The Mysterious Disappearance of Ham at Arby’s – What Happened to the Ham Sandwiches?

Arby’s, known for their “We have the meats” slogan, has become synonymous with roast beef sandwiches piled high with shaved meat. However, despite their bold proclamation there is one classic meat noticeably absent from their menu – ham.

For years, Arby’s did offer sliced ham on select sandwiches. But in 2021 they suddenly and quietly removed it from all locations, leaving customers perplexed and disappointed. This begs the question – what happened to the ham sandwiches at Arby’s? Why did they get rid of a classic menu item so abruptly?

In this article, we’ll investigate the history of ham at Arby’s, analyze why it disappeared from menus, and determine if there’s any hope of this tasty meat making a comeback. Grab your detective hat and let’s get to the bottom of this fast food mystery!

A Brief History of Ham at Arby’s

While known for roast beef Arby’s has included ham on their menu in some form for much of their 50+ year history. Ham has been featured in various sandwiches and wraps often paired with cheese and other meats.

Items like the Ham Classic, Grilled Italian Ham, Chicken Cordon Bleu, and Ham Slider provided salty, savory ham options alongside Arby’s signature roast beef Even if not their claim to fame, ham had a consistent presence at Arby’s for decades.

That is, until sudden inexplicable removal from all menus in 2021. Seemingly out of nowhere, ham was gone. No farewell ham-focused promotion or press release. It simply vanished.

Why Did Arby’s Remove Ham From Their Menus?

So what explains this swift, unannounced axing of ham from all Arby’s locations? There are a few plausible reasons and theories from both the company and customers:

• Declining popularity/sales – Arby’s stated ham products were poor sellers compared to their core sandwiches. Focusing on beef and chicken improved metrics.

• Streamlining operations – Eliminating ham simplified inventory and food prep if it wasn’t a hot seller. Less waste and training needed.

• Price concerns – Ham/pork prices were volatile in 2021 due to supply chain issues. Removing ham provided pricing predictability.

• Brand identity shift – Arby’s was further defining itself as primarily a roast beef destination. Ham diluted this specialty image.

While not publicly confirmed, these reasons seem to logically explain Arby’s stealthy removal of ham. It came down to operational efficiency, pricing control, and focusing their brand reputation.

Customer Response and Petitions to Bring Ham Back

The disappearance of ham sandwiches caught many Arby’s customers completely off guard. loyal fans of the Ham Slider and other ham menu items took to social media to voice frustrations.

Some customers felt misled by Arby’s “We have the meats” slogan with ham nowhere to be found. Fans pleaded for its return, pointing out ham’s status as a classic meat. A petition was even created urging Arby’s to reinstate ham, but to no avail so far.

While understandable from a business perspective, Arby’s unceremonious ham axing left many hungry fans dissatisfied. Here’s hoping they may bring at least limited ham options back someday.

Does Arby’s Still Have Any Ham on the Menu?

Since the great ham removal of 2021, has any form of the pork product made its way back to Arby’s? Unfortunately, as of 2023, no ham is present on their menu. Arby’s currently offers the following meat choices:

• Roast Beef – In classic, brisket, and angus varieties

• Turkey – Sliced turkey breast, smoked and cajun turkey

• Chicken – Grilled, crispy, and buttermilk

• Corned Beef – Signature brisket-style corned beef

• Bacon – Pepper bacon and brown sugar bacon

• Steak – Steaks and steakhouse sandwiches

• Fish – Fish fillet sandwich

So for now, ham remains completely absent from all Arby’s locations. Some have suggested trying the corned beef as the closest ham-like alternative. But many customers still hope the chain has a change of heart and reintroduces ham sandwiches.

Will Ham Ever Return to Arby’s Menus?

Is there still a possibility of ham making an eventual comeback at Arby’s? The company has made no indications that it plans to bring ham back in the near future. However, hope remains that some limited-time ham offerings could return:

• As a seasonal menu item – Arby’s does offer special products for holidays and times of year. A ham sandwich could potentially fill this role.

• As a regional/test offering – Arby’s tests products in certain markets before expanding them. Ham could return as a trial.

• As an audience-specific product – Generation X and Boomers fondly remember Arby’s ham. Bringing it back to lure this demographic is possible.

• As a brand nostalgia play – Arby’s likes leveraging nostalgia, like with their retro packaging. Classic ham sandwiches could feed into this.

Though unlikely in the short term, Arby’s devoted ham fans should not give up hope completely. The brand seems to understand the audience appeal, so satisfying ham cravings again someday remains in the realm of possibility.

Solving the Curious Case of the Missing Ham

Like a classic detective story, the mysterious disappearance of ham from Arby’s has left many unanswered questions. While presumed to be a calculated business decision, Arby’s offered limited explanation, puzzling many loyal customers.

The abrupt removal of the once popular Ham Slider and other ham menu items will certainly continue to be a subject of speculation and debate in fast food circles. Here’s hoping Arby’s will throw ham fans a bone soon with a tasty limited-edition ham sandwich.

But in the meantime, those longing for meaty ham flavors at Arby’s will have to find sustenance in the ample roast beef, turkey, chicken, and corned beef options still available. The vanishing of ham remains an enigma, but life and meals go on for Arby’s fans. Perhaps someday the clues will reveal if ham was gone for good or just temporarily missing.