Famous for excellence
roast beef, The chain is adding a hamburger to its menu for the first time in its nearly 60-year history. Arby’s announced Monday that it is adding the “Wagyu Steakhouse Burger,” which costs $5.99, as a limited-time offer starting Monday through July 31.
Fast food chains are constantly competing for customer dollars and attention, and niche offerings are a way to attract new customers and retain existing customers. That’s significant for Arby’s, which has 3,400 US restaurants, according to industry research firm Technomic. This is a much smaller footprint compared to other chains, such as McDonald’s (nearly 14,000 locations).
As prices rise, fast food customers are getting more and more satisfied with where they go to eat, McDonald’s noted in a recent call with analysts. More than ever, quick service restaurants are fighting for loyalty.
A surprising but common element may do the trick at Arby’s. The new burger is a combination of
Wagyu beef The ground beef will be “the highest quality burger the market has seen to date,” the company said. The company has spent more than two years developing the burger.
The term Wagyu, which means “Japanese cow,” refers to certain breeds of cattle and is known for its rich flavor and buttery tenderness. Arby’s version weighs 6.4 ounces and is a blend of 52% American wagyu and 48% ground beef cooked “sous vide style” to create a tender, flavorful burger.
“Instead of focusing on making billions of mediocre burgers, we’re taking a stand on quality meat that deserves to be cooked right,” Patrick Schwing, Arby’s chief marketing officer, said in a statement.
The Wagyu Steakhouse Burger is served with American cheese, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, red onions and our “Special Burger Sauce” on a toasted brioche bun. Arby’s claims to be 50% larger than McDonald’s Quarter Pounder, which it switched from McDonald’s about four years ago.
Frozen beef to fresh beef.Arby’s is owned by
Inspire Brands, a private equity firmthe second largest restaurant company in the country and has 32,000 locations across its brands, including Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins and
buffalo wings wildAnd
Jimmy JonesAnd Dunkin’ and
My voice.
Private company
recently announced Arby’s sales in stores that have been open for at least a year grew more than 5% in the first quarter, closely mirroring its competitors such as
McDonald’s and Wendy’s. Inspire said it had “record performance results” last year, with global sales across all of its brands exceeding $30 billion. Figures from research firm Technomic said Arby’s generated nearly $4.5 billion in revenue last year, an increase of 6% year over year.
