The Saxton Group

The Saxton Group is the largest franchisee of the restaurant McAlister's Deli. It owns and operates more than 65 locations in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri, with plans to expand into Iowa in 2017. The Saxton Group is headquartered in Dallas, Texas and currently employees more than 3,000 employees throughout its McAlister's Deli locations and corporate office.

Founded in 1982 by Kelly Saxton, The Saxton Group began in Jackson, Mississippi as a franchisee of Mazzio's Pizza. Between 1982 and 1999, The Saxton Group helped to expand the Mazzio's Pizza brand by opening more than 50 locations throughout Mississippi, as well as Arkansas and Texas. In 2004, Saxton turned his attention to McAlister's Deli and sold all of The Saxton Group's Mazzio's locations. The Saxton Group has grown from one single McAlister's Deli location in 2004 to over 65 McAlister's Deli units in 2017, with plans and agreements to open up as many as 40 additional locations in current markets, as well as new markets in Iowa and Nebraska

In 2009, The Saxton Group franchised and opened their first Pinkberry location in Dallas, Texas. This was Pinkberry's first location outside of California and New York. With initial success, The Saxton Group opened three more Pinkberry locations in Dallas, however the brand did not meet expectations and The Saxton Group later sold these four units.