Mrs. Winner's Chicken & Biscuits
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fast food |
| Predecessor | Granny's of Atlanta |
| Founded | 1970 |
| Founder | Jack C. Massey |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Southeastern United States |
Key people | John Buttolph (Chairman and CEO), Alton Shields (COO) |
| Products | Fried chicken, biscuits |
| Parent | A La Carte Menu Services, Inc. (division of Gourmet Services, Inc.) |
Mrs. Winner's Chicken and Biscuits is a fast food franchise focused on fried chicken and biscuits, primarily serving the Southeastern United States.
History
The chain originated in 1970 when Jack C. Massey founded it. Massey's enterprise, Volunteer Capital, purchased the Granny's of Atlanta brand and transformed it into Mrs. Winner's Chicken & Biscuits. By 1982, operating under the name Winners Corp., the brand expanded to 64 outlets. The number of locations reached its highest point at 184 in 1984; however, after experiencing four consecutive years of financial losses, the chain was sold in 1989 to RTM Inc., the largest Arby's franchisee, for approximately $30 million.
In 2006, Famous Recipe Company Operations, Inc., which owns Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken, took ownership of Mrs. Winner's. By 2007, the chain maintained 113 restaurants across states including North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Kentucky. Following ongoing financial difficulties, Mrs. Winner's filed for bankruptcy protection in 2011.
John Buttolph, a former attorney, acquired the intellectual property and franchising rights of Mrs. Winner’s in October 2012. He assumed the roles of Chairman and CEO and worked with COO Alton Shields to revive the company’s presence. In April 2019, they transferred ownership and franchising rights to A La Carte Menu Services, Inc., a division of Gourmet Services, Inc.
As of November 2025, Mrs. Winner's operates a total of 12 outlets mainly situated in North Carolina and Georgia, with individual locations in Alabama and Tennessee.