McAlister's Deli is an American chain of fast casual restaurants founded in 1989 in Oxford, Mississippi, by retired dentist Dr. Don Newcomb.

In 1999, founder Don Newcomb sold the company to CEO Michael J. Stack and executive Philip Friedman for an undisclosed amount.

Newcomb remained in the company as a board director and exclusive franchisee for Kentucky.

[5] Most McAlister's Deli restaurants are owned and operated by independent franchisees, ranging from single-location, family-owned operations, to larger, multi-unit groups such as Southern Rock Restaurants, JME, Inc., DMAC 81 LLC (with locations in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina), and The Saxton Group.

Southern Rock Restaurants is the largest franchisee of McAlister's Deli,[6] operating 148 locations in 12 states.