Tracy Stockard has stepped into the chief marketing officer role at Blaze Pizza, the fast-casual pizzeria chain that builds custom pies to order. Stockard brings a decade-plus track record from two major restaurant operators: Steak n Shake, where she shaped marketing strategy for the vintage burger-and-shake concept, and McDonald's, where she worked within one of the world's largest quick-service restaurant networks.

The appointment signals Blaze Pizza's push to elevate its brand presence in a crowded fast-casual pizza segment. The chain, founded in 2011 by Rick Wetzel and Mozza Mastro, has expanded to hundreds of locations across North America and internationally. Its model mirrors other assembly-line concepts like Chipotle or Sweetgreen, where diners select crust, sauce, cheese, and toppings while watching their pizza cook in a high-heat oven within minutes.

Stockard's background at Steak n Shake, the Indiana-based drive-in chain known for hand-dipped milkshakes and flat-top burgers, exposed her to marketing for nostalgia-driven brands. Her experience at McDonald's provided exposure to massive-scale customer acquisition, loyalty programs, and digital innovation across thousands of locations. Both brands operate in the value-focused space where Blaze competes, though with different customer expectations and price points.

The hiring reflects broader restaurant industry trends. Fast-casual pizza has become a crowded category. MOD Pizza, owned by Elpida Foods, operates roughly 500 locations. The Pie Hole and other regional players compete for the same millennial and Gen Z diners seeking customization, speed, and fresh ingredients. Marketing leaders with multi-brand experience increasingly move between chains to apply lessons from one concept to another.

Blaze Pizza has leaned heavily on digital ordering and delivery partnerships to drive growth post-pandemic. The chain invested in technology infrastructure to compete with larger players. A strong CMO can shape how the brand talks about its differentiators: wood-fired ovens, fresh dough made daily, locally sourced toppings at many locations, and the interactive ordering experience.

Stockard's hiring arrives as many restaurant chains refine their marketing spend amid economic pressures. Labor costs remain elevated. Consumer spending on dining out has plateaued compared to the pandemic boom. Brands now emphasize value, sustainability, and loyalty rewards to keep traffic flowing. Fast-casual pizza positions itself above quick-service but below full-service pricing, appealing to lunch crowds and casual diners.

Her mandate likely includes strengthening Blaze's competitive position against MOD Pizza and regional challengers, accelerating its digital strategy, and building brand loyalty in markets where awareness remains thin. The pizza category itself continues to grow, with consumers embracing non-traditional toppings and artisanal approaches. Blaze's emphasis on customization and speed aligns with those preferences.

Stockard's appointment underscores how restaurant marketing has professionalized. Leading growth at a chain with hundreds of locations requires expertise in digital customer acquisition, retention analytics, and omnichannel campaigns. Her proven success across established brands positions her to move Blaze Pizza's needle in a competitive marketplace where the customer's first impression often comes through a screen, not a storefront.