7%— while 5 new outlets opened. Systemwide units moved -1.9% over 2023–2025.

Item 20 · outlet status by yearas filed
Status (FTC)202320242025
Outlets at start212214215
Opened995
Transfers1363
Terminations656
Non-renewals134
Reacquired by franchisor000
Ceased — other reasons000
Outlets at end214215210
Net change+2+1-5
How the exit count is computedfiscal 2025

6 terminations + 4 non-renewals + 0 ceased (other) = 10 exits ÷ 213 at start = 4.7%

These are the three FTC Item 20 statuses in which a franchisee involuntarily or terminally leaves the system. Transfers (3) are resales, not exits; reacquisitions by the franchisor (0) are tracked separately. There is no official “failure rate” — this annualized exit rate is the disclosed, measurable floor.

Franchised outlets by state · fiscal 202568 states/territories
StateFranchisedCompany-owned
WI53
WI53
MI33
MI33
MN21
MN21
IA12
IA12
CA11
CA11
ID8
ID8
AZ6
AZ6
OR6
OR6
KS5
KS5
MO5
MO5
NY5
NY5
OH5
OH5
UT5
UT5
CO4
CO4
SD4
SD4
NV3
NV3
WY3
WY3
NE2
NE2
OK2
OK2
WA2
WA2
AR1
AR1
FL1
FL1
IL1
IL1
IN1
IN1
MD1
MD1
MT1
MT1
NM1
NM1
PA1
PA1
RI1
RI1
SC1
SC1
TN1
TN1
VT1
VT1
WV1
WV1
KY02
KY02

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