Premium fast-casual pizza restaurant Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint announced the selection of Scout as its first agency of record for advertising and other marketing services, following a comprehensive agency review. Scout will lend its deep experience in the food and beverage space to further propel growth for the build- your-own pizza franchise. Uncle Maddio’s is a fast-growing fast-casual pizza franchise, operating 19 restaurants in seven states. The national brand will open 24 restaurants in 2014 including five new states from North Dakota to Colorado and Florida.

Uncle Maddio’s is partnering with Scout to develop a fully integrated marketing program that includes its first TV and radio commercials, in-store retail creative, digital and social media marketing, and franchise marketing support.

“We’re very passionate about the Uncle Maddio’s concept and admire the tremendous success the brand has achieved so far,” says Cheryl Maher, SVP abd director of client services for Scout. “Our team is enthusiastic about putting our brave thinking to work and helping Uncle Maddio’s show even more communities how its ‘Served With Love’ concept is more than a tagline.”

The Uncle Maddio’s account will be led out of Scout’s Atlanta office, the home base of Uncle Maddio’s corporate office, and where the Scout team has extensive expertise in the food and beverage industry. The agency will immediately begin work on strategic planning to support Uncle Maddio’s franchisees in 12 states by year-end.

“In Scout, we have found an agile, creative agency that has a true passion for our brand and culture,” says Uncle Maddio’s founder and chief pizza maker Matt Andrew. “The Scout team understands the industry, brings extensive experience and strong strategic thinking to Uncle Maddio’s. I’m looking forward to seeing their brave thinking in action.”

Uncle Maddio’s is the latest development in a year of momentum for Scout, which has also celebrated the opening of its third office in Chicago, expansion of its team and digital services, and recent naming of the Atlanta office as a “Best and Brightest Company to Work for.”