You’ve probably seen the signs. Maybe you were driving down a suburban stretch of highway, saw that giant Arby’s hat, and right next to it—or perhaps just down the block—stood a Buffalo Wild Wings. It feels like they’ve always just been there, two pillars of the American casual dining experience. But there’s a much deeper connection between Arby's and Buffalo Wild Wings than just sharing a zip code or a love for protein.
They are family. Sorta.
In the world of massive corporate mergers, things get messy fast. Back in late 2017, the news dropped that Arby’s Restaurant Group was buying Buffalo Wild Wings for a staggering $2.9 billion. It was a move that caught a lot of people off guard because, honestly, the brands don't seem to have much in common besides meat. One is the king of the "we have the meats" fast-food drive-thru, and the other is the loud, beer-soaked sanctuary for sports fans.
This wasn't just a one-off purchase, though. It was the birth of Inspire Brands.
The Birth of a Meat-Heavy Empire
Paul Brown, the guy who basically saved Arby’s from the brink of irrelevance in the early 2010s, had a vision. He didn't want Arby’s to just be a sandwich shop. He wanted to build a platform. When Arby's and Buffalo Wild Wings merged, they didn't just smash the two companies together and hope for the best. They created a parent company designed to handle "distinctive, highly-franchised brands."
It’s a multi-brand strategy. Think of it like a toolbox.
When the deal closed in February 2018, the industry watched closely. Buffalo Wild Wings—or B-Dubs, as everyone actually calls it—was struggling at the time. Sales were sluggish. Activist investors were screaming for change. Arby’s, on the other hand, was riding high on a marketing campaign that actually worked. By bringing Buffalo Wild Wings into the fold, Inspire Brands could share "back-office" costs. This means things like accounting, supply chain logistics, and digital tech aren't duplicated.
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If you're buying napkins for 3,000 Arby's and 1,200 Buffalo Wild Wings, you're going to get a better price than if you bought them separately. It’s basic math. But the real magic happened in the data.
What Arby’s and Buffalo Wild Wings Learned From Each Other
You might think a roast beef sandwich eater and a wing eater are different people. They aren't. Often, they’re the same person on a different day of the week.
Inspire Brands started looking at how people eat. They realized that Arby’s had mastered the art of the limited-time offer (LTO). Remember the venison sandwich? Or the wagyu burger? Those were hits because they created urgency. Buffalo Wild Wings took notes. Suddenly, you started seeing more adventurous sauce rotations and "buy one, get one" deals that mirrored the promotional intensity of fast food.
Conversely, Arby's learned about the "experience" side of things.
The Tech Shakeup
Buffalo Wild Wings was always a tech-forward place—tablets at tables, dozens of screens—but it was aging poorly. Under the new ownership, the tech stack got a massive overhaul. They introduced a new loyalty program that actually rewarded people for coming back. They also started experimenting with "Buffalo Wild Wings GO," which are small-format, takeout-only spots.
Where did that idea come from? You guessed it. The fast-food DNA of Arby’s.
It turns out that when you own both, you can take the speed of a drive-thru and apply it to the world of chicken wings. It was a match made in corporate heaven, even if the vibes in the actual restaurants couldn't be more different. One is where you go when you’re in a rush; the other is where you go when you want to ignore your family and watch the playoffs.
Why the Roark Capital Connection Matters
You can't talk about Arby’s and Buffalo Wild Wings without talking about Roark Capital Group. This is the private equity firm behind the curtain. They are the ones who funded the Inspire Brands launch. Roark has a very specific "type." They love franchises.
They own everything. Seriously.
- Sonic Drive-In? Yep, they bought that too.
- Dunkin' and Baskin-Robbins? Those joined the family in a $11.3 billion deal.
- Jimmy John's? Also in the club.
When you look at the portfolio, the Arby’s and Buffalo Wild Wings connection is just the tip of the iceberg. This is about total market dominance. By owning a wing joint, a sandwich shop, a donut place, and a burger drive-in, Roark (via Inspire) ensures that no matter what you’re craving, your money is likely ending up in the same corporate pocket.
It’s brilliant, if a little terrifying.
The Struggles of the "Casual Dining" Model
Despite the success of the merger, it hasn't been all smooth sailing. The 2020s haven't been kind to sit-down restaurants. Rising labor costs and the explosion of third-party delivery apps like DoorDash changed the game.
Buffalo Wild Wings had a problem: wings are expensive.
When the price of chicken wings skyrocketed, the margins at B-Dubs took a hit. This is where being part of a massive conglomerate helps. Because Inspire Brands has the capital from Arby’s and Dunkin’, they can weather a "wing crisis" that might have bankrupted a smaller, standalone chain. They have "staying power." They can afford to lose money on wings for a quarter if it means keeping the lights on and the customers loyal.
Meanwhile, Arby's has had to deal with the "meat-free" trend. While they famously refused to add a plant-based burger to the menu (sticking to their "We Have The Meats" guns), they’ve had to innovate in other ways. They’ve leaned hard into "premium" items that make you feel like you're getting a restaurant-quality meal for a fast-food price.
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The Difference in Franchise Culture
One thing most people don't realize is how much the "franchisee" matters. At Arby’s, many owners have been in the system for decades. It's a stable, predictable business.
Buffalo Wild Wings was a bit more chaotic. Before the merger, there was a lot of friction between the corporate office and the people who actually owned the restaurants. Inspire Brands had to come in and play peacemaker. They brought in a more structured, data-driven approach that many Arby's owners were already used to.
They also started "co-branding" in certain markets. While you won't usually see a roast beef slicer inside a B-Dubs, you will see them being built side-by-side in new developments. It makes the real estate cheaper and the management easier.
Misconceptions About the Quality
"Oh, now that Arby’s owns them, the wings are going to be lower quality."
I heard this a lot in 2018. It’s a common fear whenever a fast-food company buys a "real" restaurant. But that’s not really how it works. In fact, the opposite is often true. Because Inspire Brands has such massive scale, they can actually demand higher quality standards from their suppliers.
They aren't trying to make Buffalo Wild Wings into a fast-food joint. They are trying to make it a more efficient version of itself.
The sauces still come from the same places. The chicken is still fresh, not frozen (mostly). The biggest change you’ve likely noticed isn't the food—it’s the speed and the app. If your wings come out faster than they did five years ago, you can thank the Arby’s influence for that. They brought a "clock-watching" culture to a business that used to be okay with you waiting 30 minutes for a snack.
What Happens Next for the Duo?
The focus now is on international expansion and "digital-first" storefronts.
We’re seeing more "ghost kitchens" where you can order Arby’s and Buffalo Wild Wings from the same kitchen on an app, even if there’s no physical restaurant for you to sit in. This is the future of the industry. It’s about being wherever the customer is, whether that’s on their couch or in a stadium seat.
Also, watch for more "menu crossovers" that are subtle. You might see a sauce developed for B-Dubs show up on a seasonal Arby’s sandwich. Or a cooking technique used for Arby’s brisket being applied to a new rib item at Buffalo Wild Wings.
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Your Actionable Takeaway
If you’re a consumer, the best way to navigate this corporate marriage is through the apps. Since Inspire Brands is trying to unify their data, the rewards programs for Arby’s and Buffalo Wild Wings are becoming increasingly valuable.
- Download the apps: They frequently run "app-only" deals that are subsidized by the corporate parent to get your data.
- Check for "GO" locations: If you’re just grabbing wings for a game, look for the Buffalo Wild Wings GO spots. They are designed for speed and are usually cheaper because the overhead is lower.
- Watch the LTOs: Arby’s is the king of the "here today, gone tomorrow" sandwich. If you see something weird (like the Diablo Dare), try it early. They use these as market tests for the entire Inspire portfolio.
The reality is that the line between "fast food" and "casual dining" is blurring. Arby’s and Buffalo Wild Wings are leading that charge. They aren't just two places to get lunch; they are part of a massive, data-driven machine designed to make sure that no matter what you want to eat, you’re doing it under the Inspire umbrella. It’s a fascinating look at how the American food landscape is being reshaped by a few powerful players behind the scenes.
Next time you dip a wing into some ranch, or bite into a classic beef 'n cheddar, just remember: they’re probably using the same supply chain to get that food to your plate. And in the world of modern business, that’s the most important ingredient of all.