Baseball Buds Combo, which includes Buddy Burger, fries and Budweiser Zero, is valued at $9.99 plus tax. Credit: A&W Food Services of Canada Inc./CNW Group.

Fast-food restaurant chain A&W Canada has entered a collaboration with Labatt Breweries of Canada to pilot the offering of a non-alcoholic beer.

The initiative makes A&W the first quick-service restaurant in Canada to serve non-alcoholic beer options, tapping into the growing market of consumers seeking alcohol-free alternatives. 

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The pilot will be conducted across select A&W locations in Ontario for a limited time. Budweiser Zero, a non-alcoholic beer with only 50 calories per 355ml can, will be added to the beverage menu.

The move will also cater to the increasing number of “sober-curious” customers and align with the rising popularity of non-alcoholic beverages. 

The pilot programme, which also coincides with the baseball season, leverages the partnership of both companies with the Toronto Blue Jays.  

A&W will offer a special Baseball Buds Combo, which includes a Buddy Burger, fries and Budweiser Zero, priced at $9.99 plus tax. Customers can add a can of Budweiser Zero to any combo for an extra $2. 

Labatt marketing vice-president Andrew Oosterhuis said: “Beer and burgers are a summer favourite, so collaborating with one of Canada’s beloved burger chains to bring the Budweiser brand – via our non-alcoholic product – to Ontarians in an accessible way is an exciting partnership. 

“Budweiser Zero’s availability in A&W locations throughout Ontario provides greater beverage choice for consumers in quick-service restaurants while further strengthening the non-alcoholic category as it continues to grow.” 

A&W is renowned for classics such as the Teen Burger, hand-battered onion rings and root beer, and operates 1,000 restaurants nationwide. 

A&W marketing director Amanda Wang added: “Introducing Budweiser Zero is an expansion of meeting our guests’ needs with varied options for refreshing beverages that perfectly complement our best-tasting burgers.” 

In July 2023, A&W introduced three new frozen lemonade offerings in Canada: Sweet Cream Frozen Lemonade, Classic Frozen Lemonade and the Strawberry Frozen Lemonade.