It’s deer-hunting season, and Arby’s wants in. The fast-food chain is testing a new venison sandwich in select locations that, according to Arby’s Brand President and Chief Marketing Officer Rob Lynch, is “100 percent deer meat.” Yup, no imitation-Bambi or 50-50 meat blends here.
Specifically, the venison sandwich will contain premium-cut top and bottom round steaks from the hind quarter of the deer. Arby’s is really gunning to please its hunter clientele lately: The venison sandwich is part of the chain’s new “It’s Meats Season” marketing campaign aimed at celebrating the start of hunting season.
“Bringing venison to our menu also allows us to continue to set ourselves apart from the competition when it comes to proteins,” Lynch said. “You simply can’t find this at other restaurant chains.”
It’s true. Arby’s has been a long-time standout in the meats department when it comes to fast food. Their menu boasts at least eight different meats, and their marketing strategy is basically to scream MEATS from a mountaintop. They have the meats, and they don’t want you to forget it.
And to further showcase their meat love, now they’re trying to tell the world that they’re super down with hunting season. But where is the deer meat coming from for these Arby’s sandwiches? Arby’s certainly hasn’t hired a team of everyday hunters to bring in their haul so that people can shove deer meat sandwiches with a side of curly fries and Horsey sauce into their faces on the way home from work. According to Lynch, Arby’s sources free-range farmed deer that feed on fresh grass, but he is still confident that “deer hunters are going to love this sandwich.”
The new venison sandwich will be tested at 17 Arby’s restaurants across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Georgia—all major deer hunting hubs. Here’s a list of the participating locations:
You can find the complete list of participating locations here.
(For more Supper Club celebration of meats, check out Andrew Zimmern’s ranking of best and worst-tasting animals.)