We’ve been hearing about this since late March, actually. But yes, though it took a while to clarify/confirm as we’ve been told that the ink took longer than usual to dry, Omnicom-owned, Minneapolis-based agency Martin|Williams has finally, officially been named agency of record for Scottsdale, AZ-based P.F. Chang’s China Bistro and its spinoff Pei Wei Asian Diner chain.
Regarding her company’s decision, P.F. Chang’s chief brand officer, Julie Elkinton, says, “We interviewed a range of agencies across the United States and found that the team at Martin|Williams was the perfect combination of strategic thought and creative that we needed to capitalize on exciting opportunities for our two culinary brands. Their passion for our uniquely positioned restaurants was evident through the work they presented and we cannot wait to see it come to life over the next few months.”
We’re checking to see who else participated in the pitch, but in the meantime, we’ll tell you that Martin|Williams succeeds fellow Twin Cities operation, Olson, on the P.F./Pei Wei biz. Olson previously handled both advertising and PR for both brands, but as a result of the client’s decision, the duties have been split, with M|W taking on advertising and Karwoski & Courage taking over PR duties.
Update: Sources tell us that M|W beat out three other agencies in the P.F./Pei Wei pitch including Acquity Group and TM Advertising. The third agency has yet to be determined.