ATLANTA, April 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Fitzgerald & CO today announced that it has been appointed by Carrabba's Italian Grill as lead strategic and creative agency following a competitive review.

Carrabba's Italian Grill was founded in Houston, TX in 1986 by Johnny Carrabba and Damian Mandola who set out to create a restaurant experience where people felt like guests in their home. Both Johnny and Damian belong to one of Houston's most successful restaurant families, and many of the recipes on the menu are those of Damian's mother Grace and sister Rose. Damian famously travels the world in search of the best ingredients and most unique Italian dishes so Carrabba's food is both authentic and delicious.

"We were enormously impressed with Fitzgerald & CO's passion and performance throughout the pitch process," said Katie Knight - GVP & Chief Marketing Officer, Carrabba's Italian Grill. "We're looking forward to the team's strategic and creative expertise to help differentiate the brand in the marketplace, strengthen our relationship with our consumers and drive our business forward."

"We're ecstatic to be working with Carrabba's. They have very high ambitions for the brand and the business, and we believe we can play a vital role in helping them achieve their goals," said Dave Fitzgerald, President & CEO, Fitzgerald & CO.

About Carrabba's Italian Grill®
Offering Italian-inspired cuisine passed down from our founders' family recipes, Carrabba's uses only the best ingredients to prepare fresh and handmade dishes cooked to order in a lively exhibition kitchen. Featuring a woodburning grill inspired by the many tastes of Italy, customers can enjoy signature dishes, including Chicken Bryan, Spiedino di Mare and a fresh twist on an Italian Classic, Wood-grilled Chicken Marsala. Carrabba's was voted #1 Italian in the 2015 Consumer Picks Survey by Nation's Restaurant News. For more information about Carrabba's, please visit www.Carrabbas.com, www.Facebook.com/Carrabbas or www.Twitter.com/Carrabbas.

About Fitzgerald & CO
Fitzgerald & CO is an award-winning, full-service agency specializing in advertising, digital, social, media planning and buying, and brand and marketing strategy. Fitzgerald & CO infuses logic and magic into every solution for its clients, including Coca-Cola, Navy Federal Credit Union, Pergo Flooring, Sony Mobile and Synovus. Fitzgerald & CO is part of McCann Worldgroup, a division of Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). For more information, visit www.fitzco.com.

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SOURCE Fitzgerald & CO