Dive Brief:
- Arby’s is introducing a new Angus Cheesesteak as a permanent menu item, the chain announced Monday.
- Arby’s described the sandwich as a premium menu item made with Angus steak, White American Cooper cheese, caramelized onions and a sesame seed sub roll.
- The new cheesesteak is an improved version of the brand’s limited-time offering from last summer, which was one of its most successful menu launches ever, according to Jeff Baker, Arby’s chief marketing officer.
Dive Insight:
Arby’s is positioning the cheesesteak as a “a higher-quality alternative to the same old burger.” But the sandwich could also help the brand compete with Jersey Mike’s, which has grown significantly and built a hot sub menu around a range of cheesesteak options.
Arby’s said it made several changes to make its cheesesteaks more authentic — like using the same type of cheese and sub roll commonly used in Philadelphia.
The chain will give away 100,000 Angus Cheesesteaks with qualifying $10 purchases to promote the launch of the new menu item starting on June 17.
As Arby’s parent company Inspire Brands considers an IPO, a new premium sandwich product could shore up Arby’s sales number in advance of a public market debut.
Competitor Jersey Mike’s, which is also weighing an IPO, has grown significantly of late and its average unit volume — $1.37 million according to its 2026 franchise disclosure document — is greater than Arby’s $1.27 million AUV. And Arby’s store system has shrunk in recent years, declining from 3,415 units in 2023 to 3,265 at the end of 2025. Comparatively, Jersey Mike’s unit count grew from 2,387 in 2023 to 3,227 in 2025.
In this competitive context, a cheesesteak sandwich could help Arby’s round out its menu and avoid losing share to the challenger chain.
