FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Dee Dee Stanley, a management veteran and a one-time owner of her own hair salon, and her son Sean, an experienced fast food and sales manager, will team up to introduce Marco’s Pizza and its Ah!thentic Italian Pizza to the Carolinas with plans to open 56 units and the first in Hope Mills, NC, near here, the week of January 23, 2007.

Jack Butorac, Jr., president of Marco’s Franchising, announced the signing of the agreement. Founded some 28 years ago by Italian native Pasquale “Pat” Giammarco in Toledo, OH, North Carolina will represent the seventh state for the rapidly growing company which also has 150 stores in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Arizona, Nevada and Wisconsin.

“Quite frankly, I missed the challenges of being an entrepreneur,” Stanley said. “We looked at a variety of concepts. We wanted a delicious pizza product and we wanted fresh baked submarine sandwiches. Marco’s has that menu diversity, and they have a good image and great products. They have the system in place to help us make it work.”

The first Marco’s Pizza will open at 5540 Camden Road, Hope Mills, near here. The seven day a week operation will offer carryout and delivery service and the Marco’s menu of Ah!thentic Italian Pizza, fresh baked subs, chicken wings, salads and soft drinks.

Stanley said that she and her son and their company Triple S Foods, Inc. plan to open Marco’s Pizza stores in Raleigh Durham, Chapel Hill plus Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina. The second unit is scheduled near Fort Bragg at 1214. N. Bragg Blvd., Spring Lake, NC, in early Spring 2007.

According to Butorac the company plans have stores in 10 states by the end of this year and plans on 500 units by 2010.

Additional information on Marco’s is available at www.marcos.com or by emailing dallen@marcos.com.