The Story of a Commercial, An Apology and a Glass of Pepsi The latest commercial from sandwich chain Arby's is just a glass of Pepsi and a voice over. Here's why.

By Kate Taylor

Opinions expressed by BIZ Experiences contributors are their own.

Watching Arby's latest commercial on mute may leave viewers paraphrasing another fast-food chain's former tagline: Where's the meat?

Arby's has released a commercial featuring only a glass of Pepsi against a white background and a voice over.

The reasoning behind the commercial? As the voiceover explains, the ad serves as an apology of sorts to Pepsi, which had been excluded from recent Arby's advertising due to the chain's minimalist and meat-centric advertising campaign.

Related: Arby's Breaks the World Record for Longest Commercial

With all the focus on meat, Arby's forgot that the company had promised Pepsi it would be featured in at least two Arby's commercials in 2014. Oops. So, Fallon, the ad firm that represents Arby's, put together an ad in the same style as Arby's "We Have the Meats" campaign that tightly focus on a single slab of meat.

"What started as a last minute scramble to feature Pepsi has turned in to something much more memorable with Arby's unconventional touch," Arby's spokesperson Christopher Fuller said in a statement. "We are both pretty happy with the result."

Fuller says that Arby's "We Have the Meats" campaign will continue into 2015, after an uncommonly successful year of unconventional advertising for the chain. In May, Arby's broke the world's record for the longest television commercial, with a 13-hour ad of slow smoking brisket. The "Meat Mountain," i.e. every meat on the menu sandwiched between two buns, has been served more than 50,000 times since August. Plus, the chain hit the social-media jackpot when its tweet poking fun of Pharrell's hat at the Grammys went viral.

Related: Forget Rising Beef Prices: Why Arby's Is Placing All Bets on Meat
Kate Taylor

Reporter

Kate Taylor is a reporter at Business Insider. She was previously a reporter at BIZ Experiences. Get in touch with tips and feedback on Twitter at @Kate_H_Taylor. 

Want to be an BIZ Experiences Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Science & Technology

OpenAI's Latest Move Is a Game Changer — Here's How Smart Solopreneurs Are Turning It Into Profit

OpenAI's latest AI tool acts like a full-time assistant, helping solopreneurs save time, find leads and grow their business without hiring.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for BIZ Experiencess to pursue in 2025.

Social Media

How To Start a Youtube Channel: Step-by-Step Guide

YouTube can be a valuable way to grow your audience. If you're ready to create content, read more about starting a business YouTube Channel.

Money & Finance

These Are the Expected Retirement Ages By Generation, From Gen Z to Boomers — and the Average Savings Anticipated. How Do Yours Compare?

Many Americans say inflation prevents them from saving enough and fear they won't reach their financial goals.

Starting a Business

I Built a $20 Million Company by Age 22 While Still in College. Here's How I Did It and What I Learned Along the Way.

Wealth-building in your early twenties isn't about playing it safe; it's about exploiting the one time in life when having nothing to lose gives you everything to gain.

Business Solutions

Boost Team Productivity and Security With Windows 11 Pro, Now $15 for Life

Ideal for BIZ Experiencess and small-business owners who are looking to streamline their PC setup.