Toppers goes on-air with Fox 19, new discusses Cincinnati location

Toppers was featured in an article called “Free Food for a year at Toppers grand opening” on Fox 19’s website. The article discusses Toppers’ plan to blow up its grand opening celebration with free pizza for a year to the first 50 in line. You can check out the article here:

Free food for a year at Toppers grand opening

Wisconsin based Toppers Pizza is opening their first Ohio location with a huge celebration. The first 50 customers receive free food for a year.

In other cities, fans have reportedly waited up to 48 hours in advance for doors to open. The first 50 customers will get a coupon book with one free item per week for a year. (Read More)

Toppers Pizza looks to expand into Oxford, Ohio

Toppers was recently featured in the Miami University of Ohio’s student newspaper, Miami Student called “Dine-in pizza shop hopes to open in Oxford.” They talked about the ways in which Toppers caters to college students, from late-night hours to unique menu items to ping pong ball dispensers, and discussed why Oxford is such a perfect place for Toppers to be. They said they plan to enter Oxford sometime within the next 12 to 18 months. Annie also interviewed Alan Kyger, Oxford economic development director, who spoke about Oxford’s lack of dine-in restaurants, a void that Toppers Pizza would certainly fill. Check out a portion of the article below or read the full story here.

Dine-in pizza shop hopes to open in Oxford
By Annie Butler

Toppers Pizza, a pizza chain based in Whitewater, Wis. hopes to expand its franchise to Oxford.

The avant-garde establishment caters to a college-aged market and plans to open a restaurant in Oxford within the next 12 to 18 months. Rick Fullarton, a 2005 Miami University graduate, will spearhead the expansion as Toppers Pizza's newest co-owner and operator.

The Oxford restaurant will be one of 15 franchises in Toppers' Ohio expansion plan. Toppers Pizza targets the 18 to 34 age group and intends to break ground near colleges and universities, according to Fullarton. Fullarton is opening the first Ohio franchise near the University of Cincinnati Oct. 2.

According to Brett Larrabee, Toppers Pizza director of franchise development, Toppers will compete with Oxford's nine well-established pizza restaurants by relying on its irreverent marketing plan.

"(Toppers is) a brand all about you," Larrabee said. "Our marketing is very unique, some may say it's borderline shocking, but the kids like it and appreciate it and think it's cool." (Read More)

Toppers goes on air with Cincinnati's WLWT

Toppers Pizza was featured on Cincinnati's WLWT News 5 Today’s weekend morning show. The segment aired on Sunday (9/26) and Cincinnati franchisees Dave and Rick Fullarton were the guests. The Fullartons brought in some delicious pizzas for the TV crew to sample, including the famous Hangover Helper, CBR, Buffalo Chicken, and of course, Topperstix! They talked about what makes Toppers different from the masses, how they cater to college students, and what they’ll be doing for their grand opening blow-out on October 2nd. This will be a great way to spread the word to Cincinnati residents about Toppers’ upcoming grand opening, and get people excited about everything they have to offer. Check out the segment by clicking on the image below.

Cincinnati Business Courier focuses on Toppers Expansion into Ohio

Toppers Pizza is laying out the red carpet for its new opening in Cincinnati on Oct. 2. The Cincinnati Business Courier recently reported on Toppers opening where the first 50 people in line will receive free pizza for a year with other giveaways and prizes to occur that day as well. Check out a portion of the story below or read the full article here:

New pizza franchise coming to Cincinnati

By Lisa Benson

Some Cincinnati entrepreneurs are bringing a new pizza chain to Cincinnati, one that promises an "eclectic" personality.

Called Toppers, the chain is based Wisconsin and counts 26 locations in four states. Locally, Bob Fullarton and his sons Dave and Rick are opening Greater Cincinnati's first Toppers on Oct. 2 at 345 Calhoun St. in University Heights. Major pizza lovers might want to participate in their planned campout, since the first 50 in line will get free food for a year. (Read More)

Cincinnati Enquirer previews Toppers' new Cincinnati location

The Cincinnati Enquirer has just posted an article about Toppers Pizza’s new opening in two weeks! Food Reporter, Polly Campbell spoke with Toppers owner, Dave Fullarton, about why he chose to bring this new pizza franchise to Cincinnati for the first time. The story comments on Toppers’ legendary grand opening celebrations and describes its unique menu. Check out a portion of the story below or read the full article here:

Topper’s Pizza to open here.

Fifty people will get free food for a year when Toppers Pizza opens at 345 Calhoun St. in University Heights on October 2. This Wisconsin-based chain, just now moving into Ohio, gives away a coupon book for one free food item a week to the first 50 people to come in. This usually leads to lines and people camping out overnight.

Then they settle into selling pizza, subs, quesadillas and more, mostly to college students. That’s their market, rather than the families that most national pizza chains are going for. They do a lot of delivery, on college student hours, from 10:30 a.m. until 3 a.m. every day. There are also seats and carry-out, but it’s not meant to be mostly dine-in. They don’t sell beer. The company’s big on social networking and maintains an irreverent image to appeal to their 18-34 year old customers. They include some important college icons in their decor: a telephone pole for stapling up notices and a ping-pong ball dispenser for playing. . . . ping pong. (Read More)

Toppers Pizza hires in down economy, gets featured on CNNMoney.com

Toppers Pizza was recently featured on CNNMoney.com as a small business that is hiring in today’s economy! Dave Gilewski, owner of Toppers Pizza in Franklin, WI, was interviewed for the story. The story mentions Toppers unique pizzas that makes Toppers one-of-a-kind. Dave attributes his huge success as a small business owner to building great relationships with his customers. Check out a portion of the story below or read the full article here:

Small businesses that are actually hiring!

Toppers Pizza
Location: Franklin, Wisc.
Employees hired in last year: 12
Total Employees: about 30

How about taco sauce, taco meat, mozzarella, cheddar, lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, green onions and tortilla strips -- on one pizza?! From the day Dave Gilewski opened his Toppers Pizza franchise in Franklin, Wisc., -- just outside of Milwaukee -- the franchise store was over run with customers. "We keep growing and growing," Gilewski said. "It is a great problem to have." (Read More)

Toppers Promotes 'Spank Your Pizza' on FOX 6 Wake Up

The Toppers team just did a fun segment with FOX 6 Wake Up News on its new social media contest called “Spank Your Pizza” where Toppers fanatics are tasked with finding the next pizza for Toppers menu. Director of Marketing Scott Iversen and General Manager Adam Oldenburg appeared on the segment.

 

Toppers taps Five Guys vet for franchising role

Nation’s Restaurant News recently published an article about Toppers Pizza’s new growth strategy moving into the next decade. Toppers plans on taking the 26-unit eclectic pizza chain to 500 units by 2020. How will they get there? With the help of experienced franchise guru, Brett Larrabee, a former member of the franchise development team at Five Guys Burger and Fries and Panchero’s Mexican Grill. Read a portion of the article below or check out the full story here.

Toppers taps Five Guys vet for franchising role
Regional pizza chain has goal of having 500 stores in 10 years

Toppers Pizza has hired a franchising expert, most recently from Five Guys, to spearhead its own expansion plans, which include growing the 20-year-old chain from its current 26 units to 500 by 2020.

Brett Larrabee, the fast-casual pizza chain’s new director of franchise development, most recently was director of New York City operations for Five Guys Burgers & Fries, which has undergone rapid expansion over the past few years. Before Five Guys, Larrabee was director of franchising at Pancheros Mexican Grill in Coralville, Iowa, and before that he was a Subway franchisee.

Larrabee said he moved to Whitewater, Wis., to join Toppers because he liked the economics of the restaurants, which in 2009 had average unit sales of $966,000 and $186,250 in profit — a margin of more than 19 percent.

“There are few opportunities that have strong economics that are consistent and viable,” Larrabee said, pointing to the chain’s 20-year track record as an asset. (Read more)

Toppers Pizza Celebrates 20 Years; Ramps Up National Growth Strategy

Hires Franchising Veteran to Run Development Campaign for First Time and Position Franchise for Aggressive Growth

WHITEWATER, WI – CEO and Founder of Toppers Pizza, Scott Gittrich’s vision has come to fruition over the past 20 years. That vision was to create an eclectic pizza delivery experience while maintaining a better product and service than the competition.

“The reason for our success is simple: We are not one of the ‘Wal-Marts’ of the industry. The big chains have lost identity and brand connection,” said Scott Gittrich, founder and CEO of the growing Whitewater, WI-based 26-unit franchise brand. “Our customers are fanatical about our brand. Our quirkiness and edginess has given our brand character, thus we have been able to continue our growth and bonding with an untapped national demographic – the 18-34-year olds.”

While many brands hurry to sell franchises and get as many locations open as quickly as possible, that can prove to be a failure. Toppers has stuck to the mantra of slow and steady growth ensuring that its open locations survive despite even the harshest of economic conditions. Over the past 20 years, Toppers has created a sound system, and is ready to unleash its opportunity to the masses.

Supported by almost one million dollar AUVs, a fanatical fan base with an almost cult-like following and franchisees who eat, breathe and sleep the brand, Toppers has all the pieces in place to become a huge national player. The way it will get there: hiring a 20-plus year franchising veteran who has experience with brands like Five Guys and Pancheros and who has also been a multi-unit Subway franchisee himself, as well as unleashing its first-ever national advertising strategy for franchise development.

Brett Larrabee, the new Director of Franchise Development for Toppers Pizza, said himself that at first he thought that Toppers was just another pizza place, but upon learning more about Toppers, he realized that Toppers was different.

“What I found was a company that was offering a buying experience. They were talking to the pizza consumer’s heaviest user demographic (college students) in a way that they wanted to be spoken to. They have created a Marketing Machine,” Larrabee said. “As a result, Toppers is able to maintain strong margins in what is usually a commodity/price-driven business.”

Larrabee will enact a slightly different franchising strategy to help Toppers grow throughout the country, putting a focus on connecting with multi-unit developers who want to build up store density in larger markets. Toppers’ next focal points for saturation are Chicago, Minneapolis, and Cincinnati, but the franchise is also looking at development opportunities with multi-unit franchisees in large markets nationwide.

“We’re looking for franchisees who are excited by excellent unit economics and an entire map to play with,” Larrabee said. “The larger multi-unit franchisees haven’t even been exposed to Toppers franchise model yet and once they see what’s possible, this brand is going to explode.”

Aiding Larabee to get the word out about the tremendous opportunity Toppers presents to potential franchisees will be a new focus on franchise development marketing.

“Before now, the budget wasn’t there to focus on growth outside of corporate and organic growth,” he said. “Now, we are going to market our brand right to the big players who will be unable to look away once they see what’s possible.”

Franchisee Profile: Dan Ogiba and Brad Vinton (St. Paul, MN)

Franchisee Since: 2010
Franchise Locations: Two slated for St. Paul area

How Dan Ogiba and Brad Vinton Got Started With Toppers Pizza…

Dan and Brad have been best friends since becoming college roommates their freshman year at Hamline University. Both played football for Hamline and became fast friends. Over the next five years, Dan and Brad roomed together and shared the same passion for starting their own business one day.

During game day one day last year, Dan had a bunch of his friends over watching the game. Of course, the group of friends wanted pizza for their viewing party. Dan had taken out a coupon book he kept of all the pizza chains that sent coupons. He laid them on the table and one of his friends said, “We’ve got to order Toppers,” pointing to the Toppers mailer on the table. Dan had never tasted Toppers before, but since that day, he’s been hooked.

Less than a year later, Dan ran into Scott Iversen, Toppers Director of Marketing, at the IFA convention in San Antonio, while he was there representing Haagen-Dazs as Director of Franchise Development for the ice cream franchise. He was eager to speak with Scott because he loved Toppers Pizza. He found out then that Toppers was looking to grow.

Since then, Dan has corralled his best friend, Brad, to become co-owners of new locations in St. Paul. The duo has signed on to open two locations in St. Paul, with one of those being in the same neighborhood as their alma mater at Hamline. Brad will be the general manager while Dan will continue to work with Haagen-Dazs.

What Intrigued Dan Ogiba and Brad Vinton about Toppers Pizza …

That initial reaction from Dan’s friend about his excitement that Toppers’ had a Minneapolis location is what drew Dan in from the start. With Dan and Brad’s research of Toppers, the two have learned that Toppers has customers that are more connected, more engaged and more fanatical than most other brands. If that type of fanaticism is possible in Wisconsin, the tag team is up for the challenge to bring it to St. Paul as well. In addition, Dan, working with a franchise system that has been in existence for many years, was impressed that the Toppers’ corporate team is so well put together, comparing it to some of the best franchises in the country.

Dan and Brad are excited to bring Toppers to their college town – where they have their fondest memories – and create the Toppers experience. In Dan and Brad’s opinion, St. Paul doesn’t have a pizza place with personality or one that gives its customers an emotional connection to the brand. An ample part of building their business will be to ensure that everyone who visits Toppers has a great experience and making those customers, customers for life.

Something Interesting About Dan Ogiba and Brad Vinton Story…

Dan and Brad’s goal is to open their first Toppers location in time for Super Bowl weekend 2011. Their first location will be in the proximity of four St. Paul universities. Their second will be around Hamline University and the University of MN, St. Paul.

Back to School Boosts Business

School is back in session and Toppers is putting its focus on greeting students with the very best pizza in town. Recently, WKBT in La Crosse, did a story on how students coming back to school makes a huge impact on local business. Check out the story here:

Back to School Boosts Business
Reported by Kristen Elicerio

Each fall thousands of college students return to the Coulee Region. With all three of La Crosse's colleges back in session, the local economy should see some benefits.

Knowing the impact that college students have on La Crosse businesses, last December Toppers Pizza moved it's location from The Village Plaza to the campus area.

"The students are walking by. It's a high-traffic area. There's more visibility, easier access to campus. And since we've moved it's been great," said owner Denise Downing.

Students say when they return to town they're eager to reconnect with friends.

"Definitely a lot of our friends are back in town and we love to get together and hang out," said UW-La Crosse senior Katie Rhodes. (Read More)