WASHINGTON — Malawi’s Pizza, a small pizza chain with three locations in Utah, will open its first East Coast location in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

That will be the first of five locations the company plans to open in the region. A second location in Northern Virginia, possibly in the Woodbridge area, is in the works, the company said.

Like its other locations, for every meal purchased at a Malawi’s Pizza restaurant, a nutrient-dense meal is donated to a child in Malawi, Africa, through its meal-for-meal exchange program. The restaurant, which bills itself as “pizza with a purpose,” says it has provided more than 767,000 meals to children in need since its first restaurant opened.

“We believe in nurturing not only the people of Malawi, but also within our own community,” said corporate CEO and culinary chef Kent Andersen in a statement. “Pizza with a Purpose is more than a marketing tactic, it is part of who we are as a company.”

The centerpiece in Malawi’s Pizza dining rooms is a large African acacia tree.

Malawi’s Pizza’s menu includes pizza, pastas and salads.

The Fredericksburg location is at 1 Towne Centre Blvd., and will open this fall.

The company is also opening two new locations in Texas.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to change the spelling of Malawi’s Pizza.