The Supplier Behind Burger King's Chicken Is On Grocery Shelves Today

If you love Burger King, you might order a few favorites amid the variety of menu options. Daily Meal did a ranking of all the restaurant's chicken sandwiches, for instance, and found that the Bacon and Swiss Royal Crispy Chicken is the absolute best Burger King chicken sandwich. On the other hand, it's no secret that customers have largely been disappointed with the chain's chicken nuggets, which is why they've been reinvented with a new marinade and crispier breading as of September 2026. What might surprise you, though, is that the chicken comes from a major supplier with brands that you might purchase at the grocery store on a regular basis: Tyson Foods.

According to the National Franchisee Association, which is a resource for Burger King franchisees and partner vendors, Tyson is an approved commercial partner and supplier. In fact, the two companies have had a business relationship since the 1960s, when Tyson convinced Burger King to use its chicken patties for sandwiches. It's important to point out, though, that the processor only supplies the protein; it doesn't marinate or bread it for the fast food chain.

Through acquisitions and expansions into new markets, Tyson became a juggernaut in the worldwide chicken-production market. It eventually acquired IBP, Inc. (established as Iowa Beef Packers) in 2001, which took the company into the beef and pork markets. Now, Tyson is responsible for producing about 1 of every 5 pounds of beef, chicken, and pork in the United States. Because of that, it's no surprise that the company is a supplier for more than just Burger King. Its proteins are also used by KFC, McDonald's, Taco Bell, and other restaurant chains, as well as grocers and foodservice distributors.

Since the 1960s, Tyson Foods has endeavored to produce innovative foods not only for restaurants but also for home kitchens. The company was selling deep-chill Tyson Country Fresh Chicken to families by the end of the decade, and it introduced the first true convenience product in 1976: the frozen chicken patty under the Ozark Fry brand name. As it has throughout the decades, it continues to adjust to consumer preferences and needs with its variety of protein products in grocery stores.

Whether you're perusing the fresh meat section or the frozen food aisle, it's hard to miss Tyson Foods' flagship Tyson brand. Its iconic logo — bold white letters on a deep red scalloped oval, framed by a larger yellow oval and thin red outline — has been around since 2005. From whole chickens, chicken breasts and thighs, and ground chicken to breaded and seasoned nuggets, patties, wings, and drumsticks, the Tyson brand has every type of chicken for every type of meal. It's even the brand behind some of Walmart's Great Value products, including the boneless, skinless chicken breast, according to a former Tyson employee on Reddit.

Beyond chicken, the Tyson brand is behind a lot of fresh and seasoned pork and beef products – such as brown sugar and bacon pork loin filets and southwest ranchero beef steaks. It's not the only brand under the Tyson Foods umbrella either. After decades of acquisitions, the company owns other well-known brands like Ball Park, Gallo Salame, Hillshire Farm, Jimmy Dean, Sara Lee, and State Fair.