Editing Arby's (section)

==History==
[[File:Arby's-Midland-MI.jpg|thumb|An Arby's restaurant with a vintage sign in [[Midland, Michigan]] (2006)|alt=A picture of an Arby's restaurant]]

Arby's was founded in [[Boardman Township, Ohio]], on July 23, 1964, by brothers Forrest (1922–2008)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ncnewsonline.com/archives/forrest-fuzzy-raffel/article_19218f9d-c3c6-5988-a900-002c24849a5c.html |title=Forrest 'Fuzzy' Raffel (obituary) |newspaper=[[New Castle News]] |date=September 24, 2008 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> and Leroy Raffel (1927–2023),<ref>{{cite web |title=Leroy Browm Raffel |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/leroy-raffel-obituary?id=51454986 |website=Legacy |access-date=24 March 2023}}</ref> owners of a restaurant equipment business who thought there was a market opportunity for a fast food [[Chain store|franchise]] based on a dish other than [[hamburgers]]. They wanted to call their restaurants "Big Tex", but that name was already used by an [[Akron, Ohio|Akron]] business. Instead, they chose the name ''Arby's'', a phonetic pronunciation of the letters R and B, short for "Raffel brothers".<ref>{{cite web |title=The History of Arby's |url=http://www.arbysrestaurant.com/inpage/about-history.cfm |publisher=Arby's |access-date=June 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514181836/http://www.arbysrestaurant.com/inpage/about-history.cfm |archive-date=May 14, 2008}}</ref><ref name="Metro Monthly">{{cite news |first=Mark C. |last=Peyko |title=Arby's founder discusses legacy of fast-food chain that began in Youngstown |magazine=Metro Monthly |date=October 9, 2014 |url=https://metromonthly.wordpress.com/2014/10/09/arbys-founder-discusses-legacy-of-fast-food-chain-that-began-in-youngstown/ |access-date=March 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Fast Food: Roadside Restaurants in the Automobile Age |first1=John A. |last1=Jakle |first2=Keith A. |last2=Sculle |name-list-style=amp |publisher=JHU Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0nYcgnWKWXgC&q=arby%27s |date=2002 |page=174 |isbn=9780801869204 |access-date=March 9, 2016 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>

The Raffel brothers opened the first new restaurant in [[Boardman, Ohio]], on July 23, 1964. They initially served only [[roast beef]] sandwiches, potato chips, and soft drinks. Hoping to attract a more upscale clientele, Arby's interior design was purposely more luxurious in appearance than the typical fast food sandwich stand of the day. Arby's offered their roast beef sandwiches for 69&nbsp;cents at a time when hamburger stands were charging 15&nbsp;cents for a hamburger.<ref name="Encyclopedia">{{cite book |title=Fast Food and Junk Food: An Encyclopedia of What We Love to Eat |first=Andrew F. |last=Smith |publisher=ABC-CLIO |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7-WcKK01H1cC&q=arby%27s&pg=PA16 |date=2011 |pages=16–17 |isbn=9780313393938 |access-date=March 9, 2016 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> A year later, the first Arby's [[licensee]] opened a restaurant in Akron, Ohio. Early Arby's locations featured neon signage designed to resemble a [[cowboy hat]], often bearing the text "Arby's roast beef sandwich is delicious". This sign was designed by the Peskin Sign Co.<ref>{{cite news |first=Margie |last=Trax Page |title=Hats Off to Arby's |url=http://www.starbeacon.com/archives/hats-off-to-arby-s/article_2bcc88cf-5f2e-5b5a-b01a-785f39b6c144.html |newspaper=[[Star Beacon]] |date=November 23, 2009 |access-date=December 29, 2016}}</ref>
[[File:Arbysbeefandfries.JPG|thumb|224x224px|Arby's medium roast beef with fries]]
During the 1970s, the expansion of Arby's took place at a rate of 50 stores per year. During this time it created several menu items, including the Beef 'n Cheddar, [[Jamocha]] Shakes, chicken sandwiches, [[curly fries]], and two signature sauces: Arby's Sauce and Horsey Sauce.<ref name="Decades">{{cite book |title=American Food by the Decades |first=Sherri |last=Machlin |publisher=ABC-CLIO |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=273eCQAAQBAJ&q=%22Wich+Stand%22&pg=PA215 |date=2011 |pages=153–154 |isbn=9780313376993 |access-date=March 9, 2016 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> Baked potatoes were added to the menu in 1985.<ref name="sc-1985feb19">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1345&dat=19850219&id=U7USAAAAIBAJ&pg=2346,479451&hl=en |title=Baked Potatoes Rolled Out in Fast-food War |newspaper=[[Spokane Chronicle]] |date=February 19, 1985 |page=F1 |first=Edwart |last=Rouse |via=[[Google News]]}}</ref> Curly fries were initially introduced as Curly-Q Fries in 1988.<ref name="lat-1988nov20">{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-11-20-fi-357-story.html |title=Potato Redux : As the Dining Public's Interest in French Fries Ebbs, Industry Seeks New Ways to Prepare the Lowly Spud |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=November 20, 1988 |first=Jesus |last=Sanchez}}</ref> It became the first restaurant in the fast food industry to offer a complete "lite" menu in 1991 with several sandwiches and salads under 300 calories and 94 percent fat-free.<ref name="Encyclopedia"/><ref name="ct-1991may01">{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/05/01/arbys-adds-lite-offerings-to-menu/ |title=Arby's Adds Lite Offerings To Menu |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=May 1, 1991 |first=George |last=Lazarus}}</ref>

The family-owned business tried converting into a public company in 1970 by offering the sale of stock,<ref name="wsj-1969dec26">{{cite news |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/133353070 |title=Arby's Combination Offering |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=December 26, 1969 |page=7 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |id={{ProQuest|133353070}} |url-access=subscription }} [https://www.proquest.com/docview/133353070/ Alternate Link] via [[ProQuest]].</ref> but the [[IPO]] never went through when the stock market subsequently fell. Arby's filed for reorganization with the [[United States bankruptcy court]] in February 1971, owing to a large number of debts accrued in expansion, as well as a nation-wide recession and relatively high price point compared to other fast-food chains of the time.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/162300845/ | title=Arby's gets stay to beef up firm | work=The News Journal | date=February 25, 1971 | accessdate=February 10, 2025 | pages=25}}</ref><ref name="tw-1989oct22">{{cite news |url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/archives/million-business-franchise-is-made-from-scratch/article_0498312f-1ce9-5060-ae57-fad22d321121.html |title=$40 Million Business // Franchise Is Made From Scratch |newspaper=[[Tulsa World]] |date=October 22, 1989 |first=Jane |last=Erwin}}</ref> In 1976, the family sold the company to [[Royal Crown Cola|Royal Crown Cola Company]] for $18&nbsp;million<ref name="ppg-1976jul27">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19760727&id=jQMOAAAAIBAJ&pg=3282,2676869&hl=en |title=Royal Crown To Buy Arby's |newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] |date=July 27, 1976 |page=23 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |via=[[Google News]]}}</ref> and Leroy Raffel remained as CEO until his retirement three years later.<ref name="tw-1989oct22" />

In 1984, [[Victor Posner]] obtained Arby's via a [[hostile takeover]] of its then parent Royal Crown<ref name="nyt-1984jan26">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/01/26/business/posner-bid-gains-for-crown-cos.html |title=Posner Bid Gains for Crown Cos. |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 26, 1984 |first=Robert J. |last=Cole}}</ref> through his DWG Corporation.<ref name="FU">{{cite web |url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Triarc-Companies-Inc-Company-History.html |title=Triarc Companies, Inc. Company History |access-date=June 17, 2008 |work=Funding Universe |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> Nine years later, with a new owner of DWG Corporation and a new name, Triarc Companies, Inc.,<ref name="prn-1993oct27">{{cite press release |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/TRIARC+COMPANIES+IS+NEW+NAME+FOR+DWG+CORPORATION-a014257275 |title=Triarc Companies Is New Name for DWG Corporation |work=[[PR Newswire]] |date=October 27, 1993 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |via=[[The Free Library]] |access-date=July 14, 2016 |archive-date=August 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818124144/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/TRIARC+COMPANIES+IS+NEW+NAME+FOR+DWG+CORPORATION-a014257275 |url-status=dead }}</ref> a former [[PepsiCo]] executive, Don Pierce, was brought in to "resurrect" Arby's.<ref name="sfss-1994jun05">{{cite news |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1994-06-05/business/9406030622_1_triarc-cos-nelson-peltz-dwg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825221129/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1994-06-05/business/9406030622_1_triarc-cos-nelson-peltz-dwg |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 25, 2016 |title=Triarc To Highlight Turnaround at Meeting |newspaper=[[Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel]] |date=June 5, 1994 |first=Tracy |last=Kolody}}</ref> With $100&nbsp;million additional funding, Pierce moved to a new "Roast Town" concept, similar in format to [[Boston Market]], in 1996.<ref name="nndp-1996jun24">{{cite news |url=https://www.dailypress.com/1996/06/24/arbys-chain-plans-major-changes-but-not-locally/ |title=Arby's Chain Plans Major Changes, But Not Locally |newspaper=[[Newport News Daily Press]] |date=June 24, 1996 |first=Patricia |last=Lineberry |access-date=July 14, 2016 |archive-date=July 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716223917/http://articles.dailypress.com/1996-06-24/business/9606240060_1_triarc-restaurant-group-arby-s-roast-beef-restaurants-tidewater-management-group |url-status=live }}</ref> The Roast Town concept received poor marks in market tests and was quickly discontinued. Pierce and his team left the company and it sold all of its 354 company-owned locations to RTM Restaurant Group, an existing Arby's franchise, for $71&nbsp;million.<ref name="os-1997feb14">{{cite news |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1997/02/14/arbys-sells-355-restaurants/ |title=Arby's Sells 355 Restaurants |newspaper=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |date=February 14, 1997 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> Another marketing concept that was tried was a dual-brand venture that was started in 1995 with ZuZu's Handmade Mexican Grill.<ref name="sfss-1995jul12">{{cite news |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1995-07-12/business/9507110480_1_arby-roast-beef-sandwich-long-john-silver |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150516144846/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1995-07-12/business/9507110480_1_arby-roast-beef-sandwich-long-john-silver |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 16, 2015 |title=Arby's, Mexican Fast-food Chain Plan Partnership |newspaper=[[Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel]] |date=July 12, 1995 |first=Tracy |last=Kolody}}</ref> The marketing venture was a failure resulting in lawsuits being filed by each company against the other.<ref name="wsj-1997aug12">{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB871336322208664000 |title=Mexican-Food Venture Gives Arby's Some Serious Indigestion |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=August 12, 1997 |first=Jeffrey A. |last=Tannenbaum}}</ref>

In 1992, Les Franchises P.R.A.G. Inc. opened the first Arby's franchise in the Canadian province of Quebec.<ref name="bw-1992oct27">{{cite press release |title=Arby's Opens First in Quebec |work=[[Business Wire]] |date=October 27, 1992 |page=1 |last=Duffy |first=Caroline}} [https://www.proquest.com/docview/447045724/ Link] via [[ProQuest]].</ref> It was also the 100th location to open in Canada and joins other locations that were then operating in the provinces of Ontario, Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan. The Quebec location also sold the uniquely [[French-Canadian dish]] called [[poutine]].

In 2002, Arby's returned to operating restaurants by purchasing the second largest Arby's franchisee, Sybra Inc., with 293 locations out of bankruptcy outbidding RTM so as to prevent RTM from becoming too large.<ref name="qm-2002nov26">{{cite news |url=https://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/triarc-acquire-sybra-inc |title=Triarc to Acquire Sybra, Inc. |website=QSR Magazine |date=November 26, 2002 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> RTM was purchased by Arby's on July 25, 2005.<ref>{{cite web |title=RTM Restaurant Group: Private Company Information |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=1065483 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015002051/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=1065483 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 15, 2012 |work=[[Bloomberg BusinessWeek]] |access-date=August 1, 2011 |date=<!--undated--> |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref><ref name="bw-2005jul25">{{cite press release |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20050725005971/en/Triarc-Completes-Acquisition-RTM-Restaurant-Group-Arbys |title=Triarc Completes Acquisition of RTM Restaurant Group, Arby's Largest Franchisee; Arby's Restaurant Group, Inc. Enters into $720 Million Credit Facility |work=[[Business Wire]] |date=July 25, 2005 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref>

In November 2002, Access Now filed a lawsuit against RTM, then a franchise of Triarc, that some 800 of their stores did not comply with the [[Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990]] (ADA).  The lawsuit had no liability damages except for lawyer fees.  In August 2006, the court accepted the settlement between RTM and Access Now.  The result was that every year, 100 of the RTM stores would be retrofitted to comply with the ADA.  Accordingly, it was estimated that about $1.2&nbsp;million would be spent to retrofit those stores each year.<ref name="2007 Report">{{cite report |url=http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/67/67548/interactive07/try_2007_ar.pdf|title=2007 Annual Report |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |publisher=[[Triarc]] |date=February 29, 2008 |website=corporate-ir.net}}</ref>

In 2008, Triarc purchased [[Wendy's]], and changed its name to Wendy's/Arby's Group, to reflect their core businesses.<ref>{{cite news |title=Triarc, Owner of Arby's, to Buy Wendy's |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/24/business/apwendy-web.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 24, 2008 |access-date=August 17, 2011 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref><ref name="September 15 Press Release Triarc">{{cite press release |url=http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=67548&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1197181 |title=Triarc and Wendy's Shareholders Approve Merger |date=September 15, 2008 |website=corporate-ir.net |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> In January 2011, it was announced that Wendy's/Arby's Group were looking into selling the Arby's side of the business to focus on the Wendy's brand.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.aol.com/article/2011/01/20/wendys-arbys-group-considers-sale/19808245/ |title=Wendy's/Arby's Group Considers Spinning Off Arby's |website=[[AOL News]] |access-date=January 20, 2011 |first=Melly |last=Alazraki |date=January 20, 2011 |archive-date=May 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170530125441/https://www.aol.com/article/2011/01/20/wendys-arbys-group-considers-sale/19808245/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was officially announced the companies would split on January 21, 2011.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/tech-ticker/american-fast-food-from-supersize-to-downsized-535838.html |title=American Fast Food: From Supersize to Downsized |website=[[Yahoo! Finance]] |access-date=January 21, 2011 |date=January 21, 2011 |first=Daniel |last=Gross |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110124221935/https://finance.yahoo.com/tech-ticker/american-fast-food-from-supersize-to-downsized-535838.html |archive-date=2011-01-24 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2009, the Wendy's/Arby's Group signed a franchise deal with the Al Jammaz Group of Saudi Arabia to open dual-branded Wendy's/Arby's through the Middle East<ref name="abj-2009jun16">{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2009/06/15/daily27.html |title=Wendy's/Arby's expands in Middle East |work=[[Atlanta Business Journal]] |date=June 16, 2009 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> with the first location opening in [[Dubai]] in the [[United Arab Emirates]] in May 2010.<ref name="abj-2010may11">{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2010/05/10/daily14.html |title=Wendy's/Arby's opens in Dubai |work=[[Atlanta Business Journal]] |date=May 11, 2010 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> The Wendy's/Arby's Group also signed a similar franchise deal in June 2010 with Tab Gida Sanayi ve Ticaret to open dual-branded restaurants in Turkey.<ref name="abj-2010jun03">{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2010/05/31/daily28.html |title=100 more Arby's coming to Turkey |work=[[Atlanta Business Journal]] |date=June 3, 2010 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> After the split, the former Wendy's/Arby's Group became The Wendy's Company.
[[File:World's Largest Arby's - Colonial Heights, VA.jpg|thumb|Arby's restaurant in [[Colonial Heights, Virginia]]. This is the largest Arby's restaurant in the chain.<ref>{{cite web|title=These Fast Food Locations Are So Big, You Could Get Lost In Them |url=https://spoonuniversity.com/lifestyle/the-largest-fast-food-locations-around-the-world|website=Spoon University|date=August 12, 2016}}</ref>]]
In 2010, Arby's opened a restaurant at [[Ft. Bliss]], their first location at an American military base under a deal that the Wendy's/Arby's Group had signed with the [[Army and Air Force Exchange Service]] to open restaurants at bases both in the United States and overseas.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://ir.wendys.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=67548&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1492741 |title=Arby's(R) Restaurant Group Opens First Military Location at Ft. Bliss |publisher=Wendy's/Arby's Group |date=November 5, 2010 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> Only American military personnel and some of their guests can patronize the Arby's locations situated on the military bases and operated by the Post Exchange.

There were two different attempts to operate franchises in the United Kingdom. GSR Restaurant Group opened their first Arby's franchise location in London in 1992 followed by a second location the following year in Glasgow.<ref name="tc-1994nov24">{{cite news |url=https://www.thecaterer.com/articles/31290/arbys-undaunted-by-london-closure |title=Arby's undaunted by London closure |magazine=[[The Caterer]] |date=November 24, 1994 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> These were also the first locations to open in Europe, but both were forced to close by 1994. In 2001, Barown Restaurants opened two Arby's franchise locations in Southampton, Hampshire, and Sutton, London, but both were forced to close after operating for a few months.<ref name="tc-2001aug06">{{cite news |url=https://www.thecaterer.com/articles/37722/arbys-backers-go-bust-after-second-launch |title=Arby's backers go bust after second launch |magazine=[[The Caterer]] |date=August 6, 2001 |first=Ben |last=Walker}}</ref>

On June 13, 2011, Wendy's/Arby's Group Inc. announced that it would sell the majority of its Arby's chain to [[Roark Capital Group]] while maintaining an 18.5% stake in the company.<ref name="Encyclopedia"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Jargon |first1=Julie |last2=Gasparro |first2=Annie |title=Wendy's Parts With Arby's Roast-Beef Chain |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303848104576383211960795164 |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=June 13, 2011 |page=B8 |name-list-style=amp}}</ref> At the time of the sale, Arby's was experiencing an operating loss for the year of $35&nbsp;million with 350 Arby's franchisees more than 60 days late in royalty payments and 74 low performing franchised units and 96 company-owned units forced to close.<ref name="tm-2011jun14">{{cite news |url=https://business.time.com/2011/06/14/why-wendys-cant-stomach-any-more-arbys/ |title=Why Wendy's Can't Stomach Any More Arby's |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=June 14, 2011 |first=Bill |last=Saporito}}</ref> Despite its cash flow problem, Arby's also reported that it had six months of sales growth at established stores in the United States which it had attributed to its new turnaround plan that it had recently launched.<ref name="ajc-2011jun13">{{cite news |url=http://www.ajc.com/news/business/wendysarbys-group-to-sell-arbys-to-atlanta-based-r/nQwMG/ |title=Wendy's/Arby's Group to sell Arby's to Atlanta-based Roark Capital Group |newspaper=[[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]] |date=June 13, 2011 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> The new owners turned the company around by closing more underperforming locations, changing the company's marketing strategy, and by introducing new products on a regular basis. After four years, Arby's was able to issue $300&nbsp;million in dividends, which resulted in Wendy's receiving $54.9&nbsp;million for its minority stake with the remainder paid to Roark.<ref name="nrn-2015nov16">{{cite news |url=http://nrn.com/blog/arbys-sale-keeps-paying-wendys |title=Arby's sale keeps paying off for Wendy's |magazine=[[Nation's Restaurant News]] |date=November 16, 2015 |first=Jonathan |last=Maze}}</ref>

In February 2017, Arby's reported that they were investigating a [[malware]] attack on their payment card system that had targeted thousands of customers' credit and debit cards.<ref name="slbj-2017feb14">{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2017/02/14/arby-s-is-latest-to-be-hacked-with-over-355-000.html |title=Arby's is latest to be hacked with over 355,000 credit cards targeted |work=[[St. Louis Business Journal]] |date=February 14, 2017 |first=Steph |last=Kukuljan}}</ref>  The malware was placed on [[point-of-sale]] systems inside Arby's corporate-owned restaurants, not its locations owned by franchisees, and was active between October 25, 2016, and January 19, 2017.<ref name="krebsonsecurity-2017feb09">{{cite news |url=https://krebsonsecurity.com/2017/02/fast-food-chain-arbys-acknowledges-breach/ |title=Fast Food Chain Arby's Acknowledges Breach |website=[[KrebsOnSecurity]] |date=February 9, 2017 |first=Brian |last=Krebs}}</ref> Eight credit unions and banks from Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Montana have filed suit since early February against Arby's concerning the [[data breach]].<ref name="abj-2017mar28">{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2017/03/28/report-seven-lawsuits-filed-over-arbys-data-breach.html |title=Report: Seven lawsuits filed over Arby's data breach |work=[[Atlanta Business Journal]] |date=March 28, 2017 |first=Mark |last=Meltzer}}</ref><ref name="eater-2017mar29">{{cite news |url=https://www.eater.com/2017/2/10/14575978/arbys-data-breach-hacked |title=Arby's Sued Following Massive Credit Card Breach: Eight lawsuits have been filed thus far |website=Eater |date=March 29, 2017 |first=Whitney |last=Filloon}}</ref>

In September 2017, Arby's returned to Kuwait for the first time in two decades by the opening of an Arby's franchise in [[Jabriya]] by Kharafi Global.<ref name="bw-2017sep27">{{cite press release |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170927005949/en/Arby%E2%80%99s-Opens-New-Restaurant-Kuwait |title=Arby's Opens New Restaurant in Kuwait |work=[[Business Wire]] |date=September 27, 2017 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref><ref name="abj-2017sep28">{{cite news |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2017/09/28/arbys-opens-first-restaurant-in-kuwait.html |title=Arby's has opened its first restaurant in Kuwait. |work=[[Atlanta Business Journal]] |date=September 28, 2017 |first=Mark |last=Meltzer}}</ref>

In November 2017, Arby's announced it had negotiated a purchase for the restaurant chain [[Buffalo Wild Wings]] for $2.4 billion in cash.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bomey|first1=Nathan|title=Arby's to acquire Buffalo Wild Wings for $2.4B in restaurant shakeup|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/11/28/arbys-buffalo-wild-wings/900520001/|access-date=November 28, 2017|work=USA Today|date=November 28, 2017|language=en}}</ref> As part of this acquisition, the parent was renamed from Arby's Restaurant Group, Inc. to Inspire Brands.

In October 2018, Arby's expanded into the North African country of Egypt by opening three restaurants in the capital city of [[Cairo]] with the help of local franchise partner Vantage Egypt Tourism and Entertainment.<ref name="egypt-oct2018" />

In January 2022, Arby's announced launching in Saudi Arabia in an exclusive development agreement with Shahia Foods Limited Company, with the first restaurants expected to open in the capital city of [[Riyadh]] in late 2022. This agreement marks the brand's first-ever entry into Saudi Arabia and largest expansion into the Middle East to-date.<ref>{{Cite web |last=S |first=Amirtha P. |title=American fast-food major Arby's to serve Saudi market by late 2022 - GCC Business News |url=https://www.gccbusinessnews.com/american-fast-food-major-arbys-to-serve-saudi-market-by-late-2022/ |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=www.gccbusinessnews.com |date=January 28, 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref>