Nidhi Gupta and Deepak Gupta will open up to 36 Marco’s Pizza stores, home of the Ah! thentic Italian Pizza, in the East Bay and Central Valley areas of northern California.

Jack Butorac, Jr., president of Marco’s Franchising, who launched the 30-year-old chain from Toledo, Ohio, announced the growth agreement.

“We were looking for a pizza that stood out from the rest, and Marcos fits the bill,” Gupta says. “Marco’s ability to grow aligns well with our plans and business experience.”

Gupta said he will open the first few Marco’s Pizza stores in California during first half of 2009.

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