Marco’s Pizza Selects HY Connect as Full-Service Agency Partner

Following a multi-agency search, Chicago-based HY Connect (HYC) and their recently acquired partner, MergeDesign + Interactive, were named agency of record for Marco’s Pizza, the fastest growing pizza company in the United States, operating more than 800 stores in 34 states and four countries. The pitch consolidates work across communications disciplines with HYC. Several agencies previously handled the account.  

HYC, with clients such as Harley-Davidson and Bakers Square, is capable of providing services across all communications disciplines while also becoming a key technology partner with the company. With one of Marco’s tenets being “accelerate innovation” and HYC’s capacity to help do just that, Marco’s will be focused on engaging consumers on any screen they may be using wherever they are.

“Our growth will be fueled by technology-led innovation, and HYC and Merge have the capabilities of very few other agencies,” said Steve Seyferth, CMO at Marco’s. “I have a history of working with Ron Bess (CEO of HYC), and the fully integrated offering he has put together makes them an ideal partner for us.”

Opening an average of one store every three days, Marco’s is the fastest-growing pizza franchise in the U.S. and is on track to add more than 100 new locations this year, with plans to have 1,500 locations by 2020. Marco’s was recently named “America’s Favorite Pizza Company” in a 2017 Market Force QSR Consumer Research Study and was referred to as the “undisputed king of new-store development” by Entrepreneur magazine.

Ron Bess, CEO at HYC added “The Marco’s story, rooted in an authentic Italian heritage and supported by a high-quality product, provides a great opportunity for us to drive their brand and business forward.”

Headquartered in Toledo, Marco’s Pizza was founded in 1978 by a native Italian, Pasquale “Pat” Giammarco.