Franchising

Marco's Pizza signs mid-Missouri development agreement

Photo: Marco's Pizza

August 6, 2026

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Marco's Pizza has inked a three-unit development agreement in Columbia, Missouri, led by franchise co-owners Russ Anderson and Betzayda Alvarez-Anderson, according to a press release.

Joining the agreement is operator Klayton Anderson, who is Betzayda Alvarez-Anderson's husband and Russ Anderson's nephew. The first location is scheduled to open in October at 911 Rain Forest Parkway, launching a broader regional development plan across mid-Missouri.

"This agreement reflects exactly the kind of operator partnership that drives sustainable growth for our brand," Gerardo Flores, chief development officer of Marco's Pizza, said in the release. "Russ, Betzy, and Klayton bring a rare combination of operational depth and local commitment, and they are confident in their ability to build a lasting presence in Missouri."

The ownership group pairs a strong regional business foundation with decades of fast-food and pizza operations experience. Russ Anderson, an Army Reserve veteran who bought his first business at 19, is the founder of Anderson Homes, the largest home builder in central Missouri. Betzayda Alvarez-Anderson spent nine years with a leading national pizza brand, rising from in-store roles to a corporate position, while Klayton Anderson brings multi-unit management experience from the pizza industry.

"What drew us to Marco's was the authenticity behind the product," Betzayda Alvarez-Anderson said in the release. "Other brands cut corners, but Marco's starts fresh every day with dough pressed in-house and a three-cheese blend that's always fresh, never frozen. We saw that difference firsthand before we decided to move forward with Marco's. That level of prep and care is built into every location, so customers know exactly what they're getting no matter which Marco's they walk into."

Noting the brand's current small footprint in Missouri, the partners plan to establish Marco's Pizza in the underserved market. Reflecting a long-term commitment to the region, the group's development strategy favors owning and building its sites rather than leasing.

Marco's Pizza operates more than 1,200 stores in 35 states with locations in Puerto Rico, the Bahamas and Mexico.