Ever wonder which restaurant chain came up with the idea of adding sizzling bacon to a juicy cheeseburger? The result of marrying the two great flavors produced one of the most popular burgers ever, and according to Dale Mulder, it was A&W� restaurants, Inc., that took the idea chainwide.

"In 1963, A&W� restaurants introduced The Burger Family�, which included a Mama Burger�, Papa Burger�, Teen Burger� and Baby Burger�," said Mulder, an A&W� franchisee since 1961. "The Teen Burger included cheese, two slices of bacon, lettuce, tomato and salad dressing. We were the first chain to offer a bacon cheeseburger throughout our system." Now, more than 40 years after its introduction, the Original Deluxe Bacon Cheeseburger remains one of the most popular items on the menu at A&W� restaurants.

"Adding bacon to a juicy cheeseburger was an A&W� restaurants idea to start with, so of course we know how to do it right," said Mulder, who operates four A&W� restaurants in the Lansing, Mich., area. "It remains a top seller at our restaurants." Mulder recalls an A&W� national television campaign from the early 70s that focused on the chain's bacon cheeseburger. In the commercial, a customer whispers to a friend, "What's the secret?" The friend replies, "The secret is bacon." Today, the secret to A&W�'s popular Original Deluxe Bacon Cheeseburger remains the sizzling bacon on a 100 percent American beef burger, along with melting American cheese, and lettuce, pickles, tomato, onion and salad dressing. To enjoy the taste that has been perfected after 40-plus years, customers can visit www.awrestaurants.com to print out a coupon for an Original Deluxe Bacon Cheeseburger for only $1.89. The site also has a store locator to identify the closest A&W Restaurant.

A&W� restaurants, Inc., the longest running quick service franchise chain in America, is celebrating its 85th anniversary in 2004. A&W� restaurants, Inc., is based in Louisville, Ky. Since 1919, A&W� All-American Food� has been serving a signature frosty mug root beer float and All-American pure-beef hamburgers and hot dogs. There are nearly 800 A&W� All-American Food� outlets in 15 countries and territories around the world. A&W� restaurants, Inc. is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., Louisville, Ky.