McDonalds NT
Vicki-Leigh Lettice, who has become the Northern Territory’s largest McDonald’s fast-food owner-operator, lives by a simple but powerful can-do motto: “When you’re green, you’re growing – when you’re not, you rot.”
She also likes to sum up her philosophy of self-reliance in 10 two-letter words: “If it is to be, it is up to me.”
Ms Lettice started on the road to becoming the Maccas Maestro starting as a crew person in Townsville in 1988. Since then, she has explored various roles including working for the global giant in their head office. Her best decision was becoming her own boss by buying the Palmerston store in 2007 and has since added six more outlets in Darwin and Katherine.
She says her key competitive advantage is being part of a global business.
“One of our strengths is knowing the community. Another is understanding my role and staying in my lane.”
Ms Lettice has built resilience into her business by fine-tuning processes and systems for the past 18 years and into the future. Vicki engages with outside companies to assist and to get the best out of people and organisation.
She has no intention of resting on her laurels – there are plans to expand and increase stability in the management teams.
You can hear about Vicki-Leigh’s story at the Women in Business Lunch with Carolyn Creswell: from Kitchen Table to Global Brand keynote event in Darwin on Friday 10 October 2025.
