TRADING SYMBOL: The Toronto Stock Exchange - AW.UN

    VANCOUVER, Feb. 2 /CNW/ -A&W Food Services of Canada Inc. has achieved
the prestigious Platinum status with Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies
program, having been honoured with the Best Managed designation for six
consecutive years. By re-qualifying as one of Canada's 50 Best Managed
Companies in the highly regarded awards program sponsored by Deloitte, CIBC
Commercial Banking, National Post, and Queen's School of Business, A&W shares
Platinum Club member status with an elite group of outstanding Canadian
companies.
    A&W's President and Chief Executive Officer, Paul Hollands, said, "We are
very pleased to be recognized once again as one of Canada's 50 Best Managed
companies. The commitment of our franchisees, their team members, and our
corporate staff is at the core of A&W's success. To be recognized at the
Platinum level is a particular honour. It recognizes the success that we have
been able to create through our commitment to strategy, to building a powerful
organizational Climate and through our commitment to delighting our
customers."
    "To be accredited for six years as one of Canada's 50 Best Managed
Companies is a remarkable achievement." said Calvin Younger, Senior
Vice-President, CIBC Commercial Banking. "This award is a tribute to these
companies' strong leadership, talented workforce and unsurpassed corporate
values. They are models of success for companies striving to reach the highest
standards."

    About Canada's Best Managed Companies

    Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies continues to be the mark of excellence
for Canadian-owned and managed companies with revenues over $10 million. Every
year since the launch of the program in 1993, hundreds of entrepreneurial
companies have competed for this designation in a rigorous and independent
process that evaluates their management skills and practices. The awards are
granted on three levels: 1) Best Managed winner (one of the 50 new winners
selected each year); 2) Requalified member (repeat winners retain the Best
Managed designation for two additional years, subject to annual operational
and financial review); 3) Platinum Club member (winners that maintain Best
Managed status for a minimum of six consecutive years). Program sponsors are
Deloitte, CIBC Commercial Banking, National Post, and Queen's School of
Business. For further information, visit www.canadas50best.com.

    A&W is 100% Canadian-owned and is one of the strongest brand names in the
Canadian foodservice industry. Operating coast-to-coast with 695 locations,
A&W restaurants feature famous trade-marked menu items such as The Burger
Family®, Chubby Chicken®, and A&W Root Beer®.