We Come Fast, No Apologies: Eclectic Pizza Franchise Launches Major Minneapolis Expansion

Toppers Pizza Continues Successful Emergence Outside of Wisconsin; Focuses on Maintaining Consistent Fanatical Brand Support Location-to-Location

The big pizza chains serve their purpose: Mediocre food, mediocre promises, mediocre connections. Toppers Pizza, though, a 26-unit eclectic pizza delivery franchise brand, doesn’t fit that mold. And now Toppers Pizza is going to bring the only pizza concept with personality to Minneapolis in full force– set to open the first of three locations in 2010 under the leadership of an experienced, yet young entrepreneur.

Leading Toppers expansion throughout Minneapolis is a seasoned Toppers Pizza entrepreneur who at 28 years old has already opened four Toppers locations in Wisconsin. The first Minneapolis location opened in 2006 to test the market, and now, John Kubisiak is helping Toppers penetrate Minnesota’s twin cities even further. Kubisiak and his partner, Greg Morrison, signed a development deal with Toppers Pizza to bring three Toppers Pizza locations to Minneapolis by 2012, with the goal of opening first in mid-2010.

Kubisiak’s development plans are just one piece of Topper’s ultimate Minnesota growth strategy. The extremely hot franchise already operates three Minnesota locations in Mankato, St. Cloud and Minneapolis with plans to open at least 35 more in the metro Minneapolis/St. Paul area, delivering a similar clustered growth strategy to that of its successful Wisconsin growth.

“John has quickly proven his ability to operate as a multi-unit franchisee,” said Scott Gittrich, CEO and founder of Toppers Pizza, who Kubisiak said inspired him to achieve large goals within the system. “Multi-unit ownership takes extreme dedication and drive. John has both!”

From Kubisiak’s college days of eating at Toppers Pizza every single day, he knew this pizza concept was different from any of the competition out there. It was his love of Toppers Pizza that drove him to work at Toppers in college as a delivery driver and then at Toppers corporate headquarters in Whitewater, WI as a finance intern while working toward his bachelor’s in finance.

“I literally ate, slept and breathed Toppers Pizza. I used to order Topperstix every night at 2-3 a.m.,” Kubisiak said. “It was the pizza hotspot that all college students fell in love with.”

Seeing how fanatical people were about Toppers Pizza and then working in the corporate office and understanding how the proven franchise model worked, Kubisiak did not think twice about wanting to open one of his own. Right after graduation, at 22 years young, he opened his first location. Now with three very successful locations under his belt and a fourth set to open in November, Kubisiak is excited to lead the brand’s entrance into Minneapolis.

Kubisiak plans to open Toppers in the Minneapolis location of Dinkytown, a central area to the University of Minnesota.

“When I think about college, my experiences with Toppers Pizza are among some of my best memories,” Kubisiak said. “I can’t wait to introduce University of Minnesota students to a pizza place that will blow their idea of pizza out of the water.”

Kubisiak will also carry on a Toppers tradition when it opens its doors to the public next year by giving away free food for a year to the first 50 customers. This marketing method creates a fanatical madness, and rush, with Toppers’ customers waiting as long as 48 hours prior to the opening of the doors.

“Once Minneapolis area residents taste our pizza and experience our brand, they won’t go back to the competition,” said Kubisiak, noting the freshness, uniqueness and quality of Toppers ingredients. “I’m confident Toppers Pizza will become a household name in Minneapolis.”

Unlike other franchise brands, Toppers makes an earnings claim in its franchise disclosure documents, stating that the Wisconsin locations make an average of $945k/year (2008 AUV), which is a remarkable financial measure given the size (1,600 – 1,800 sq. feet) and that industry averages are nestled right around $600k/year. The high return on investment is built from the fanatical aspects of the brand, as well as dedicated, driven franchisees who are deeply connected to those in their community – especially the nearest university. Franchisees entering the Toppers system must have a minimum liquidity of $150k and a net worth of $300k. The average cost to open a Toppers is $400k.

“As we grow, like a balloon, out of Wisconsin and into surrounding states and then nationwide, we want to maintain a stronghold on top-tier franchisees. By doing so, we can maintain our core culture, our brand evolution, and our methodical growth pattern,” Gittrich said.