From a single kitchen to global restaurants, Mary Brown’s Chicken delivers meals focused on fresh, high-quality ingredients
Mary Brown’s Chicken, known as both Mary Brown’s or MB Chicken, is a Canadian quick-service restaurant brand known for its premium fried chicken and iconic Big Mary® sandwich. Founded in 1969 in St John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, the brand was built on a simple yet enduring philosophy of uncompromising quality and genuine hospitality. From the outset, Mary Brown’s has distinguished itself by using fresh, made-from-scratch ingredients, setting a standard that continues to define the brand today.
Over more than five decades, Mary Brown’s has grown from a single local restaurant into one of Canada’s most established chicken brands, with a strong national footprint and an expanding international presence. A key driver of that success has been the company’s franchise model, built around what the brand describes as ‘operators who care’ – entrepreneurs deeply invested in their businesses, their crews, and the communities they serve. Today, Mary Brown’s blends tradition with modern relevance, honoring its roots while thoughtfully introducing the brand to new markets around the world.
At the heart of Mary Brown’s reputation is its menu of signature recipes made from fresh, high-quality ingredients. Greg Roberts, owner of Mary Brown’s Chicken shares more about what makes the menu one of Canada’s favorites. “In addition to our award-winning, signature fried chicken, our Big Mary® chicken sandwich is a cornerstone of the menu and one of our biggest successes that has been repeatedly voted as Canada’s best chicken sandwich,” Greg opens. “Complemented with our freshly cut ‘taters,’ which are hand-prepared potato wedges cooked to a perfect golden brown. Most recently added to the menu are two custom signature sauces ‘EH’ and ‘MB Sauce’ a must try with our boneless chicken tenders.
“While we may occasionally introduce new flavor options, we are committed to sticking to our core menu, delivering the premium fried chicken, taters, tenders, and Big Mary® sandwiches that have defined the brand for over 50 years. There is always a temptation to add more items to the menu, but our philosophy is simple: perfect the essentials and maintain the quality our guests expect.
“We’re focusing on bringing our signature products to new markets around the world, continuing to expand locations in UK, Mexico, India, and Pakistan,” Greg reveals. “This growth will allow more people around the globe to experience the freshly crafted and great tasting products the brand offers while remaining true to our Canadian roots.”
Shared values
Beyond its core menu, in 2024, Mary Brown’s acquired Fat Bastard Burrito Co., a fellow Canadian brand that specializes in fresh, Mexican cuisine. This acquisition reflects our commitment to operating with brands that share our values around quality, and a guest-first approach,” Greg shares. “Since joining the Mary Brown’s family, Fat Bastard Burrito Co. has expanded significantly, with the brand now operating across several provinces in Canada; Ontario, Newfoundland & Labrador, BC, and Alberta, marking a milestone in bringing its signature fresh burritos and flavorful offerings to more Canadians. This investment underscores our strategy of growing high-quality Canadian brands and sharing our expertise in operations, expansion, and guest experience to help them thrive nationally and beyond.”
Quality is clearly a priority for Mary Brown’s, and the company’s made-fresh methodology is key to upholding such high-quality standards. “We take pride in our made-from-scratch approach, and continuous innovation plays an important role in ensuring every guest enjoys the quality and flavor they expect from a meal at Mary Brown’s,” Greg states. “Over the years, we have incorporated culinary programs and processes to strengthen our operating system, and our unique cooking method has been continually upgraded to deliver the brand’s juicy, full-flavored chicken.”
Quality, people, and hospitality
Mary Brown’s freshly made food is served alongside best-in-class hospitality, with takeout, delivery, and catering options for added customer convenience. “To further enhance the guest experience, we have introduced systems to monitor and improve speed of service and order accuracy,” Greg explains. “We use data to refine and elevate the dining experience every day. This is part of our commitment to continually examine every aspect of our business, seeking opportunities to innovate and add value, ensuring that quality, consistency, and guest satisfaction remain at the heart of everything we do.
“Our people and franchisees are crucial to providing an unforgettable customer experience,” Greg adds. “We operate on the simple belief that happy crews result in happy guests, which contribute to successful franchises and businesses. When it comes to franchisees, being awarded the Canadian Franchise Association’s Franchisees’ Choice Designation for 13 consecutive years is a tremendous honor for us, and a reflection of the trust and strong relationships we’ve built with our franchise partners. By empowering our teams, supporting our franchisees, and engaging with local communities, Mary Brown’s has remained trusted, relevant, and beloved in Canada and increasingly around the world.”
With strong values and beliefs at its core, Mary Brown’s will only continue to strengthen its reputation for providing fresh, high-quality dining experiences as it grows on a global scale. Greg shares his thoughts on what’s next for the business: “Mary Brown’s priorities for 2026 are continued growth, innovation, and delivering exceptional guest experiences. We plan to expand our signature chicken, taters, tenders, and Big Mary® sandwiches into new international markets around the globe, but we remain equally committed to supporting our franchisees, empowering our teams, and engaging with local communities in our existing locations.
“Looking further ahead, we aim to be a truly global ambassador of Canadian fried chicken,” Greg concludes. “We expect our footprint to grow from the 300-plus stores to more across the globe. Beyond expansion, we’ll continue to innovate in our kitchens, all while staying true to our core values of quality, people, and hospitality. Ultimately, we want Mary Brown’s to be recognized as a brand that delivers crave-worthy food and meaningful connections worldwide.”