Ohio-based Marco’s Pizza has signed a franchise deal for India.

Leading the expansion in India are DJ and Monaliza Patel who have a combined 33 plus years of experience working in the pizza and franchise sectors. DJ is a successful area developer for Marco’s Pizza who oversees 40 Marco’s Pizza units in Georgia, Maryland, DC, Virginia and now India. Monaliza is also an area representative and partners with DJ to co-manage stores in Atlanta and the Southern Georgia region.

The deal will see them open 400 stores over the next 10 years.

“We look forward to the expansion goals DJ and Monaliza have put in place in India, based on their sound market research, with their first store opening before the close of the year,” said Bryon Stephens, president and COO of Marco’s Pizza.

Founded in 1978 by Italian born, Pasquale Giammarco, Marco’s Pizza has 500 locations and has signed more than 1500 new franchise deals in 2013. The company plans to quadruple its store count in the coming five to seven years.