VANCOUVER, Feb. 26, 2013 /CNW/ - A&W Food Services of Canada Inc. has received recognition as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies for the tenth year in a row. By requalifying as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies in the highly regarded awards program sponsored by Deloitte, CIBC, 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 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 and sustain our status as a Best Managed company for a decade is a particular honour. It recognizes the success that we have been able to create through our commitment to strategy, our powerful organizational Climate and our dedication to delighting our customers."

"We believe that there are three vital building blocks to sustainable growth: strategy, capability, and commitment; A&W Food Services of Canada Inc. has demonstrated it is a model of success in all three areas and is duly recognized as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies" explained John Hughes, Partner, Growth Enterprise Leader, Toronto with Deloitte, a national sponsor of the Best Managed program.

"Companies that have earned Platinum Club status in Canada's Best Managed Companies program have shown a strong sense of vision and demonstrated a continued commitment to their corporate values," said Jon Hountalas, Executive Vice-President, Business Banking, CIBC. "Platinum Club winners are examples of excellence in Canadian business."

About Canada's Best Managed Companies
Canada's 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 four 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) Gold Standard winner (After three consecutive years of maintaining their Best Managed status, these winners have demonstrated their commitment to the program and successfully reapplied for the designation. Companies may requalify for two additional years, subject to annual operational and financial review; 4) Platinum Club member (winners that maintain Best Managed status for a minimum of six consecutive years). Program sponsors are Deloitte, CIBC, National Post, and Queen's School of Business. For further information, visit www.bestmanagedcompanies.ca. Visit the online community for private companies the Best Managed channel on FP Executive: www.financialpost.com/bestmanaged

A&W Food Services of Canada Inc. is 100 per cent Canadian owned and is one of the strongest brand names in the Canadian foodservice industry. A&W is the nation's second largest hamburger restaurant company with 770 locations coast-to-coast. A&W Restaurants feature famous trade-marked menu items such as The Burger Family®, Chubby Chicken®, and A&W Root Beer®. For more information, please visit www.aw.ca.

SOURCE: A&W Food Services of Canada Inc.