Arby's

Arby's is an American quick-service restaurant chain focused on sandwiches, particularly roast beef sandwiches. It was founded in Boardman Township, Ohio, on July 23, 1964, by brothers Forrest and Leroy Raffel, who operated a restaurant-equipment business and believed there was room for a fast-food concept built around a product other than the hamburger. The name Arby's is commonly explained as a phonetic rendering of “R.B.,” referring to the Raffel brothers. The founders initially considered the name Big Tex, but that name was already in use by another business. The first restaurant opened with a deliberately more polished interior than many contemporary fast-food outlets. Its initial menu was narrow: roast beef sandwiches, potato chips, and soft drinks. The chain positioned its roast beef sandwich at a higher price than a standard hamburger, emphasizing portion, preparation, and a distinctive product identity rather than competing solely on low price. Early restaurants used a recognizable cowboy-hat-shaped neon sign, which helped make the brand visually distinctive. Arby's expanded rapidly during the 1970s, adding products that became central to its identity, including Beef 'n Cheddar sandwiches, Jamocha Shakes, chicken sandwiches, curly fries, Arby's Sauce, and Horsey Sauce. It subsequently broadened its menu with baked potatoes, Market Fresh sandwiches, deli-style offerings, gyros, wraps, salads, sliders, brisket, Reuben sandwiches, and other limited-time products. Although roast beef remains the brand's signature, its modern menu is broader and is marketed around variety within a meat-oriented sandwich concept. The company experienced significant financial and ownership changes. An attempted public offering in 1970 did not proceed, and Arby's entered reorganization proceedings in 1971 amid expansion-related debt, recessionary conditions, and a price position that was relatively high for the period. The Raffel family sold the company to RC Cola in 1976. Later ownership passed through Royal Crown and DWG Corporation, which subsequently became Triarc Companies. During the 1990s, management tested new formats, including a Boston Market-style Roast Town concept and a dual-brand venture with ZuZu's Handmade Mexican Grill; neither became a durable part of the business. Arby's later consolidated its restaurant system through acquisitions of franchise operators. It acquired Sybra's restaurants in 2002 and purchased RTM Restaurant Group in 2005. The brand became part of Wendy's/Arby's Group after Triarc acquired Wendy's in 2008, but the two restaurant businesses were separated in 2011. Roark Capital acquired a majority stake in Arby's Restaurant Group in 2011, while The Wendy's Company retained a minority interest. Under the new ownership, the brand pursued a turnaround involving underperforming-unit closures, revised marketing, and frequent product introductions. Wendy's ultimately sold its remaining Arby's interest to Inspire Brands in 2018. Arby's became the foundation of Inspire Brands after the parent company agreed to acquire Buffalo Wild Wings in 2017 and adopted the Inspire Brands name. Inspire now groups Arby's with other restaurant concepts, while Arby's continues to operate through a combination of company and franchised restaurants. Its international presence has included markets in North America, the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia, with country-specific franchise partners. The brand's current positioning centers on distinctive meat sandwiches, indulgent sides and beverages, accessible limited-time offers, and humorous or highly differentiated advertising.

Arby's began in 1964 when Forrest and Leroy Raffel opened a roast-beef-focused restaurant in Boardman Township, Ohio. The brothers came from the restaurant-equipment business and sought to create a franchise concept distinct from the hamburger chains dominating American fast food. The first location offered roast beef sandwiches, chips, and soft drinks, and used a more substantial interior and higher price point than many competing outlets. The cowboy-hat sign became an enduring visual marker of the chain. Expansion accelerated during the 1970s, when Arby's added Beef 'n Cheddar, Jamocha Shakes, chicken sandwiches, curly fries, and its two signature sauces. The company attempted to become publicly traded in 1970, but the offering was abandoned after market conditions deteriorated. Arby's entered bankruptcy reorganization in February 1971, with expansion debt, recessionary pressure, and its premium pricing contributing to the difficulties. In 1976, the Raffel family sold the company to RC Cola; Leroy Raffel remained chief executive until 1979. Ownership subsequently changed through Royal Crown and DWG Corporation. During the 1990s, Triarc Companies attempted to revitalize the brand with additional investment and new formats. A Roast Town restaurant concept modeled partly on Boston Market performed poorly in market testing and was discontinued. A dual-brand project with ZuZu's Handmade Mexican Grill also failed and generated litigation between the parties. Triarc later reorganized the business by selling company-owned restaurants to RTM Restaurant Group, an established Arby's franchisee. Arby's rebuilt its restaurant system through acquisitions. In 2002 it purchased Sybra's restaurants after that franchisee entered bankruptcy, and in 2005 it acquired RTM. Triarc's 2008 purchase of Wendy's created Wendy's/Arby's Group, but the combined company concluded that the two brands should be separated. The split was announced in January 2011. In June 2011, Roark Capital agreed to buy most of Arby's while Wendy's maintained a minority holding. The post-2011 turnaround emphasized closing weak units, changing advertising, and introducing products regularly. Arby's expanded its menu with Market Fresh sandwiches, toasted subs, brisket, gyros, sliders, meatball sandwiches, and other limited-time offerings. The brand also used unusual promotional tactics, including campaigns connected with its 2018 Coca-Cola transition. In 2017, Arby's parent agreed to acquire Buffalo Wild Wings for cash. Following that transaction, the parent was renamed Inspire Brands, making Arby's the platform's foundational restaurant concept. International franchising has been uneven. Arby's entered Canada in the early 1990s and has operated or announced development in several other countries. Earlier attempts in the United Kingdom closed, while later expansion included Kuwait, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. The brand also entered American military-base food service through an agreement with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service. Arby's remains an active, primarily franchised American restaurant brand within the privately held Inspire Brands portfolio.

1. 2018Coca-Cola systemwide transition completed

   Restaurants completed the transition to Coca-Cola beverages following the new supplier agreement announced in 2017.

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2. 2017Buffalo Wild Wings acquisition announced

   Arby's parent announced the acquisition of Buffalo Wild Wings, after which the parent adopted the Inspire Brands name.

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3. 2011Roark Capital became majority owner

   Roark acquired most of Arby's from Wendy's/Arby's Group, while Wendy's retained a minority interest.

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4. 2005RTM Restaurant Group acquired

   Arby's purchased RTM, consolidating a major portion of its franchise restaurant system.

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5. 2002Sybra restaurant acquisition

   Arby's acquired 293 restaurants from the bankrupt franchisee Sybra.

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6. 1976Raffel family sold Arby's to RC Cola

   RC Cola acquired the chain, with Leroy Raffel continuing as chief executive for several more years.

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7. 1971Reorganization proceedings

   Arby's filed for reorganization after expansion debt and difficult economic conditions placed pressure on the business.

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8. 1964First Arby's restaurant opened

   Forrest and Leroy Raffel opened the first Arby's restaurant in Boardman Township, Ohio, beginning with roast beef sandwiches, chips, and soft drinks.

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Mid-market quick-service restaurant brand differentiated by roast beef, meat-focused sandwiches, indulgent sides, and distinctive promotional marketing.

• Classic Roast BeefSandwich1964

  Arby's core sandwich consists of sliced roast beef served in a soft roll. It is the product most closely associated with the brand and has anchored its menu since the first restaurant opened.

• Beef 'n CheddarSandwich1970

  A signature variation on the roast-beef platform, pairing sliced beef with cheddar cheese sauce and a distinctive onion-style roll. It became one of Arby's best-known menu items during the chain's early expansion.

• Curly FriesSide1988

  Spiral-cut seasoned fries that function as one of Arby's most recognizable side dishes. The product was initially presented as Curly-Q Fries before becoming known as Curly Fries.

• Market Fresh sandwichesSandwich1996

  A deli-style range that broadened Arby's menu beyond roast beef. Variations have included turkey, ham, chicken, bacon, Swiss cheese, and salad-oriented combinations served with fresh-style toppings.

• Jamocha ShakeBeverage1970

  A coffee-and-chocolate flavored shake and a long-running part of Arby's beverage identity. It complements the chain's sandwich and fries menu with a sweet, dessert-like offering.

• SlidersSandwich2015

  Small-format sandwiches introduced nationally in 2015. The range enabled lower-priced trial and snacking occasions and was associated with increased traffic and recognition in restaurant-industry menu awards.

• GyrosSandwich2014

  A non-roast-beef sandwich line using gyro-style meat and toppings. Gyros appeared earlier as a limited offering and returned in 2014 before becoming a permanent menu fixture in 2016.

• Smokehouse BrisketSandwich2013

  A smoked-brisket sandwich introduced as part of Arby's effort to emphasize a broader range of meat-based products and reinforce its positioning beyond conventional roast beef.

• 2018Coca-Cola record-setting advertising promotion

  United States

  To publicize its switch to Coca-Cola beverages, Arby's promoted two Guinness World Records: a tiny advertisement printed on a sesame seed and a very large advertising poster installed in Monowi, Nebraska.

  Outcome. The promotion generated a distinctive publicity event around the beverage-supplier change.

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• 2015Sliders value and daypart promotion

  United States

  Arby's promoted its new small sandwiches as affordable, flexible items and later paired them with reduced-price drinks and sides during the afternoon period to encourage visits outside normal lunch and dinner hours.

  Outcome. The launch was associated with increased sales at many locations and received a 2016 MenuMasters award from Nation's Restaurant News.

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• 2022Saudi Arabia development agreementStrategy

  Arby's sought to expand its Middle Eastern franchise network.

  What changed. The brand announced an exclusive development agreement with Shahia Foods Limited Company, targeting an initial launch in Riyadh.

  Aftermath. The agreement represented Arby's first announced entry into Saudi Arabia and a major Middle Eastern expansion initiative.

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• 2017Acquisition of Buffalo Wild WingsM&A

  Arby's sought to build a broader multi-brand restaurant platform under Roark ownership.

  What changed. The parent announced a cash purchase of Buffalo Wild Wings and subsequently adopted the Inspire Brands name.

  Aftermath. Arby's became the flagship property of Inspire Brands, alongside additional restaurant concepts.

  Acquisition value. $2.4 billion (2017 announcement)

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• 2017Change of soft-drink supplierStrategy

  Arby's had used Pepsi as its exclusive soft-drink provider for almost eleven years.

  What changed. The company selected Coca-Cola as its systemwide beverage supplier, with the transition beginning in 2018.

  Aftermath. By June 2018, Arby's locations were serving Coca-Cola beverages.

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• 2011Sale of majority interest to Roark CapitalM&A

  Wendy's/Arby's Group was separating its two restaurant businesses and Arby's was facing operating and franchise-system pressures.

  What changed. Roark Capital acquired the majority of Arby's while Wendy's retained a minority interest.

  Aftermath. The new ownership pursued a turnaround based on unit rationalization, revised marketing, and frequent product innovation.

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• 2017Corporate point-of-sale malware incidentControversy

  Arby's investigated malware placed on payment systems at corporate-owned restaurants. The reported activity affected systems from October 25, 2016, through January 19, 2017, and banks and credit unions filed suits concerning the incident.

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• 2022Arby's announced expansion into Saudi Arabia

  Arby's announced an exclusive development agreement with Shahia Foods Limited Company for entry into Saudi Arabia, with initial restaurants planned for Riyadh.

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• 2017Arby's parent agreed to acquire Buffalo Wild Wings

  Arby's Restaurant Group announced a cash acquisition of Buffalo Wild Wings, a transaction that led to the creation and adoption of the Inspire Brands identity.

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• 2017Arby's investigated malware affecting corporate restaurant payment systems

  The company disclosed an investigation into malware that affected point-of-sale systems at corporate-owned restaurants between October 2016 and January 2017. Franchise-operated locations were not part of the reported corporate-system incident.

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• 2017Arby's switched its exclusive soft-drink supplier from Pepsi to Coca-Cola

  Arby's announced a new Coca-Cola agreement, ending an almost eleven-year relationship with Pepsi; the systemwide transition was completed in 2018.

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• 2011Roark Capital acquired a majority interest in Arby's

  Roark Capital agreed to acquire the majority of Arby's Restaurant Group while Wendy's retained a minority stake.

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1. Arby's
2. Arby's official website