Mrs. Winner's Chicken & Biscuits
Corporate brand
UnclaimedMrs. Winner's Chicken & Biscuits is a regional southeastern U.S. fast-food brand known for fried chicken and complimentary biscuits.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Mrs. Winner's Chicken & Biscuits is a regional quick-service restaurant brand specializing in fried chicken, biscuits, and related Southern-style menu items. The chain was established in 1970 by Jack C. Massey through his operating company, Volunteer Capital. Volunteer Capital acquired the 21-unit Granny's of Atlanta chain from L.S. Hartzog and renamed the restaurants Mrs. Winner's Chicken & Biscuits, creating a new identity around fried chicken and freshly prepared biscuits. The brand expanded rapidly during its early decades. Volunteer Capital was renamed Winners Corp. in 1982, and by December of that year the Mrs. Winner's system had grown to 64 restaurants. Expansion continued, reaching a reported 184 stores in 1984. The pace of growth was not sustained, however. After four years of losses, the company sold the franchise operation in 1989 to RTM Inc., then the largest franchisee of Arby's, in a transaction reported at approximately $30 million. Mrs. Winner's subsequently changed ownership again. In 2006, Famous Recipe Company Operations, Inc., the owner of the Lee's Famous Recipe franchise, acquired the brand. By August 2007, the chain had 113 locations across North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Kentucky. Its footprint and financial performance later deteriorated, and the company filed for bankruptcy in 2011 after several years of weak results. A further ownership transition occurred in October 2012, when former company attorney John Buttolph purchased the Mrs. Winner's trade name, registered trademarks, franchising rights, and related intellectual property. Buttolph became chairman and chief executive of Mrs. Winner's Holding Company and affiliated brand-management, franchising, and operating entities. Working with co-owner and chief operating officer Alton Shields, he pursued a rebuilding of the brand and its franchise platform. In April 2019, Buttolph and Shields sold Mrs. Winner's and its franchising and licensing rights to A La Carte Menu Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Gourmet Services, Inc. The brand therefore represents a continuing restaurant and licensing business rather than a large national chain. As of November 2025, publicly described operations consisted of 12 remaining locations, concentrated primarily in North Carolina and Georgia, with one location each reported in Alabama and Tennessee. Its present positioning is regional and heritage-oriented, centered on Southern fried chicken, biscuits, and convenient counter-service meals.
History
Mrs. Winner's originated in 1970 when Jack C. Massey's Volunteer Capital acquired the 21-unit Granny's of Atlanta restaurant chain from L.S. Hartzog. The acquired restaurants were renamed Mrs. Winner's Chicken & Biscuits, establishing a new regional fast-food identity built around fried chicken and biscuits. The chain expanded substantially during the 1970s and early 1980s. Volunteer Capital became Winners Corp. in 1982, and by December of that year the system had 64 restaurants. Growth continued to a reported 184 stores in 1984. The expansion was followed by financial difficulties; after four years of losses, the business sold its franchise operation in 1989 to RTM Inc., a major Arby's franchisee, for approximately $30 million. In 2006, Famous Recipe Company Operations, Inc., which owned the Lee's Famous Recipe franchise, acquired Mrs. Winner's. The brand still operated on a significant regional scale in 2007, with 113 restaurants reported across North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Kentucky. Later performance weakened, and Mrs. Winner's filed for bankruptcy in 2011 after several years of subpar financial results. The brand's trademarks and operating rights were separated from the earlier corporate structure in October 2012. John Buttolph, previously the company's attorney, bought the Mrs. Winner's trade name, registered trademarks, franchising rights, and associated intellectual property. He subsequently led Mrs. Winner's Holding Company and related subsidiaries as chairman and chief executive officer. Alton Shields served as co-owner and chief operating officer. Together, they worked to rebuild the chain and its franchise and licensing activities. In April 2019, Buttolph and Shields transferred ownership of Mrs. Winner's and its franchise and licensing rights to A La Carte Menu Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Gourmet Services, Inc. By November 2025, the brand had contracted to 12 locations, mainly in North Carolina and Georgia, with one remaining location in Alabama and one in Tennessee. The surviving business is therefore a small regional restaurant brand rather than a national chain, retaining its historic association with fried chicken and biscuits.
- 2025
Remaining footprint reported at 12 locations
[1]As of November, the chain was reported to have 12 locations, primarily in North Carolina and Georgia, plus one each in Alabama and Tennessee.
- 2019
Ownership transferred to A La Carte Menu Services
[1]Buttolph and Shields sold the brand and its franchising and licensing rights to A La Carte Menu Services, a Gourmet Services subsidiary.
- 2012
Brand rights acquired by John Buttolph
[1]John Buttolph purchased the trade name, trademarks, franchise rights, and associated intellectual property.
- 2011
Bankruptcy filing
[1]The company filed for bankruptcy after several years of weak financial performance.
- 2007
Regional footprint spans six states
[1]As of August, 113 locations were reported across North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Kentucky.
- 2006
Acquired by Famous Recipe Company Operations
[1]The owner of the Lee's Famous Recipe franchise acquired Mrs. Winner's.
- 1989
Franchise operation sold to RTM
[1]Following four years of losses, the franchise was sold to RTM Inc. in a transaction reported at approximately $30 million.
- 1984
Chain reaches reported peak of 184 stores
[1]Mrs. Winner's reported a total of 184 stores during its major expansion period.
- 1982
Operating company renamed Winners Corp.
[1]Volunteer Capital changed its name to Winners Corp.; the Mrs. Winner's system had reached 64 restaurants by December.
- 1970
Brand founded through acquisition of Granny's of Atlanta
[1]Jack C. Massey's Volunteer Capital acquired 21 Granny's of Atlanta restaurants and renamed them Mrs. Winner's Chicken & Biscuits.
Products and positioning
A regional Southern-style quick-service restaurant focused on fried chicken, biscuits, value-oriented meals, and local franchise presence.
Main dish · 1970
Fried chicken
Fried chicken is the brand's defining menu category and the central product associated with its regional Southern fast-food identity. It is commonly sold as individual pieces, combination meals, and family-oriented portions alongside biscuits and side dishes.
Bakery and side item · 1970
Biscuits
Biscuits are a signature accompaniment and a prominent part of the Mrs. Winner's name and positioning. They are offered with chicken meals and may also serve as the basis for breakfast or sandwich-style offerings.
Quick-service meals
Chicken meals and Southern sides
The broader menu is organized around convenient chicken meals, biscuits, beverages, and Southern-style side dishes. Specific menus can vary by location and current operator, so a complete standardized product list is not established by the available reference material.
Brand decisions
2019
Sale to A La Carte Menu ServicesM&ABackground
After several years of rebuilding the brand and its franchise platform, Buttolph and Shields pursued another ownership transition.
Action taken
They sold Mrs. Winner's and all franchising and licensing rights to A La Carte Menu Services, Inc., a Gourmet Services subsidiary.
Aftermath
The brand entered its current ownership phase under the Gourmet Services group.
2012
Reconstitution of the brand under new ownershipStrategyBackground
Following the 2011 bankruptcy, the brand's identity and operating rights were transferred into a new ownership structure.
Action taken
John Buttolph acquired the trade name, registered trademarks, franchising rights, and related intellectual property, then led a rebuilding effort with Alton Shields.
Aftermath
Mrs. Winner's continued as a smaller franchising, licensing, and restaurant brand.
2006
Acquisition by Famous Recipe Company OperationsM&ABackground
Mrs. Winner's continued as a regional chicken restaurant brand after earlier ownership changes.
Action taken
Famous Recipe Company Operations, owner of Lee's Famous Recipe, acquired the brand.
Aftermath
The chain still had 113 reported locations across six states in August 2007, before later contraction and bankruptcy.
1989
Sale of franchise operation to RTM Inc.M&ABackground
The chain had experienced four consecutive years of losses and decided to change ownership of its franchise operation.
Action taken
The franchise was sold to RTM Inc., then a major Arby's franchisee, for approximately $30 million.
Aftermath
The transaction began a further period of ownership under a large multi-unit restaurant operator.
Reported transaction value. Approximately $30 million (1989)
Sources1 sources
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