Toppers Pizza was featured in the Wisconsin State Journal

Executive Q&A: Toppers Pizza founder Scott Gittrich on pie appeal

By JANE BURNS jburns@madison.com 608-252-6440 Posted: Saturday, February 27, 2010 2:00 pm

WHITEWATER - Scott Gittrich knows it's possible to dream big in a small town, and that those dreams can come true.

That's why as unassuming as his Toppers Pizza headquarters might seem in a strip mall near the UW-Whitewater campus, the company is positioning itself to continue its regional growth and become a player on the national pizza scene.

In 1991, Gittrich left his job as an operations manager for Domino's Pizza to open the first Toppers in Champaign, Ill. Two years later, he opened another location in Whitewater, which became home to the company headquarters.

From there, the company has grown to 25 stores that target the 18- to 34-year-old demographic with unique promotions, late hours, specialty pizzas such as the Hangover Helper, the signature Topperstix and goofy details such as little green army men delivered along with napkins and hot peppers.

The company began franchising in 2000. Toppers expanded into the Madison and Milwaukee markets and in 2006 entered the Twin Cities market. Now Gittrich and his company have their eye on having 100 stores open by 2013 and 500 by 2020. (Read More)