- Andrew McMains

The Captain D's restaurant chain has named three finalists in a review of creative duties on its advertising account, confirmed Hasan + Co., the consultancy managing the search.

The shops are Omnicom Group's Zimmerman in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Interpublic Group's Mullen in Winston-Salem, N.C., and Publicis Groupe's Publicis in Dallas, confirmed Hasan Ramusevic of Hasan + Co. in Raleigh, N.C.

The cut came after client executives visited five agencies last week. Ramusevic declined to identify the shops that failed to advance. The remaining contenders will be briefed this week and final presentations are scheduled for the third week of December at the client's headquarters in Nashville, Tenn., according to sources.

The incumbent, independent Goodness Manufacturing in Venice, Calif., is not defending. Account billings are estimated at $15 million.

Captain D's has nearly 600 restaurants in 23 states and a handful of overseas markets. The chain specializes in seafood fare and as such, competes with the likes of Long John Silver's.

Major media spending behind the brand totaled nearly $12 million last year and $9 million in the first eight months of 2009, according to Nielsen. Those figures don't include online spending.

Media duties are not in play and remain at independent Right Place Media, which is based in Lexington, Ky.