Third Pounder
The burger that should have beaten the Quarter Pounder and lost to a maths problem. A third of a pound of beef, bigger than McDonald’s famous burger and priced lower, which taste tests said people preferred. It still failed. The story behind it is now a staple of marketing classes.
The story
A&W launched its 1/3-pound burger in the 1980s to take on the Quarter Pounder. Customers liked it in taste tests, but sales were poor, and research found the reason: many people assumed that because three is smaller than four, a third of a pound was less beef than a quarter. In 2021 A&W brought it back for a laugh as the “3/9 Pound” burger.
What’s inside
Make it at home
There is no copycat of the Third Pounder yet. Until there is, these recipes on the site come closest to it, judged by what goes into the bun.
- Shares beef, cheese and a double stack
Whopper (Copycat) - Shares beef, cheese and a double stack
The Mr. Smiley Burger - Shares beef, cheese and a double stack
McDonald's Daily Double (Copycat) - Shares beef, cheese and a double stack
Big Beef Blopper
Similar burgers at other chains
Built around the same things as the Third Pounder.- Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers · beef, cheese and a double stack
California Style Steakburger - Johnny Rockets · beef, cheese and a double stack
Rocket Double - Wahlburgers · beef, cheese and a double stack
Our Burger Smash - In-N-Out Burger · beef, cheese and a double stack
SignatureDouble-Double
More from A&W Restaurants
About A&W Restaurants
A&W began in 1919, when Roy Allen opened a root beer stand in Lodi, California, for a parade welcoming soldiers home from the First World War. Frank Wright joined him a few years later, and they combined their initials into the name. It became one of America’s first franchise restaurant chains and the model for the drive-in, where food and frosty mugs of root beer came out to your car.
Several hundred restaurants, owned entirely by the franchisees who run them.
Not affiliated with A&W Restaurants. Trademarks belong to their owners.