Latest news with #A&WRestaurants
Cision Canada
12-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Introducing the Steakhouse Teen Burger™, a sweet and smoky twist on A&W's iconic Teen Burger
For a limited time, the Canadian Classic is all dressed up for barbecue season. VANCOUVER, BC, May 12, 2025 /CNW/ - A&W is introducing a new limited-time offer you won't want to miss: meet the new Steakhouse Teen Burger. Crafted with a mouthwatering sweet and savoury twist, this new recipe creates a bold experience for all Teen Burger lovers. This irresistible steakhouse-inspired burger also comes in its equally tasty sidekick, the Steakhouse Buddy Burger™, for just $4.99. Introducing a Steakhouse Twist to the Teen Burger Enjoy the sweet and smoky notes of bacon jam, the rich creaminess of peppercorn aioli, and the fresh bite of arugula, all working in harmony with the Teen Burger's classic ingredients: real cheddar cheese, fresh tomatoes, and of course, A&W's juicy grass-fed beef raised without hormones or steroids. A Winning Teen! A&W explored over 50 recipes of the A&W classic, such as the Everything Bagel Teen Burger, Cacio e Pepe Teen Burger, and even a Chocolate Teen Burger. These ideas were shared with over 700 Canadian burger lovers where the recipes were ranked by craveability. The Steakhouse Teen Burger emerged as the top craveable recipe by burger lovers. The A&W Menu Development team worked on bringing this winning recipe to life by sourcing the quality ingredients that would embody steakhouse flavours. "Bacon jam offers sweet and smoky notes, so we kept that as our hero ingredient in this new Steakhouse Teen Burger recipe," says Karan Suri, Senior Director, Innovation at A&W. "It pairs beautifully with the savoury depth of the new peppercorn aioli and the vibrant, peppery crunch of the fresh arugula that we added. These ingredients are going to bring that true steakhouse taste to our guests." Burger lovers ranked this as their favourite new Teen Burger concept, and now you can try it for yourself! Get the new Steakhouse Teen Burger*, available for a limited time at A&W Restaurants or through the A&W mobile app. And try the new Steakhouse Buddy Burger* for just $4.99. *Not available in Quebec. About A&W Canada A&W is Canada's original burger chain with over 1,070+ restaurants that are proudly Canadian-owned and operated. Home of The Burger Family, we are known for delicious classics like the Teen Burger, hand-battered Onion Rings and A&W Root Beer. You can enjoy our craveworthy burgers, breakfasts and beverages at one of our restaurants across the country. For more information, please visit
Business Insider
01-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
I converted a 110-year-old ship into a beachfront hotel on Indonesia's shores. Here's how I did it.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Eric Saw, the 73-year-old founder of Doulos Phos The Ship Hotel, in Bintan, Indonesia. It has been edited for length and clarity. I used to bring my children aboard the MV Doulos, a 430-foot-long ship belonging to a Christian missionary, when it would dock on Singapore's shores. It had spent 33 years as a floating library sailing around the world. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that one day we would become owners of this vessel, or that I would convert it into a hotel on the shores of Indonesia. In 2010, I bought the MV Doulos, which had earned the Guinness World Record for being the world's oldest active ocean-going passenger ship. It was built in Texas in 1914, just two years after the Titanic sank. From 1914 to 1948, it operated as a cargo ship carrying onions. I often joke to my guests that we found a few sacks of onions when we bought the ship and still make onion soup from them. When I bought the vessel, it was 96 years old. Here's how I turned it into an oceanfront hotel while preserving its century-old history. Not my first rodeo with ships My first experience with ships came in 2000 when I bought a riverboat, which at that time belonged to A&W Restaurants. I bought that and converted it into a floating Tex-Mex restaurant on the shores of Sentosa, an island off Singapore known for its luxury hotels, amusement parks, and beaches. When I heard that MV Doulos was up for sale in 2010, I saw it as a sign to do something bigger. I was not the only bidder for the ship. A mix of private companies, militaries, and scrapyards from China, South Africa, South Korea, India, and the Philippines made offers for it. As luck would have it, I won the bid. But that is where the real challenges started. I didn't realize just how big this project would get. Finding its final resting place in Bintan, Indonesia I first wanted to dock it off the coast of Singapore. I placed it in a shipyard, hoping that within three months, I would get approval from the port authorities. I bargained with government agencies for permission to place it off the island's scenic east coast. Three months turned into three and a half years. I submitted six to seven proposals to various authorities without success. In the meantime, I bled money docking and maintaining the ship in a shipyard. Finally, I struck gold. My friend gave me the number of Frans Gunara, a hotel developer from Bintan, Indonesia. I met him for a dinner presentation and put forth my case. He said that he would not only give him a spot off of Bintan to dock the ship but also reclaim a piece of land to dry berth it, which would protect it from water damage. But I decided to go a little further. I told Frans, "I don't want a rectangular piece of land. I want an anchor-shaped island." Retrofitting the ship There was much to be done after the ship had been placed on Bintan's shores, on its anchor-shaped piece of reclaimed land. The innards of the ship, the cabins, were dingy and small. It was clean, but definitely not at hotel standards — not even a backpackers' hotel. So my family and I sat down and planned. I drew the design of the tables, the interiors, and the outdoor space. I drew out how the poolside would look and where you would go down to do the mud flat walk at low tide. I passed the drawings to the contractors, and they started constructing. Most of the ship was gutted and entirely retrofitted. When we removed the ship's bulkheads, which in ocean-going ships reduce damage in the case of flooding, we had to reinforce the structure and other cladding to protect the boat. The cabins were widened, and we added larger windows to let in views of the Bintan shores. The interiors were designed with a nod to its maritime history. After renovation, we finally opened our doors to guests in 2019. Doulos Phos The Ship Hotel has 105 cabins, an infinity swimming pool overlooking the sea, a gym, a spa center, and several eateries. It took nearly 10 years to restore MV Doulos and get it into operation, but I saw the project as a higher calling — and it was entirely worth it.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A&W Restaurants appoints Betsy Schmandt as president and CEO
US-based quick-service restaurant chain A&W Restaurants has appointed Betsy Schmandt as its new president and CEO. Schmandt will take over the role from Kevin Bazner, who will retain his position as the company's chairman. Schmandt previously spent 18 months as A&W Restaurants' president and chief operating officer, overseeing day-to-day operations. A&W Restaurants chairman and former CEO Kevin Bazner stated: 'Since joining A&W, Betsy has quickly made an impact here by providing strategic direction, operational insights and innovative ideas to propel our brand ahead. 'Her passion and dedication to the brand is what assures us she's the right person for the role. 'With more than 105 years of experience in business, A&W Restaurants continues to withstand the test of time, and I'm excited to watch the next chapter ahead with Betsy at the helm.' Before joining A&W, Schmandt served as franchising president for Mrs Fields and TCBY. Schmandt said: 'It is an honour to lead this iconic brand. A&W Restaurants has a rich history that has brought a smile to so many people throughout its 105-year history. I'm deeply inspired by our franchise partners and their commitment to A&W's legacy. 'I'm determined to elevate and enhance the A&W experience, while continuing to build on our value proposition and provide quality that floats above the rest.' In February 2024, A&W Restaurants strengthened its reach in the US by adding four new franchise locations. "A&W Restaurants appoints Betsy Schmandt as president and CEO" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A&W Restaurants appoints Betsy Schmandt as president and CEO
US-based quick-service restaurant chain A&W Restaurants has appointed Betsy Schmandt as its new president and CEO. Schmandt will take over the role from Kevin Bazner, who will retain his position as the company's chairman. Schmandt previously spent 18 months as A&W Restaurants' president and chief operating officer, overseeing day-to-day operations. A&W Restaurants chairman and former CEO Kevin Bazner stated: 'Since joining A&W, Betsy has quickly made an impact here by providing strategic direction, operational insights and innovative ideas to propel our brand ahead. 'Her passion and dedication to the brand is what assures us she's the right person for the role. 'With more than 105 years of experience in business, A&W Restaurants continues to withstand the test of time, and I'm excited to watch the next chapter ahead with Betsy at the helm.' Before joining A&W, Schmandt served as franchising president for Mrs Fields and TCBY. Schmandt said: 'It is an honour to lead this iconic brand. A&W Restaurants has a rich history that has brought a smile to so many people throughout its 105-year history. I'm deeply inspired by our franchise partners and their commitment to A&W's legacy. 'I'm determined to elevate and enhance the A&W experience, while continuing to build on our value proposition and provide quality that floats above the rest.' In February 2024, A&W Restaurants strengthened its reach in the US by adding four new franchise locations. "A&W Restaurants appoints Betsy Schmandt as president and CEO" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
