By: Mark Brandau
Friday, August 30, 2013
Toppers Pizza in Nation's Restaurant News
Toppers Pizza was recently featured in the Nation's Restaurant News in an article titled, "New franchise leaders talk growth plans, challenges." The article, which included a photo, highlights some new hires from national brands by asking for their insight and industry outlook for this year and next. In the interview round-up, Chris does a great job talking about how finding the right people in the right growth markets makes all the difference in growth plans, along with offering some additional brand information. Click here for the entire article or begin below.
Chris Cheek, Toppers Pizza: My experience has been that when a company wants to grow, it has to be by new-store openings, and in order to hit store-opening objectives, a lot of people have to tie it together, including someone in my position recruiting the right franchisees on the front end. Getting the best candidates in the right markets and getting the right real estate sites translates into opening restaurants, which helps the construction piece of the business as well.
Monday, August 19, 2013
Toppers featured on PizzaToday.com
Toppers was recently featured on PizzaToday.com in an article titled, "Toppers Pizza announces Chris Cheek as chief development officer." Click here to read the entire article or begin below.
Toppers Pizza announces Chris Cheek as chief development officer
WHITEWATER, Wis. –Toppers Pizza, an eclectic franchise pizza delivery brand, is thrilled to welcome Chris Cheek to the Toppers family as the brand’s first Chief Development Officer. Cheek’s impressive and extensive resume prepares him perfectly for this new role, which will include franchisee recruitment, as well as working closely with both franchisees and corporate to oversee the real estate selection and construction phases of new units. He will proceed along with the new franchisees just entering the system, from assisting with site-selection to overseeing successful openings.
Cheek holds a mechanical engineering degree from North Carolina State University, and upon graduation, he went through General Electric’s management training program, eventually working in sales and business development for the company. In 2002, he entered the restaurant world and developed a franchise sales program from the ground up for Bear Rock Café, where he gained a wealth of knowledge for what would become an extensive career focused on franchising. From there, he joined Bruegger’s bakery-cafés in 2006 just as they were restarting their franchise program. Cheek worked on the development of both traditional and non-traditional venues, such as airports and military bases. By the time he left the company, he had added numerous new franchise commitments for Bruegger’s. In 2012, when Bruegger’s was acquired by Le Duff America, Inc., Cheek served as the Vice President of Franchise Development for the restaurant group with responsibility for Bruegger's, Timothy's World Coffee, Michel's Bakery Cafés, la Madeleine Country French Café and Brioche Dorée. In 2012, Cheek went to work for Freebirds World Burrito, a 26-year-old brand that was just beginning to offer franchising opportunities. Cheek was hired as their first Vice President of Franchise Development.
Toppers Pizza announces Chris Cheek as chief development officer
WHITEWATER, Wis. –Toppers Pizza, an eclectic franchise pizza delivery brand, is thrilled to welcome Chris Cheek to the Toppers family as the brand’s first Chief Development Officer. Cheek’s impressive and extensive resume prepares him perfectly for this new role, which will include franchisee recruitment, as well as working closely with both franchisees and corporate to oversee the real estate selection and construction phases of new units. He will proceed along with the new franchisees just entering the system, from assisting with site-selection to overseeing successful openings.
Cheek holds a mechanical engineering degree from North Carolina State University, and upon graduation, he went through General Electric’s management training program, eventually working in sales and business development for the company. In 2002, he entered the restaurant world and developed a franchise sales program from the ground up for Bear Rock Café, where he gained a wealth of knowledge for what would become an extensive career focused on franchising. From there, he joined Bruegger’s bakery-cafés in 2006 just as they were restarting their franchise program. Cheek worked on the development of both traditional and non-traditional venues, such as airports and military bases. By the time he left the company, he had added numerous new franchise commitments for Bruegger’s. In 2012, when Bruegger’s was acquired by Le Duff America, Inc., Cheek served as the Vice President of Franchise Development for the restaurant group with responsibility for Bruegger's, Timothy's World Coffee, Michel's Bakery Cafés, la Madeleine Country French Café and Brioche Dorée. In 2012, Cheek went to work for Freebirds World Burrito, a 26-year-old brand that was just beginning to offer franchising opportunities. Cheek was hired as their first Vice President of Franchise Development.
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Toppers Pizza in Crain's Chicago Business
Toppers Pizza was recently featured in Crain's Chicago Business in an article titled, "Toppers Pizza plans more local stores." The brief discusses the expansion plans for Toppers Pizza in Chicago. Jackie discusses the areas within the Wicker Park neighborhood where their expansion is likely to occur. Chris Cheek discusses the overall expansion plans in Chicago. Click here to read the entire article or see below.
Whitewater, Wis.-based Toppers Pizza plans to open at least 12 more restaurants in the Chicago area over the next three years. One likely will open on or near Milwaukee Avenue between Armitage Avenue and Honore Street, followed by two more by the end of 2015, said Jacqueline Apkarian, a new franchisee. Ms. Apkarian said she expects to sign a lease on a 1,600- to 2,400-square-foot space by
October. The delivery chain, which offers mac 'n cheese pizza, is seeking 10-year leases for nine Chicago-area locations of 1,100 to 1,600 square feet, with a focus on downtown, said Chris Creek, chief development officer for Toppers. Two franchises are open in Chicago, 727 S. State St. and 120 S. Halsted St., according to the company website.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Toppers Celebrates the Big 2-2!
Toppers Pizza is turning 22 this Friday and we want YOU to celebrate with us. Stay tuned to our Facebook page and Twitter for a special deal this Friday, online only.
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