Toppers Pizza Franchise

Toppers Pizza featured in Omaha World Herald

2012-02-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

Toppers Pizza was featured in an article titled “Free Food for First 50 People” in The Omaha World Herald. Reporter Sarah Baker Hansen interviewed Toppers of Lincoln owner Jon P. Crowe and mentioned that the Lincoln Toppers will be giving the first 50 customers free food for a year. She also noted that Toppers hopes to open an Omaha location soon. Click here to view the article or begin reading below.

Omaha bar and restaurant make 'best-of' lists
By Sarah Baker Hansen

Free food for first 50 customers

A new pizza restaurant in downtown Lincoln plans to give away free food for a year to the first 50 customers through the door.

Toppers Pizza will open Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at 1226 P St.

Manager Jon P. Crowe said those 50 customers will get one free item per week for 52 weeks. After the initial giveaway, he said, the store will continue to give out free food and swag throughout the day.

(Read More)

Toppers Pizza featured in the Lincoln Journal Star

2012-02-20T09:00:00.000-08:00

Toppers Pizza was featured in an article titled “Toppers wants piece of downtown dining scene” that was printed in The Lincoln Journal Star. Reporter Matt Olberding spoke with Toppers of Lincoln owner Jon P. Crowe about their decision to open a Toppers in the Lincoln area, and their plans to expand to Omaha and the rest of Nebraska. Click here to view the full article, or begin reading below.

Toppers wants piece of downtown dining scene
by Matt Olberding

Jon P. Crowe says his dad, Jon S. Crowe, spent three years searching for a really good brand of pizza to bring to Lincoln.

The Crowes think they've found it in Toppers, a pizza chain based out of Wisconsin.

"We just knew it was going to be a really good thing for Lincoln," said the younger Crowe, who is the restaurant's general manager.

(Read More)

Toppers Pizza featured in The Daily Nebraskan

2012-02-17T09:23:00.000-08:00

Toppers Pizza was recently featured in two articles in The Daily Nebraskan, titled "Toppers Pizza to give away free food for a year" and "People brave temperatures, camp out all night for free Toppers Pizza," which ran on February 10, 2012 and February 12, respectively. The articles were based on interviews between reporter Tammy Bain, Toppers of Lincoln owner Jon P. Crowe, and CEO Scott Gittrich. The first article discussed the decision discussed Toppers' early beginnings, as well as plans for development throughout Nebraska.

In the second article, Reporter Tammy Bain spoke with several fans who waited in line overnight to be one of the first 50 people in line to win free food for a year. Bain also followed Jon S. Crowe the morning of the opening, and documented all the happenings the morning of the opening, including the awarding of the “King of the Line” to the first person in line.

The full articles are available here and here, and you can begin reading them below.

Toppers Pizza to give away free food for a year
By Tammy Bain

Growing up, Jon P. Crowe watched as his father try to create the perfect pizza dough. P. Crowe and his father, Jon S. Crowe, always wanted to own their own pizzeria.

"We always had pizza in our blood," P. Crowe said. "We had pizza three to four times a week."
(Read More)

People brave temperatures, camp out all night for free Toppers Pizza
By Tammy Bain

At least 50 people camped out overnight in freezing temperatures Friday for a year's worth of free pizza.

As temperatures dropped to 4 degrees with a minus-10-degree windchill, pop-up tents, blankets, chairs and even a grill lined the streets leading to 1226 P St., the new Toppers Pizza location.
(Read More)

Toppers Pizza featured by Downtown Lincoln Association

2012-02-10T12:18:00.000-08:00

Toppers Pizza was featured in an article on the Downtown Lincoln Association site titled “Father-Son Duo Set to Open Toppers Pizza Downtown.” The article was based on the interview we coordinated with reporter Matt Hames and Toppers of Lincoln owner, Jon P. Crowe about the new opening on February 11, 2012. The article discussed different Toppers menu items, the store location and store hours. Crowe also discussed the decision to go into business with his dad, and their plans to open additional stores in Nebraska. The article also included photos of menu items, staff, and interior/exterior shots of the store. Click here to view the full article, or begin reading below.

Father-Son Duo Set to Open Toppers Pizza Downtown

There’s just one day left before downtown Lincoln’s newest restaurant, Toppers Pizza, opens up, and General Manager Jon P. Crowe couldn’t be more excited.

“That whole day is going to be like a big party atmosphere; this place should be rocking all day. Hopefully we’ll have a big line out front.”

(Read More)

Toppers Pizza featured in QSR Magazine

2012-02-06T08:41:00.000-08:00

Toppers Pizza was featured in QSR Magazine in a story titled “Is Franchising Right for You?” published on Monday, February 6, 2012 and in the February 2012 edition. In a story about when to franchise your business, president and founder Scott Gittrich did an amazing job explaining why he wanted to open a few successful stores of his own before opening up the franchise opportunity due to wanting to perfect the model and opportunity. In the article, Scott also provides some great advice to others looking to franchise their business and what they can expect to endure. Click here to view the full article, or begin reading below.

Is Franchising Right for You?
By Julie Knudson

As the economy slowly strengthens, founders of successful eateries may be considering franchising as a growth model, but experts say CEOs must approach it with caution and do their due diligence to make sure it’s appropriate for their brand.

The first step, experts say, is to explore the viability of their brand on a bigger scale.

(Read More)

Toppers Pizza featured on CBS Minnesota

2012-01-18T15:07:00.000-08:00

Toppers Pizza was featured in a segment on CBS Minnesota, which covered the January 14 opening in Bloomington, Minnesota. The segment talks of Toppers’ Saturday grand opening in which the first 50 customers in line received free food for a year and shows campers in line waiting to receive the prize. View the segment embedded below.

Toppers Pizza featured in 2nd segment on NBC 15 Madison

2012-01-18T14:45:00.000-08:00

Toppers Pizza was featured on a second segment on Saturday January 14th, 2012 during NBC 15 Madison's morning news. The second segment also discusses the new opening of the Madison East Toppers location and the fans who waited in line overnight to win free pizza for a year. It includes interview with 2 fans in line and shows footage of first 50 people entering the new location. View the segment on the NBC 15 Madison site here or embedded below.

Toppers Pizza featured in NBC 15 Madison

2012-01-18T14:34:00.000-08:00

Toppers Pizza was featured in a segment Friday January 13, 2012 on NBC 15 Madison discussing the new opening of the Madison East location and the fans in line to win free pizza for a year. It also mentions the other Toppers location in Madison and shows footage of the new location. View the segment on the NBC 15 Madison site here or embedded below.

Toppers Pizza featured in Wisconsin State Journal

2012-01-18T14:29:00.000-08:00

Toppers Pizza was recently featured in an article titled "Restaurant News" in Wisconsin State Journal. The article, written by Samara Kalk Derby, talks about Toppers’ new Madison east location and the grand opening this past weekend. It also talks about the chain’s expansion plans and the new location’s updated look. Click here to view the full article or begin reading the feature on Toppers below.

Restaurant News
By Samara Kalk Derby

Toppers Pizza was scheduled to open its second location in Madison on Saturday near East Towne Mall, with plans to open another in Fitchburg this spring.

The original Madison location, 1368 Regent St., has been open for more than 10 years.

The chain, based in Whitewater, has locations throughout the Midwest and is popular with the college crowd. It's known for non-traditional pizza toppings such as mac 'n cheese and potatoes.

(Read More)

Toppers Pizza featured in Cincinnati Enquirer

2011-12-29T08:54:00.000-08:00

Toppers Pizza was recently featured in the Cincinnati Enquirer in an article titled, "Toppers Pizza open in Highland Heights". The article talks of the new Toppers opening in Highland Heights and mentions the owners – Ricky and Dave Fullarton. It goes on to mention Toppers targets the college-aged market and briefly describes the Toppers concept. Click here to read the full article or begin reading below.

Toppers Pizza open in Highland Heights
by Shauna Steigerwald

The new Toppers Pizza in Highland Heights opened last weekend. It’s at at 2517 Wilson Ave., across the street from Northern Kentucky University.

Dave Fullarton, who owns the restaurant and another Toppers near the University of Cincinnati with his father, Bill, and brother, Ricky, said the chain targets college students and young adults with its irreverent sense of humor, its atmosphere — with flat screen TVs, couches and funny postings on the walls — and comfort-food offerings such as mac and cheese pizza and “Hangover Helper” pizza.

(Read More)

Toppers Pizza featured in New York Times

2011-12-08T08:03:00.000-08:00

Toppers was recently featured in the New York Times in an article entitled, "Opening Big Without Spending a Fortune". The article talks about strategies for small businesses to increase awareness for a grand opening by engaging with the customer in ways other than conventional advertising. It mentions Toppers’ approach for its grand opening in South Milwaukee, saying the location gave away a year of free food. The article goes on to add that some people camped out for two days to stake their claim. Also, while in line, customers were treated to Toppers menu items, and employees hosted competitions (including a dough throw) to keep the crowd warm and happy. It adds that to promote the event, Toppers used social media and did a mailing to 10,000 people in the area at a cost of $3,000. It received coverage from the local TV affiliates. A portion of the article is included below and can be read in its entirety by clicking here.

Opening Big Without Spending a Fortune

In late October, a Toppers Pizza opened in South Milwaukee, Wis., and gave away a year of free food — a coupon book with one free item per week — to the first 50 in line. Some people camped out for two days to stake their claim. While in line, they were treated to Toppers menu items, and employees hosted competitions (including a dough throw) to keep the crowd warm and happy. To promote the event, Toppers used social media and did a mailing to 10,000 people in the area at a cost of $3,000. It received coverage from the local TV affiliates.
(Read More)

Toppers featured in Chicago Tribune

2011-12-06T08:50:00.000-08:00

Toppers was recently featured in the Chicago Tribune. The article, written by Erin Chan Ding gives a comprehensive overview of the Toppers Pizza chain, including its college-aged demographic, menu items, company sales, number of locations and even how much it costs to invest in a franchise. The article goes on to profile Greektown owner Robin Pearce. It also includes perspective from a pizza customer and a local pizza store owner. It includes quotes from Pearce, president Scott Gittrich and director of franchise development Scott Iversen. A portion of the article is included below and can be read in its entirety by clicking here.
Chain bets on Chicago's pizza appetite
Wisconsin-based Toppers enters city with Greektown location, plans more

In a formerly empty Greektown storefront, one of Chicago's newest pizza places opens Saturday, serving up a cheeky attitude, laid-back decor and quirky fare aimed at pleasing the college kids and 20-somethings it's aiming to attract.

Slogans for Toppers Pizza dot the windows, declaring: "Spank Your Buds" and "Bad Pizza Sucks.'' Its menu says, "For a Free Taste of Big-Chain Pizza Just Eat the Cardboard Under Ours."

"Yeah, we're kind of sophomoric," said Scott Gittrich, president of Toppers Pizza Inc., a chain based in Whitewater, Wis. "We talk smack with our customers. We talk smack with each other. We've just always been like that."

Reveling in its own irreverence, Toppers has served its carb-laden food to Midwestern 18- to 24-year-olds for the past 20 years and now has big plans for more units here. But there's a big question to be answered: Can a place that sells mac-and-cheese or potato pizzas survive in a town known for its pizza prowess?

"The reason we think we can make it in Chicago and that we will make it is that there are several million proven pizza lovers in Chicago," said Gittrich, 48, who started Toppers in 1991. "We have a distinct place in the market. We don't do it the way other people do it. The way we talk to our customer, our menu, the way we interact with our customer is simply different."

(Read More)

Toppers featured on Cincinnati.com

2011-11-29T13:43:00.000-08:00

Recently, Toppers was featured on Cincinnati.com. The blog post mentions Toppers' Highland Heights’ Dec. 10 grand opening and the promotion of the first 50 people in line get free food for a year. It mentions the Highland Heights location is the second for the father-son trio of Fullartons, with a quote from Dave Fullarton. Below is a portion of the article and it can be read in its entirety by clicking here.
Toppers Pizza coming to Highland Heights

A new Toppers Pizza will open in Highland Heights on Dec. 10, and at their grand opening will give away free food for a year to the first 50 people in line.

It will be the second Toppers in the Greater Cincinnati area. Bob Fullarton and his sons Dave and Ricky own and operate the first location near the University of Cincinnati and this new one, which is across the street from the entrance to Northern Kentucky University at 2517 Wilson Ave.

The two locations near colleges are no coincidence: Toppers is aimed squarely at the college-age demographic, with their comfort-food choices like macaroni and cheese pizza, couches to lounge on while waiting for dinner, and pizzas like The Hangover Helper. Both locations keep college student hours, too: 10:30 a.m.-3 a.m. daily. Dave Fullarton said that the pizza crust is made with fresh dough on site.

(Read More)

Toppers launches new look on Facebook

2011-11-22T14:35:00.000-08:00

Toppers has recently released a new look on their national Facebook page. Over the summer, Toppers was focused on promoting the launch of their food tuck, Spank Tank. The new main image on Toppers Facebook page now highlights the Tall Boy, a fusion between Topperstix and pizza. This change also includes the launch of the Show Us Your Tall Boy video contest. Details on the contest and how you could win $250 can be found here.

Toppers featured in Milwaukee Business Journal

2011-11-04T11:33:00.000-07:00

Toppers was recently featured in an article in the Milwaukee Business Journal. The article highlighted Toppers newest opening in South Shore, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The reporter, Stacy Vogel Davis, also lends her personal experience with Toppers in the article, writing her memories of the Bay View opening last October. A portion of the article is below and can be read in its entirety by clicking here.

Toppers opens Saturday in South Milwaukee

Another Toppers Pizza is opening in the Milwaukee area, continuing the chain’s growth in southeast Wisconsin.

The restaurant, Toppers’ 10th in the Milwaukee area, will open Saturday at 2971 S. Chicago Ave. in South Milwaukee. Franchisee Dave Gilewski also owns a Toppers in Franklin.

The new shop will continue Toppers’ tradition of giving away free pizza for a year to the first 50 people through the door Saturday. When the Bay View Toppers opened last October, I saw people lined up outside the night before to ensure they were part of the lucky 50.

(Read More)

Toppers Launches Show Us Your Tall Boy™ Video Contest

2011-10-24T06:43:00.000-07:00

Toppers has recently launched its next social media contest, Show Us Your Tall Boy™ Video Contest. The contest is open to all fans of their national Facebook fan page, which can be found here. Toppers' contest asks their fans to submit creative videos through a tab on their Facebook page. After the submission period is complete, the fans of the page will be able to vote for their favorites. The submission which receives the most votes will receive a $250 Toppers gift card and forever be enshrined in the Toppers Fans Hall of Fame.

To enter the learn more about the contest or submit your creative video today, become a fan of their fan page by clicking here.

Toppers featured in La Crosse Tribune & Courier-Life

2011-10-12T13:20:00.000-07:00

Toppers Pizza was recently featured in an article in the La Crosse Tribune and Courier-Life. The article informs readers of Toppers’ Oct. 12 partnership with the Onalaska-La Crosse Fire Department, saying firefighters will deliver pizza to Toppers customers from 4:30 p.m.-8 p.m. and replace smoke detector batteries and provide smoke detectors for those needing one. The brief also includes Toppers’ number for delivery. A portion of the article is included below and can be read in its entirety by clicking here.

OFD to deliver pizza, fire safety help Oct. 12

Topper’s Pizza and the Onalaska Fire Department are joining forces to make sure home smoke detectors are in working order.

When a pizza is ordered 4:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, customers can request that firefighters bring their pizza and check their smoke detectors. Toppers will provide batteries and smoke detectors, if needed. Call 779-7979 to order a pizza.

(Read More)

Franchisee Profile: Vishal Bhatnagar, Franchisee of Menomonee Falls, WI

2011-09-30T13:56:00.000-07:00

Recently, we sat down with one of our newest franchisees, Vishal Bhatnagar, opening a Toppers location in Menomonee Falls, WI on January 26, 2012. Read below to find out his background and the process he went through to become a franchisee of Toppers Pizza.

Q: Where are you from?
A: I am originally from India although I spent most of my childhood and teenage years in Kenya. My family moved to Africa when I was seven and I stayed until I was 18.

Q: What was your career before franchising?
A: I came to the United States to go to college. I attended Purdue University and earned a degree in aviation technology. Unfortunately, the events of 9/11 made it very hard to get a job in my field, as many of those jobs were being eliminated so I went to New York and worked for an engineering company. After a year of working there, my visa expired and I was forced to go back to my home country of India. Even though it wasn’t the most ideal situation, it gave me a chance to know the country of my origin. I also went back to school for my MBA and upon completing that, I worked for the largest coffee exporter in India. While there, I met my wife, Shruti, and we got married. During this time, my parents had applied for my Greencard so I could get back to the United States. In 2009, I was granted it and left India to come back to the U.S.

My dad had got into franchising in the U.S. and bought a Quality Inn & Suites in Menomonee so when I came back to the states, I helped him run that business. I’ve been doing that for the last 2.5 years and now I’m desiring to change things up a bit.

Q: How did you learn about the brand?
A: Toppers is very established in Whitewater, WI which is where my cousin went to school. My uncle also lives in Whitewater. I was initially exposed to the brand through them. It’s been a part of my life since 1998 or so.

Q: Why did you decide to open your own business?
A: My MBA has really added value to my understanding of running a business. With that background and the experience of helping my dad with the hotel for several years, I feel like I have the necessary skills to be a great business owner. I’ve also been very successful on the marketing front. Shruti, my wife, has a degree in restaurant and hospitality management and will be helping me part time with the new location. I believe that we have the necessary business skills and industry knowledge to be very successful!

Q: What was appealing to you about joining a franchise system?
A: I like the support of a franchise system. The hotel is also a franchise and I know from that experience about the tremendous amount of support corporate provides. I like that everything is standardized which helps with brand recognition and a consistent brand proposition. One very appealing thing about joining Toppers is that I’m getting involved in its prime growth stage. When the company really takes off into a national brand, I believe it will be very beneficial for me.

Q: With regard to your previous experience, what skills do you feel helped you in your business?
A: I believe my marketing experience will help me the most in this new business. I worked in an integrated marketing communication position at the coffee company in India. I was responsible for national marketing opportunities. I brought new ideas to market the product. I look at marketing as a holistic approach where there are several different pieces to the puzzle that make the engine run. I also have an appreciation for the customer experience and understanding consumer needs – all of which will be critical to build up my business. Fortunately, I am very familiar with Menomonee since the hotel is also in the area. It gives me a leg up on knowing how to cater to the consumers in the area.

Q: What obstacles have you overcome to get where you are today with your business?
A: Personally, I had to overcome the challenges of having to go back to India because my visa expired. Ideally I would have found a work visa to be able to stay in the U.S., but I look at that positively because I got my MBA, was able to get to know my home country, and met my wife.

Q: What are your expansion or development plans?
A: Yes. I would love to keep developing new Toppers locations. I’m in for as many as Toppers can give me in the future.

Share A Meal: Toppers Pizza Forms National Partnership with Feeding America

2011-09-23T08:46:00.001-07:00

There’s no better birthday present than giving to those in need. That’s what Scott Gittrich, Founder and CEO of Toppers Pizza, thought when the brand turned 20 years old this year. Therefore, on the heels of its milestone birthday, Toppers Pizza announced a new partnership with the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity, Feeding America®.

“The Toppers Pizza executive team spent a lot of time choosing a charity that aligns with our mission,” said Gittrich. “At the end of the day, Feeding America® encompasses what we stand for, which is feeding people.”

Every dollar donated will help provide eight meals for Feeding America. Even prior to Toppers officially launching the partnership on August 8, it has raised $8,000 from employee contributions, putting it nearer to its year-end goal of $40,000.

According to Gittrich, another reason the booming pizza franchise selected Feeding America® as its national charity is because they reached an agreement where 75% of the money raised goes back to the local market in which it was raised.

“Our franchisees are fully ingrained in their local markets and the fact that Feeding America was able to work with us so that the monetary contributions raised for Feeding America® in a local market will directly impact that market was huge for us,” Gittrich said.

As Toppers Pizza continues to expand nationwide through its franchising model, the relationship with Feeding America® will continue to grow as well. Next year, it has committed to donate a minimum of $70,000, which helps provide 560,000 meals. When it adds 100 locations by 2013, it has promised Feeding America® a minimum $100,000, which helps provide 800,000 meals.

All franchisees will make Feeding America® a focal point at their specific locations, from Topperstix eating contests to special menu promotions. Toppers franchisees will also ask the community to help it achieve its goals through special campaigns and partnerships with their local food banks..

“This is a partnership that we hope will last another 20 years when we are celebrating our 40th birthday. By that time, hopefully we will have donated millions of dollars and helped millions of hungry people,” said Gittrich.

Toppers featured on 95.9 KISS FM

2011-09-16T08:32:00.000-07:00

Toppers was recently featured in a segment on 95.9 KISS FM Green Bay featuring Joe Kirschling , owner of Toppers Pizza in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The segment features Joe chatting about the line that is already forming outside of the restaurant for the first 50 customers to get free pizza for a year. Joe along with his partner Aaron Johnson have set a new record by having the earliest person in line outside of their newest location. The segment can be heard below:

Toppers Pizza featured in Green Bay Press Gazette

2011-09-07T11:41:00.000-07:00

Toppers Pizza was recently featured in an article in the Green Bay Press Gazette called, “Toppers Pizza plans grand opening on Green Bay's west side” which published Sunday, September 4. The article highlights the Grand Opening event and how the first 50 people in line will receive free pizza for a year. A portion of the article is included below and can be read in its entirety by clicking here.

Toppers Pizza plans grand opening on Green Bay's west side

Toppers Pizza has scheduled a grand opening on Saturday for its new west-side store in the Market Square shopping center at the intersection of Military and Shawano avenues.

The event will be from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and include a variety of giveaways, including free food for a year to the first 50 people in line who buy at least $10 worth of stuff. They'll get coupons for a free item each week, such as a large two-topping pizza or triple order of toppers sticks.

The store is owned by Aaron Johnson and Joe Kirschling, who also own the store at 2042 Main St. Jason Schmitzer is store manager.

(Read More)

Toppers featured on PizzaMarketplace.com

2011-08-25T06:17:00.000-07:00

Toppers Pizza was recently featured in an article called, “Do you know where your customers are?” which published on PizzaMarketplace.com. The article features an interview with Bridget Keeler, marketing manager for Toppers Pizza, who discussed how the Toppers mobile food truck, the Spank Tank, relies on location-based marketing to alert customers on where they can find the truck. Bridget discussed the benefit of using Foursquare and Twitter as a means to broadcast the Spank Tank’s location as well as deals and specials that might be featured by using the location-based social media. The article also highlights the ease with which Foursquare can be implemented and the importance of training the Spank Tank staff on how to use the technology. A portion of the article is below and can be read in its entirety by clicking here.

Do you know where your customers are?

Wisconsin-based Toppers Pizza uses FourSquare and Twitter's GPS function to let its fans know the location of its mobile food truck, the Spank Tank.

"If the Spank Tank is headed to Milwaukee, we can do a search throughout the day/night on Twitter about those talking about the Spank Tank in the Milwaukee market," said Bridget Keeler's, marketing manager of Toppers Pizza. "We can then reach out to them and message them about our presence and tell them about menu items and deals."

Toppers, which has 29 locations but only one food truck, also uses Foursquare as a way to connect with customers.

"We closely monitor the trends of our core demographic, the college student, and saw an opportunity within those trends to tap into marketing the Spank Tank as a mobile venue," Keeler said. "We are able to change as the Spank Tank moves around downtown Milwaukee. This gives our fanatics an easy way to figure out where to feed their appetites at night."

(Read More)

Toppers Featured in Franchising World Magazine

2011-08-17T07:34:00.000-07:00

Scott Iversen, Director of Marketing for Toppers Pizza, was featured in this month’s edition of Franchising World in an article he wrote called “Using Foursquare to Drive Sales for Franchisees. In the article, Iversen discusses best practices for businesses to become involved in using Foursquare. View the full article below:

Toppers Pizza Rewards Twin Cities with Reprieve from the Big Chain

2011-07-27T13:06:00.000-07:00

WHITEWATER, WI – The big pizza chains serve their purpose: mediocre food; mediocre promises; mediocre connections. Toppers Pizza, a 30-unit eclectic pizza delivery franchise brand, doesn’t follow those characteristics. To prove its tasty promise to consumers, Toppers will celebrate this reprieve with two grand opening celebrations unmatched by the big guns at its two new locations in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

At 10:30 a.m. August 6 at 702 Washington Ave. SE, Minneapolis and again at 10:30 a.m. August 27 at 1154 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, Toppers Pizza will unleash its two newest locations to hundreds of “fanatics.” In addition, Toppers will give the first 50 guests in line free food for a year and reward fans that day with prizes and giveaway rewards.

“When we open a location, it truly is a celebration. No fake grand openings with boring ribbon cuttings. We go for the grand slam with the way we open, the way we connect with our customers, and the tastes we offer on our menu,” said Scott Gittrich, CEO of the emerging chain and former Dominos Pizza delivery driver. “Trust me; I quickly learned what not to do with our customer bonds. This is their party, not ours.”

Along with its ability to tap into the most influential demographic, 18-34 year olds, Toppers has made a name for itself as innovators of unique menu items. Toppers was the first delivery brand to capture the cheesy bread marketplace with its famous Topperstix. Toppers has never shied away from innovation with its Mac ‘N Cheese, Potato Topper, Cool C-B-R (Chicken-Bacon-Ranch), The Hangover Helper, Buffalo Wings, Quesadillas, Grinders, and dozens of other menu items. Differentiating itself from the competition, 70 percent of Toppers’ sales come from items not traditionally found on competitors’ menus.

Continuing Toppers Pizza’s penetration into the Minneapolis market on August 6 is multi-unit entrepreneur and pizza lover, John Kubisiak, who was first attracted to the brand as a customer. Today, he owns four locations, with an obligation to develop an additional three in Minneapolis. Then just three weeks later, first time entrepreneurs, Dan Ogiba and Brad Vinton, will open the first St. Paul Toppers Pizza location.

The two new locations are part of the initial growth strategy for Toppers Pizza’s saturation of the Twin Cities. There are eight locations under contract for development in the Twin Cities, including one slated to open in December.

“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,” Brett Larrabee, Toppers Pizza Director of Franchise Development, said, noting that the two new Twin Cities Toppers features the brand’s newest blueprint with an updated, vibrant, “chill”-friendly atmosphere.

When the big chains are down, Toppers has remained up, taking names and gripping its share of the $40-plus-billlion pizza industry. In 2010, Toppers increased average unit volumes and system-wide sales, opening four stores with 20 more under contract. Why?

“The reason for our success is simple, meaning that we are not one of the ‘Wal-Marts’ of the industry. The big chains have lost identity and brand connection,” Gittrich said. “Our customers are fanatical about our brand. Our quirkiness and edginess has given our brand character, so we have been able to continue our growth and bonding with an untapped national demographic – the 18-34-year olds.”

Toppers Social Media Update: Spank Tank, Photo Contest & More!

2011-07-22T13:30:00.000-07:00

For those loyal Toppers fanatics that have been on the Toppers Facebook fan page for awhile, they have certainly noticed a change in both look and feel. In the recent weeks, with the unveiling of the Toppers Spank Tank, Toppers has re-designed their page by changing their fan page photo (which includes a dandy QR code) as well as added a tab that gives fanatics the opportunity to request the Spank Tank in their area. These technological advances in the fan page will continue to roll out as Toppers has plans to announce some pretty big things in the near future!

Toppers also wrapped up their 20th Anniversary Photo Contest last week. After receiving a ton of entries, finalists were narrowed down to the top 10. These finalists were then featured at the Toppers Annual Convention in Orlando, FL in front of all franchisees in the system. After the convention, franchisees and fans alike went online and voted for their favorite 1991 photo. The winner received a $250 Toppers Gift Card and eternal fame in the Toppers fanatical social community.

Toppers continues to push the envelop in both their marketing and social presence and have plans to launch another significant social imitative in the very near future. To find out more, become a fan and get your buds spanked on Toppers national Facebook fan page by clicking here.

Toppers Pizza featured in Franchise Chatter

2011-07-08T08:55:00.000-07:00

Franchise Chatter recently featured a bud spankin' interview with Brett Larrabee, Director of Franchise Development. The article is a Q&A format in which Brett describes why Toppers is a great franchise opportunity. A portion of the interview is below but the article can be read in its entirety by clicking here.

Interested in Owning a Pizza Franchise? You Really Need to Read My Interview with Brett Larrabee, Director of Franchise Development for Toppers Pizza
by Ambrosio

Brett Larrabee started out as a Subway franchisee back in 1986 and built 6 Subway stores. He went on to work with several franchise companies in Florida – Circle K and Burger King, to name a few. Brett became the Franchise Director at Panchero’s for several years and then the Director of Operations with Five Guys in New York City, before coming to Toppers Pizza as Director of Franchise Development.

1. What made you decide to join Toppers Pizza as Director of Franchise Development?

There are a lot of companies that franchise their concept but I’ve learned through the years that there are very few franchises that have a business model that creates wealth for their franchisees. Many of the food franchise business models expect franchisees to provide a large part of the labor in order for them to get a paycheck. Essentially, it’s just like buying a job, and I’ve always felt that a lot of those folks could have just gotten a job and invested their money in the stock market and done better.

But there are a handful of franchise companies that have the right business model to create wealth. Five Guys Burgers has taught me that that there’s a sweet spot in the food franchise business — one that requires about $400,000 in investment, a store buildout under 2,000 square feet, and average unit volume around $950K to $1 million. Five Guys did that and their franchisees have created a fair amount of wealth for themselves in operating that franchise format.

When I left Five Guys, I looked at the field of opportunities and Toppers was the most similar to Five Guys. Instead of a better burger category, it’s a better pizza category.

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Toppers Pizza featured on Fox6 WakeUp Milwaukee

2011-07-05T13:31:00.001-07:00

Toppers Pizza was recently featured in a segment on Fox6 WakeUp Milwaukee featuring the Spank Tank which aired Friday, July 1 2011. Spank Tank manager, Drew Craker and his colleague, Damon, did an excellent job of introducing the Spank Tank to viewers and describing the role that social media will play when trying to locate the Spank Tank. View the full segment below!

Heating Up The Streets: Toppers Pizza ‘Spank Tank’ Unveiled

2011-06-29T08:51:00.000-07:00

Late night hunger, beware! Toppers Pizza is gearing up to launch its latest innovation: The Toppers ‘Spank Tank.’ On June 24, Toppers Pizza will unveil its first food truck for the pizza-loving public of Milwaukee, WI to enjoy. With plans to service the late night bar scene, the Spank Tank will call the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Toppers location its home. It will sell Toppers’ world famous Topperstix and, for the very first time, House and one-topping pizzas by the slice.

“You may have heard of the food trucks craze, but I can guarantee you’ve never seen anything like the Spank Tank,” said Bridget Keeler, Toppers manager of marketing. “This will turn heads and cause complete insanity when we roll this thing out on the streets of Milwaukee. Its presence is unbelievable.”

Just like the slogan suggests, the Spank Tank will be spanking customer’s buds with “a piece all summer long.” It was an idea that hatched back in 2009 and since then, the Toppers team has developed a way to turn its brick and mortar location mobile. The truck includes a full-size oven and fully functional kitchen. At 26 feet wide and 13 feet tall, the Spank Tank is equipped to handle Milwaukee’s late night hunger pangs.

“Bar time will never be the same,” said Drew Craker, manager of Toppers Spank Tank. “Being behind the wheel of the Spank Tank will be like being a famous celebrity…all eyes on you, its show time baby.”

According to Drew Craker, he plans to be at all the hot bar spots multiple times a night in the Spank Tank selling fresh Toppers pizza to the brand’s core customer – the college student.

What else is in store with the Spank Tank? Toppers fanatics will have the opportunity to rent the Spank Tank for their events. While Toppers plans to develop several more food trucks in other Toppers Pizza markets across the country, for now, it’s just Milwaukee that will benefit from the truck promising to give you “a piece all summer long.”

“We are a 20 year old brand that refuses to stop at mediocre,” said Keeler. “At every turn, we are thinking of new ways for our customers and fanatics to interact with the Toppers brand. We believe the Spank Tank is something extraordinary that will get people talking. Now let’s hear what Milwaukee has to say.”

Toppers Pizza featured in Daily Chronicle

2011-06-15T11:25:00.000-07:00

Toppers Pizza was recently featured in an article in the Daily Chronicle called “Toppers Pizza helps good cause while preparing for contest.” The article features Chris Schneider, general manager of Toppers Pizza in DeKalb, Illinois discussing his training for the Skin Sprints competition, a contest where the participants create six 14-inch pizzas as fast as they can. Chris will be participating in this competition on June 21 along with other Toppers qualifiers. The article also discusses the community outreach opportunity that training for Skin Sprints has given the Toppers DeKalb location. After each practice, Chris has been donating the finished pizzas to a local shelter called Hope Haven. Click here to view the full article!

Toppers Pizza helps good cause while preparing for contest
By NICOLE WESKERNA

DeKALB – Chris Schneider, general manager of Toppers Pizza in DeKalb, sometimes makes as many as two dozen pizzas when he practices for the fastest pizza-making competition that is coming up next week.

The pizzas are made to be cooked and eaten, not frozen, Schneider said. When he started practicing, he accumulated perfectly good pizzas that couldn’t be frozen, so he decided to start donating them to the Hope Haven shelter in DeKalb until the competition is over.

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Toppers Pizza featured in Indianapolis Star

2011-05-24T10:07:00.000-07:00

Toppers Pizza was recently featured in a brief article called “Wisconsin’s Toppers Pizza plans metro-area restaurants” which appeared in the Indianapolis Star. In the article, Brett Larrabee, Topper’s Director of Franchise Development, discusses the interest that Toppers has in bringing franchisees into the market. The article also discusses some of the menu highlights that Toppers has to offer as well as describes the 1,600 square foot restaurant. Click here to view the full article!

Wisconsin's Toppers Pizza plans metro-area restaurants

Toppers Pizza aims to open 12 to 16 restaurants in the Indianapolis area in the next two years.

"We have a lot of interest in that market" and are searching for one or two franchisees, said Brett Larrabee, director of franchise development for the Whitewater, Wis., chain of 28 stores.

(Read More)

Hope You Had The Time Of Your Life: Graduating Seniors Send Their Farewell to Toppers

2011-05-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

It doesn’t take very long for college students to move onto campus and sniff out the local Toppers Pizza. Students grow to be fanatical about the pizza powerhouse as it becomes a friend during finals or a cold breakfast companion. Toppers’ unique focus on 18-25 year olds and youthful branding has made it wildly popular with college kids.

Each spring, seniors all over the country celebrate years of hard work and dedication as they graduate and move into the working world. However, only a select few are lucky enough to have spent their late-night study sessions and early-morning partying with Toppers Pizza. Before these college grads move on, we have asked a few to take a moment to reflect on the special memories made possible by Toppers.

Stephen Olman
College: University of Cincinnati
Degree: Marketing
Favorite Toppers Location: Cincinnati, Ohio – Calhoun St.
Favorite Toppers Item: The Topperstix. The cheese, sauce and topping options make them so unique.
How did you first hear about Toppers?
I first heard about Toppers during my senior year when they opened in Cincinnati near campus. The first time I ordered Toppers with my friends, we ordered a ton of it! Our first order consisted of four pizzas and Topperstix.
What is your favorite Toppers memory?
My favorite memory is ordering Toppers every Sunday at 3 p.m. to watch football. We’d eat so much of it that everyone would pass out, and then wake up only to eat more Toppers.
What will you miss most about Toppers after graduation?
I’ll definitely miss the Topperstix!

Shauna Casolari
College: Northern Illinois University
Degree: Sociology
Favorite Toppers Location: Dekalb, Illinois
Favorite Toppers Item: A triple order of Topperstix. I love all of the different sauce options!
How did you first hear about Toppers?
I transferred to NIU as junior and found a menu on my windshield at my new apartment complex. When my roommate and I were moving, we didn’t have time to cook so we tried it right away.
What is your favorite Toppers memory?
Our Ultimate Frisbee team once had a competition to see who could eat the most of a Tall Boy pizza. One of our teammates ate an entire Buffalo Chicken Tall Boy! After that, I never looked at a Buffalo Chicken Tall Boy the same.
What will you miss most about Toppers after graduation?
I’ll miss the variety of the menu and how late they stay open. I love coming home, doing my homework and ordering late night Toppers to help me get through it all.

Stephen Sanders
College: Carroll University
Degree: Sociology and Psychology
Favorite Toppers Location: Waukesha – East Moreland Boulevard
Favorite Toppers Item: Topperstix and Tall Boys!
How did you first hear about Toppers?
I moved from Indiana to Wisconsin to attend college and rushed for a fraternity. They had Toppers at one of the rush events and after trying it for the first time I was hooked.
What is your favorite Toppers memory?
After my fraternity’s formal during my sophomore year, we went to a hotel room for the after party and decided to order Toppers. I wasn’t feeling too well so I was in the bathroom when the pizza was delivered and a couple of my friends brought me a slice to make me feel better. As they were in the bathroom with me, some really creepy people walked into our hotel room and started asking us weird questions. In an effort to freak the intruders out, I dunked my slice of pizza into the toilet and then took a bite. They left right away.
What will you miss most about Toppers after graduation?
That there isn’t a Toppers near where I live and I won’t be able to order it anymore!

Toppers featured in Food and Drink Digital

2011-05-19T06:46:00.000-07:00

Toppers Pizza was recently featured in an article in Food and Drink Digital called “Toppers Pizza Delivers The Goods”. The article features Scott Iverson, Director of Marketing for Toppers Pizza, discussing Toppers history and how their unique marketing has made them appealing to a relatively untapped market. Iverson discusses the history behind Toppers, how their fresh ingredients make for a superior product and how Toppers maintains their market audience of 18-24 year olds. Iverson also presents the great franchise model and opportunity that Toppers presents for aspiring business owners. Check out the article below:

Toppers featured in Food and Drink Digital

Toppers Pizza featured in QSR Magazine

2011-05-03T09:49:00.000-07:00

Reporter Sam Oches of QSR, a restaurant industry trade publication, spoke with Scott Iversen about Toppers Pizza’s new focus on franchise development. The new direction focuses on attracting multi-unit operators who have a diverse portfolio of restaurant experience. Toppers has also hired two new key employees to round up its team: Brett Larrabee, formerly on the 5 Guys Burgers & Fries franchise development team and Curtis White, formerly with Quizno’s on the operations end. The strategic short term goal is for 100 units by the end of 2013 and the long term plan is to have 500 locations by 2020. Check out the article to learn more about Toppers growth.

Toppers Lays Out Plans for Accelerated Growth
By Sam Oches

Toppers Pizza announced that, as a means to accelerate growth, the company will start focusing on employing multiunit franchisees with diverse portfolios instead of single-unit operators.

The 28-unit, Whitewater, Wisconsin–based brand is aiming to have 100 units open and operating by 2013, says director of marketing Scott Iversen.
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Toppers Pizza featured in Entrepreneur Magazine

2011-05-02T13:00:00.000-07:00

Toppers Pizza, the 28-unit eclectic pizza franchise based in Whitewater, WI, scored a spot in Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Nine Notable Pizza Entrepreneurs." Gittrich turned down two Domino’s locations to start up his own version of a pizza concept which has blown competition out of the water in terms of sales. Check out the Toppers Pizza roundup here!

Nine Notable Pizza Entrepreneurs
By Jason Fell

Whether you love it, or only sorta love it, pizza is big business. Over any two-week period, nearly two-thirds of Americans will eat some form of pizza, either frozen or at a restaurant, according to consumer-marketing research firm the NPD Group. Overall, pizza is the sixth-most popular dinner entree in the U.S. That's a lotta dough. From pizza trainers to eco-friendly pizzerias and big franchises, we serve up some of the most innovative entrepreneurs who have taken a bite of the giant pizza market over the years.

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Toppers Q&A featured in Entrepreneur Magazine

2011-04-25T10:34:00.000-07:00

Reporter Jason Daley of Entrepreneur Magazine sat down with successful Toppers Pizza franchisee Dave Gilewski to learn about how he has managed to generate $600,000 sales in the first six months of opening his location in Franklin, WI. What resulted was a Q&A called “Special Delivery: A Wisconsin franchisee discovers the secret behind a pizza chain’s unparalleled popularity and makes a bundle in the bargain,” that published in the May edition of Entrepreneur Magazine. Gilewski talks candidly about Toppers Pizza’s culture, his entrepreneur story and the food that started it all at Toppers Pizza. View the full article below!

Toppers Q&A featured in Entrepreneur Magazine

Toppers Pizza featured in Nation's Restaurant News

2011-04-21T10:18:00.000-07:00

Toppers Pizza Marketing Manager Bridget Keeler spoke with Nation’s Restaurant News reporter Mark Brandau about how Toppers uses Social Media to create and drive the brand’s advertising for an article in Nation’s Restaurant News called “Collaborative Spirit.” In Toppers' latest contest, it asks Facebook fans to design a car wrap. The winner selected could potentially see a ’74 Mercury Grand Marquis driving around town with his or her design wrapped on the car. View the full article below, or click here!

Toppers Pizza featured in Nation's Restaurant News

Toppers Pizza featured in QSR

2011-04-12T12:36:00.000-07:00

Toppers Pizza was recently featured in QSR. In the QSR article called “Battling Back Against Winter,” which published April 8, Adam Oldenburg of Toppers Pizza describes how Toppers embraces the winter weather and in doing so has made a name for being the place to go during winter storms. In the article, Adam says that winter snow days can double sales easily at all 28 Toppers Pizza locations and that Toppers has become known as the place to go during a storm. Click here to view the full article

Battling Back Against Winter: Quick serves find ways to fight off the winter blues as signs of spring approach.
By Mary Avant

Since mid-December, seven major snow storms have hit states all over the U.S., from the Northeast to the West Coast and everywhere in between.

This bleak weather “has literally dimmed the bulb on the restaurant business pretty much across the board,” says David Crane, CEO of BlueSky Local, a slow sales response solution for restaurants.

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UWM Students Review Toppers in The Daily Cardinal

2011-04-07T07:16:00.000-07:00

Toppers Pizza is known for connecting with the college demographic. Recently, UWM students, Eamon Hegarty and Matt Payne reviewed Toppers Pizza for the UWM publication, The Daily Cardinal. The review analyzes and praises Toppers' unique menu and friendly staff! Toppers continues to be a leader in the 18-34 demographic and testimonials like this continue to strengthen the brand. A portion of the article is below and it can be read in its entirety by clicking here.

Toppers: Better than bartime
By Eamon Hegarty & Matt Payne

Pizza and beer. For decades, the staple foods of young scholars have been this simple. While recent years have seen a rise in the number of health-conscious individuals, for many nothing is more welcome at 2 a.m. than a delicious pizza covered in an assortment of meats, cheeses and veggie toppings. For such occasions, Toppers Pizza on Regent Street is our favorite. Why? We admit that there are a number of outstanding pizza joints in Madison, and although Toppers offers an exceptional standard assortment, there are two menu items which make them unique.

The first, and by far our favorite, are Topperstix. Sure, other restaurants have their own version of cheesy breadsticks, but no one makes them as well as Toppers. The cheese is fresh and delicious. The dough's texture is soft and chewy without being underdone. It's like combining the best part of a cheese pizza with the best part of a breadstick. Furthermore, you can order three dipping sauces to make these "stix" even more enjoyable.

The second thing Toppers has working in their favor is their house pizzas. Although they're little more expensive, they ‘re worth every penny, particularly if you're in the mood for more than bar-time food. From the Taco Topper to the Smokey BBQ Chicken, Toppers has something for every palate. Next to the Mac ‘N Cheese pizza, our favorite was the Potato Topper. This pizza consists of baked potatoes with mozzarella and cheddar cheeses sprinkled with bacon bits and green onions. On the side, Toppers offers the perfect palate cleanser of sour cream for a dipping sauce. This unusual yet ingenious mixture is truly mouth-watering and provides something that both pizza loving individuals and partygoers will enjoy.

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Q&A with Toppers' Marketing/Social Media Manager, Bridget Keeler

2011-03-24T08:13:00.000-07:00

Recently, we sat down with our Marketing/Social Media Manager, Bridget Keeler, and asked her a few questions about social media. This revolutionary tool gives us the power to consistently interact with our following and also continues to grow our brand. See the full transcript of the interview below:

Can you describe some of Toppers goals and initiatives with social media? Why and how are you using social media to accomplish these goals?

Toppers Pizza puts an extremely high value on listening to what our customers are telling us. Our goal with social media is to give customers what they want. Recently, we were looking to add another House Pizza to our menu. We developed a crowd sourcing contest, Spank Your Pizza, which challenged fanatics to come up with the next pizza for our menu – then paired down more than 100 submissions to 64 finalists who battled it out for three weeks to make it to the top two. The contest generated some delicious pizza ideas and grew our Facebook Fan page by 62% over the course of contest.

Future goals and initiatives include creating apps that will engage our fanatics and continue to build our loyal community. We believe our fanatics are truly interested in the Toppers brand and want to be a part of shaping its success. To further measure that passionate loyalty, we will also be heavily promoting our mobile food truck via social media and will be eventually looking for fanatics to dictate where it shows up to next.

The cool thing about social media is that Toppers has the ability to change the conversation in the pizza industry by engaging and listening to our fanatics. Anyone with an idea worth sharing has the ability to influence the conversation at anytime.

With over 1,000 fans per location, how do you consistently interact and engage your fanatics?

We make it our goal to engage our fanatics multiple times during the day through our posts. These posts can range anywhere from asking them to comment on their favorite dipping sauce, to posting relevant pop culture trends. We like to believe that our fanatics see our page as being similar to hanging out in a room with their friends and having a good time.

We also have a weekly promotion, called “Toppers Tuesdays”, that gives our fanatics exclusive deals on Tuesdays only at any Toppers location. These deals are only found on our social media pages and build specials bonds with us and our fanatics. Deals can range from buy one get one deals to special pricing on regular menu items.

Local Toppers stores also dive into interacting with fanatics on our pages by offering specials to fanatics in their area. Between national and local specials, Toppers is continuously thanking and rewarding our fanatics.

How do you measure social media? (Try and think Return on Engagement – ROI is difficult to measure, etc.)

Toppers is dedicated to making our fanatics happy. We measure social media through return on engagement. Measurement comes in the form of comments, impressions, @mentions, repeat posters, popular posts, and overall brand awareness. Our first and foremost goal is to post content that captures our fanatics attention and gets them talking. While it’s easy to count the measurements mentioned above, our measurement is a constant work in progress as we decipher and understand how social media engagement affects us at every level. Our ultimate goal is to find the connection and balance between social media and our P&L to help determine and set expectations to our social media strategy prior to engagement.

If you could give one piece of advice to business looking to take the jump into social media, what would you say?

If you are looking to take the jump into social media, my advice is to take a big running leap and continue looking ahead. I believe that social media has replaced face to face conversations and is quickly becoming the norm for communication, especially among Toppers’ demographic. The key is constant, consistent, engaging communication. Social media is changing the world by the hour, while you don’t need to be the star on the conversation – you at least need to be part of it.

Toppers Pizza featured in the Wall Street Journal

2011-02-15T11:11:00.000-08:00

Toppers Pizza was just recently featured in the Wall Street Journal in an article called “Industry Sees a Strong Rebound But Growth Will Be Uneven,” which published on February 14, 2011. In the article, which focuses on franchise trends for 2011, Toppers Pizza is showcased as a brand taking full advantage of Social Media. Toppers has blown its competition out of the water in utilizing Social Media to engage fans with the brand and further establish brand loyalty. Scott Iverson, Director of Marketing for Toppers, discusses that social networking is the best way to connect with Toppers core target market of 18-24 year olds. It connects fans with pizza recipe contests, weekly specials, a blog, twitter account and YouTube videos. As a result of its strong presence, Toppers has over 27,000 total fans and about 1000 fans per location while its competitors have around 50 per location. Toppers continues to be an industry leader in Social Media. Check out the article here or view the article below!

WSJ - Industry Sees a Strong Rebound But Growth Will Be Uneven

Toppers Pizza featured in the Green Bay Press-Gazette

2011-02-04T14:54:00.000-08:00

Toppers Pizza was recently featured in the Green Bay Press-Gazette with an article entitled "Green Bay Packers wins bring in green for businesses." The article focuses on the Super Bowl Sunday sales spike from the perspective of local Green Bay retailers. Toppers Pizza receives its own special section on Super Bowl Sunday pizza sales (in bold, below). Scott Iversen discusses how Super Bowl Sunday is typically one of the top 3 sales days of the year for Toppers, and is expected to be significantly higher with the Packers in the Super Bowl. Joe Kirschling and Aaron Johnson, owners of Toppers Pizza in Green Bay, discuss how they’ll prepare for the big day with a full staff and plenty of supplies. Click here to view the article in its entirety!

Green Bay Packers wins bring in green for businesses
By Nathan Phelps

The Super Bowl usually is a good day for pizza orders, but add the Packers in the mix, and its primed to be one heck of a day for sales.

"(Sales) could be upward of 50 percent more than most Super Bowls," said Scott Iversen, director of marketing with Whitewater-based Toppers Pizza, which has 20 Wisconsin locations. "The Super Bowl in general is one of the top three days of the year for pizza delivery, and when the Packers are in it, it drives more business.

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Toppers Pizza featured in QSR Magazine

2011-02-04T12:41:00.000-08:00

QSR Magazine recently published an article called “Who needs a $3M TV Spot When You Have Social Media,” in which Toppers Pizza discusses how it plans to leverage Social Media during the big game! Scott Iversen explains how Toppers Pizza is using the success of the Green Bay Packers to their advantage with 20 of the 28 franchised locations being located in Wisconsin. Toppers Pizza has been putting up messages on Facebook and Twitter that coincide with Green Bay's success during the Playoffs! Click here to view the full article.

Who Needs a $3M TV Spot When You Have Social Media?
By SAM OCHES

While some companies will be shelling out as much as $3 million for a 30-second TV spot during Sunday’s Super Bowl, some quick-serve chains plan to ramp up their marketing efforts without even hardly opening their wallets.

Toppers Pizza and Philly Pretzel Factory are two concepts that will leverage social media for their marketing efforts on Super Bowl Sunday, a day for which advertising was once reserved only for billion-dollar brands.

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Toppers Pizza featured on Fox 6 Wakeup in Green Bay

2011-02-04T12:12:00.000-08:00

Toppers Pizza was recently featured on Fox 6 Wakeup in Green Bay. The segment discusses how pizza is the number 1 food favorite during the Super Bowl. The segment also features Toppers Pizza managers Adam Oldenburg and Matt Ziemann. Adam and Matt showed off their most popular items and talked about how they prepare for one of the busiest days in the year—Super Bowl Sunday—and how fast their service is. Click here and scroll down to the video entitled "The number 1 food favorite for Superbowl" to view the segment, or view the link below.

Toppers Pizza featured in UW Whitewater's student newspaper Royal Purple

2011-02-02T12:53:00.000-08:00

Toppers Pizza was recently featured in UW Whitewater's student newspaper Royal Purple in an article entitled "Pizza places plan on seeing sales increase for Super Bowl." The article focuses on Super Bowl Sunday pizza sales in Whitewater, and local favorite Toppers Pizza dominates the conversation. Scott Iversen discusses the significant sales spike Toppers sees during Super Bowl weekend, and what they are doing to prepare for it. With pizza ranking as the #1 most popular take-out/delivery item on game day, Scott explains that Super Bowl Sunday is typically one of the top 3 sales days of the year for Toppers, with business generally up anywhere from 50-60%. And with the Packers in the Super Bowl this year, that percentage could be as high as 150%, which would be a new record for the brand! Click here to view the full article!

Pizza places plan on seeing sales increase for Super Bowl
By CHRIS KUHAGEN AND ALYSSA SKIBA
February 2, 2011.

With the Super Bowl just days away, it's easy to assume many Whitewater area pizza joints are preparing for a busy day.

But with the Green Bay Packers gearing up for their first appearance in the big game since 1998, pizza businesses in Whitewater are looking forward to the extra incentive that the home team is sure to bring to their business.

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Toppers Pizza featured on Pizzamarketplace.com

2011-01-11T13:59:00.000-08:00

Toppers Pizza was featured in an article on Pizzamarketplace.com “Toppers’ social media efforts yielding results,” which published on Friday. It was built from an interview with Bridget Keeler and showcases the results of Toppers Spank Your Pizza contest. It sites that the 62% growth on Facebook during tournament time calculated into a 3% sales increase systemwide. This article gives validation that Toppers is competing with the Big Boys, but driving consumers into the brand in a more strategic and targeted way. The article also teases Spank Our Ride to launch this spring. Click here to view the entire article.

Toppers’ social media efforts yielding results
By ALICIA KELSO

Toppers Pizza’s recent promotion did exactly what it set out to do – pique the interest of the company’s faithful younger demographic.

The Spank Your Pizza Facebook Contest, launched in August, involved a comprehensive social media strategy that spiked Toppers’ fan base by 62 percent and translated into a 3 percent sales increase.

(Read More)

Toppers Pizza featured in Appleton Post-Crescent

2011-01-06T11:00:00.000-08:00

Toppers Pizza was featured in the Appleton Post-Crescent Monday. The article was built by an interview with Aaron Johnson who discusses how football season impacts pizza sales at Toppers. It notes that Packer noon games and Sunday or Monday games can increase sales by 60%. Click here to view the full article.

Pizza places pack it in during football season and the playoffs
By CHERYL ANDERSON

Comedian Kevin James may have put it best: "There's no better feeling in the world than a warm pizza box on your lap."

Said warm pizza box on lap during an NFL regular or postseason game, now that's amore. And for some owners of local pizza establishments and franchises, it's money in the bank. Cha-ching!

Based in Whitewater, the 28-unit Toppers Pizza franchise typically ramps up staff for major football games and sees up to a 25 percent increase in sales at some locations. Who's playing in a particular game also has affects sales.

(Read more)

Toppers Pizza featured in Appleton Post Crescent

2011-01-04T10:51:00.000-08:00

The winner of Toppers Pizza's "Spank Your Pizza" tournament was featured in an article in the Appleton Post Crescent. The article, entitled “Lawrence University student Jon Ransom wins Toppers Pizza's 'Spank Your Pizza' tournament," was built from interviews with Jon Ransom, the winner, and Bridget Keeler. The article discusses Jon winning the grand prize from the “Spank Your Pizza” competition held on Facebook.

"Lawrence University student Jon Ransom wins Toppers Pizza's 'Spank Your Pizza' tournament"
by CHERYL ANDERSON

Take one buttery garlic pizza crust and fill it with thick-cut spicy pepperoni, Italian sausage, ground beef and crispy bacon. Add black olives and jalapenos and finish it off with a big sprinkle of pepper jack and mozzarella cheeses.

That was Lawrence University sophomore Jon Ransom's winning entry in Toppers Pizza's "Spank Your Pizza" tournament, a three-week bracket-style competition from Aug. 1 to Nov. 24 on Toppers' Facebook page. The contest generated 62,000 views for the Wisconsin-based pizza chain.

(Read More)

Toppers Madison Manager Jared Ruf on WKOW-TV Wake Up Wisconsin

2010-12-30T07:21:00.000-08:00

WKOW Channel 27 has aired a segment with Jared Ruf about how to create unique and delicious pizza’s that are perfect to serve to friends and family at any Rose Bowl or football gathering. Jared created a delicious Buffalo Chicken Pizza live in studio and prepared the pizza with all fresh Toppers ingredients. You can view the segment here:

Fan’s Creation Makes Toppers Pizza Menu; Jon “Scooby” Ransom’s Snack to be Unveiled January 24

2010-12-13T13:26:00.000-08:00

Chosen by Fans on Facebook, Minneapolis-Native Jon “Scooby” Ransom Wins Free Toppers Pizza for a Year, $500 Gift Card from Toppers, and the Ultimate Grand Prize –Adding His Pizza to the Menu

Toppers Pizza has long been a brand intent on doing things its own way. The irreverent 28-unit pizza franchise has always taken its own path—successfully targeting a younger demographic and providing a wide variety of delicious menu items and toppings for its customers’ choosing. For the past few months, however, Toppers has let its Facebook fans take the wheel and create a new menu item during the recently concluded “Spank Your Pizza” social media contest.

After a month of fierce deliberation, Jon Ransom’s creatively named pizza, Jon “Scooby” Ransom’s Snack was declared the winner and next House Pizza to be added to Toppers’ menu. He also won free Toppers pizza for a year and a $500 Toppers gift card. Ransom, a Minneapolis native and sophomore at Lawrence University, had the unique advantage of experiencing Toppers both in his hometown and at college in Appleton, Wisconsin. Ransom embraced the social media aspect of the campaign by creating Facebook groups and events for his family, friends and classmates to rally around.

Soon, the Jon “Scooby” Ransom’s Snack, with ingredients including thick-cut spicy pepperoni, hand-pinched Italian sausage, ground beef , crispy bacon, black olives, and jalapenos topped with pepper jack and mozzarella cheeses on a the new Tall Boy pizza crust (the same garlicky, buttery crust of Topperstix), took on a life of its own.

“Even after convincing all my friends at home as well as my college classmates to vote for me,” said Ransom. “I was still shocked at just how many people I had never met decided to support my entry.”

The Jon “Scooby” Ransom Snack will be available at all 28 Toppers locations starting January 24.

By making Ransom’s creation the chain’s next original house pizza, Toppers has given fans an unprecedented amount of power. “We’ve never been afraid to do something different, unlike many of our larger competitors,” said Scott Iversen, Toppers’ Director of Marketing. “We want our fanatics of Toppers Pizza to be more than just customers. We want them to be involved in the very core of our business—deciding what to put in their mouths.”

As part of “Spank Your Pizza”, fans and customers alike created original pizza recipes using Toppers’ list of ingredients. After receiving over 100 submissions, 64 finalists were chosen to participate in the “Spank Your Pizza” tournament. These 64 individuals battled it out for likes and comments on Facebook for 3 weeks in a bracket-style competition, generating over 18,500 total fan votes for their respective pizzas.

In addition to giving fans a voice in the boardroom, “Spank Your Pizza” also resulted in some impressive social media statistics. During the four months of the contest, Toppers’ Facebook page increased its fan count by 62.6% and generated over 62,000 page views.

“We’ve always been proud of our cohesive identity and direction as a brand,” said Iversen, “but ‘Spank Your Pizza’ took our social media efforts to the next level.”

Toppers Pizza featured in Nation's Restaurant News

2010-11-30T12:56:00.000-08:00

An article called “Pizza chains gear up for Thanksgiving” published in Nation’s Restaurant News, which discusses Thanksgiving weekend as a big pizza sales weekend among Pizza Hut, Domino’s and Papa John’s. The reporter mentions the end of the Toppers Pizza ’s “Spank Your Pizza” contest, and how the contest will wrap up right around the Thanksgiving holiday. This is a great placement for Toppers as they are mentioned among the nation’s biggest pizza chains and gives great validation to Toppers as a legitimate pizza contender. Check out a portion of the story below or read the full story here.

Pizza chains gear up for Thanksgiving Eve

While Wednesday is the start of a big sales weekend for many pizza chains, it also marks the end of the “Spank Your Pizza” contest at Whitewater, Wis.-based Toppers Pizza. The 28-unit chain for the past several weeks has hosted the contest on its Facebook page, inviting fans to create the next house pizza for toppers and have their inventions face off against the others in a tournament-style bracket. The final four contestants squared off in a semifinal Tuesday, and the winner will be decided during voting from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday.

The grand prize winner gets the pizza named in his or her honor, plus free Toppers for a year and a $500 gift card. (Read more)

We Come Fast, No Apologies: Eclectic Pizza Franchise Will Expand to South Milwaukee/Cudahy

2010-11-23T12:57:00.000-08:00

Toppers Pizza Continues Successful Emergence; 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 28-unit eclectic pizza delivery franchise brand, doesn’t fit that mold. And now Toppers Pizza is going to bring the first pizza concept with personality to the South Milwaukee/Cudahy area – slated to open in the Summer/Fall 2011 under the leadership of locally-based entrepreneur, Dave Gilewski.

Gilewski traded phone books for pizza boxes in 2008 when he opened his first Toppers Pizza location in Franklin. Prior to becoming one of Toppers’ most successful franchisees, he sold ad space with the Yellow Pages for six years. It was when Gilewski’s brother’s college roommate ate Toppers’ Tacostix every single night for dinner that he curiously looked into the brand that had every college student addicted.

From the get-go Gilewski was impressed by how Toppers Pizza takes a typical pizza concept and shakes it up through its irreverent personality that’s edgy and unfiltered characteristics, created and maintained through the leadership of CEO and Founder of Toppers Pizza, Scott Gittrich.

“We get a ridiculous number of phone calls from South Milwaukee wanting Toppers Pizza to deliver out to them,” said Gilewski. “That’s when the idea sparked and it all just went from there.”

While Papa John’s, Domino’s, and Pizza Hut are stuck in a stiff battle for the family demographic, Toppers remained hooked on being a hip, cool brand, connected to the nationally untapped 18-34 demographic. This strategy, Gittrich said, has helped Toppers sustain its growth, even in a down economy, in that there are more young, energetic consumers craving a real brand connection.

Along with its ability to tap into the most influential demographic, 18-34 year olds, Toppers has made a name for itself as the innovators of unique menu items. Toppers was the first delivery brand to capture the cheesy bread marketplace with its famous Topperstix. Toppers has never shied away from innovation with its Mac ‘N Cheese; Potato Topper; Cool C-B-R (Chicken-Bacon-Ranch); The Hangover Helper; Buffalo Wings, Quesadillas, Grinders, and dozens of other menu items. Different from the competition, 70 percent of Toppers’ sales come from items not traditionally found on competitor’s menus.

“Dave Gilewski fits the profile of typical Toppers franchisee in that he or she has the drive to go over and beyond the lackadaisical efforts of the other guys,” Gittrich said noting that Toppers is expecting to grow further throughout Wisconsin in the next few years.

Gilewski will also carry on a Toppers tradition when it opens its doors to the public next spring 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.

“Toppers is already part of the South Milwaukee culture; we just aren’t physically there yet,” said Gilewski. “I’m excited to give them what they want when they want it without having to drive 30 minutes to get to my Franklin location.”

Toppers Pizza Stays on Campus for Another Three Years

2010-11-18T13:04:00.000-08:00

Pizza Sales Skyrocketed on Campus; Toppers Signs Extension

A year after Toppers Pizza beat out other pizza brands and signed a one-year agreement to be Minnesota State University – Mankato’s official pizza provider for athletics, it has extended its presence by another three years to become a mainstay on the Minnesota State University -Mankato campus.

Paul and Sue Wilke, the husband and wife franchisee team of Toppers Pizza in Mankato, brought Minnesota State University the highest pizza sales they’ve had in its history, a big factor in why MSU – Mankato opted to sign a three year extension with the irreverent pizza franchise.

“We delivered,” the Wilkes said, “Both literally and figuratively. If we said something was going to happen, it did. We never fell short of our promise to the University.”

Prior to scoring a spot on campus, Toppers had been a basketball supporter for two years as well as providing sponsorships and corporate partnerships in many aspects of MSU athletics. Through the new alliance, Toppers took their sponsorship to a whole new level; including buying the university four light boxes for the stadium for use by university sponsors, and becoming a high-level sponsor at events like Midnight Madness.

The new contract began on August 1, 2010 and runs through July 31, 2013. According to MSU’s assistant director for athletics, Mike Powicki, Toppers Pizza will be sold at all Minnesota State University athletic concessions and will have a heavy presence on football, basketball, soccer and volleyball game days, not only in the concessions, but on the field as well.

“Toppers will be involved in enhancing the game atmosphere. They will do in-game samplings and promotions geared to build up student attendance,” said Powicki.

Toppers will continue to give away 100 free slices of pizza to the student section at the men’s and women’s home games. It also gives the men’s and women’s basketball teams $500 to spend on Toppers Pizza on their discretion.

Pizza is the only concession that outside vendors can bid on since all other food is made by MSU, and competition is extremely fierce. Powicki said that the national pizza chains as well as the smaller, local pizza brands all compete to be on campus.

“Toppers’ initial athletic presence was the result of a healthy relationship that Paul and Sue Wilke have built with MSU that catapulted Toppers to the top of the list,” Powicki said. “Toppers proved to be a great choice for our pizza vendor with their accuracy, consistency and overall student-focused attitude. We are excited to have them around for at least another three years.”

Toppers of Mankato opened its doors three years ago and immediately began connecting with Minnesota State University to build tight relationships with the college community. Upon entering the market, Toppers held a huge grand opening event in which the first 50 people in line the day of their grand opening received free Toppers for a year. Ever since then, MSU students have been hooked and it shows as all 40 of Toppers employees are MSU students, including the Wilke’s two sons.

“We have established an emotional connection with the MSU students and now that we have solidified our presence on campus, it is only going to intensify,” said the Wilke’s.

Toppers Pizza featured in Onalaska Holmen Courier-Life

2010-11-15T11:25:00.000-08:00

Local Toppers Pizza owner/operator Denise Downing and local Fire Chief Don Dominick of Onalaska discuss their decision to team up to celebrate the fact that October is both National Pizza Month and National Fire Safety Month. On October 5th, from 4-8 p.m., local fire fighters will be delivering Toppers Pizza to residents via fire truck! Then, they will do smoke detector checks at every customer’s house, and provide free smoke detectors and batteries to any customers that need them. The article went on to discuss the importance of fire safety and upcoming plans for Toppers to team up with WAFER for fundraising efforts in the upcoming months. Check out a portion of the article below or read the full article here.

Ordering pizza might save a life
By Jo Anne Killeen

Onalaska pizza lovers ordering through Toppers on Oct. 5 will get a special treat when their pizza is delivered. A volunteer fire fighter might be behind the delivery person.

Toppers is teaming up with the Onalaska Fire Department to celebrate National Pizza Month and National Fire Safety Month, both celebrated in October.

According to Denise Downing, owner of Toppers, when pizzas are ordered between 4 and 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5, Onalaska firefighters will also arrive with the delivery, sometimes via fire truck if one is available. While the customer is completing the pizza transaction, volunteer fire fighters will conduct smoke detector checks and provide free smoke detectors and batteries where needed.

“It will be kind of neat to see fire vehicles with a Toppers sign on top,” Downing said. (Read More)

Toppers Pizza franchisee gives back by supporting National Fire Safety Month

2010-11-08T11:36:00.000-08:00

Local Toppers Pizza owner/operator Denise Downing and La Crosse Division Fire Chief Warren Thomass discuss their decision to team up to celebrate the fact that October is both National Pizza Month and National Fire Safety Month. On October 5th, from 4-8 p.m., local fire fighters will be delivering Toppers Pizza to residents via fire truck. Then, they will do smoke detector checks at every customer’s house, and provide free smoke detectors and batteries to any customers that need them. The point they're trying to get across, Thomass says, is that it takes the same amount of time to check your smoke detectors as it does to order a pizza! The article went on to discuss the importance of fire safety and upcoming plans for Toppers to team up with WAFER for fundraising efforts in the upcoming months. Read a portion of the article below or check out the full story here.

Order pizza, get smoke detector checked

La Crosse and Ona-laska firefighters are teaming up with Toppers Pizza to observe National Fire Safety Month and National Pizza Month in October.

Fire trucks will accompany pizza delivery drivers for orders placed from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Firefighters will check smoke detectors and hand out free detectors and batteries donated by Toppers when needed while customers are completing the pizza transaction, said local Toppers owner Denise Downing.

“The message is that it takes about the same time (to check smoke alarms) as it does to have a pizza delivered but can save your life. It is yet another tool for us to make a positive impact on homeowners’ safety,” Onalaska Fire Chief Don Dominick said. (Read More).

Toppers featured in the DailyVista

2010-11-05T14:52:00.000-07:00

Toppers was recently featured in an article called “Toppers Pizza ready to share business model with the nation,” which published in today’s edition of DailyVista, an online business publication. Through an in-depth interview with Brett Larrabee, the article focuses on Toppers’ new growth strategy of large market, multi-unit development. Brett focuses on Toppers’ buying experience and marketing machine which will be attractive to potential franchisees as well as its above average unit economics. Check out Daily Vista's article below:

Leading Tower of Pizza; Toppers Introduces The Tall Boy

2010-11-01T14:39:00.000-07:00

Rapidly Growing Pizza Franchise Goes Vertical with the Unofficial Tallest Pizza in the World

In an ongoing battle to create an alternative to the uneducated big pizza chain’s bland menus, Toppers Pizza, the 28-unit eclectic pizza delivery franchise, has finally created “the pizza all other pizzas look up to.” Its name? The Tall Boy.

“The Tall Boy is a continuation of our taste domination and represents the best of our product offerings,” said Scott Iversen, Director of Marketing for Toppers Pizza. “Customers are constantly craving our Topperstix—then one day it suddenly occurred to us: Topperstix as the base of our pizzas.”

Since its invention, pizza has only gone in one direction—down. Until now. The Tall Boy puts other thick crust pizzas to shame, standing above the competition and combining the cheesy, garlicky, thick crust of Topperstix with any of its 50+ toppings or House Pizza ingredients.

“When we added the toppings, we noticed that this was a seriously tall pizza,” said Iversen. “It doesn’t dip down in the middle like other thick crust or pan fried pizzas do. It stays thick the whole way through. Naming it The Tall Boy was a no-brainer.”

The Tall Boy is the latest product launched under Toppers new “Spank Your Buds” tagline, a positioning statement that has become Toppers’ official platform for the kinds of ongoing marketing messages that give their fanatical fans the unique experience they’ve come to expect: fun, irreverent, and engaging, with some seriously great-tasting food.

“Our new tagline just reinforces what our fans have been telling us since our inception,” said Iversen. “Our food tastes better than the national guys, and now we’ve created a tagline that says that, Toppers-style.”

In 2009, the face of the pizza industry frowned, with industry-wide patterns of sluggish sales and stunted growth. Toppers Pizza, however, not only dodged the slowdown but actually increased their average unit volumes and system-wide sales with five new units and 18 new contracts. While the big chains go hungry, Toppers chows down on an ever-growing slice of the $40-plus-billlion pizza industry pie.

But how?

“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 Toppers Pizza. “Our customers, on the other hand, are fanatical about our brand. Our quirkiness and edginess have given us character, thus we’ve been able grow by forming strong bonds with an untapped national demographic – the 18-34-year olds.”

Toppers growth plans featured in The Business Journal

2010-10-29T12:26:00.000-07:00

The article focuses on Toppers growth and development, with very specific numbers and statistics to back up its claims about Toppers rapid growth. It explains how Toppers’ irreverent marketing and unique personality have strengthened consumer loyalty, and discusses Toppers’ 20 year history, which started off slow but flourished once the brand became a franchise. It also goes into detail about Toppers’ future plans, from their focus on Midwestern states outside of Wisconsin to their eventual plans of “world domination” and an island called “Topperville!” This article provides a wonderful illustration of where Toppers has been and where they are headed, and should be a great way to peak consumer interest and generate potential leads. Check out a portion of the story below or read the full article here.

Toppers Pizza looking to grow
The Business Journal - by Stacy Vogel Davis

After rapid growth in the Milwaukee market, Whitewater-based Toppers Pizza has ambitious plans for expansion in the upper Midwest in the next three years.

The chain opened its eighth Milwaukee-area restaurant in Bay View this month, five years after opening its first Milwaukee location.

Toppers plans to open three more Milwaukee stores in the next two years, but its main targets are states such as Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan and Indiana, said Brett Larrabee, who was recently hired as Toppers’ first director of franchise development. (Read More).

Toppers' Spank Your Pizza Contest featured in Journal & Courier

2010-10-29T11:42:00.000-07:00

Toppers was recently featured in an article in the “People & Products” section of the Journal & Courier of Lafeyette, IN. The article alerts readers of Toppers’ “Spank Your Pizza” Facebook tournament, and notes that Toppers has narrowed finalists down to 64, with the winning pizza to be chosen by Toppers’ 17,000 Facebook fans.

People & Products

Toppers Pizza, which has a location in West Lafayette, has narrowed the field of its Spank Your Facebook Pizza Challenge to 64 finalists.

The finalists are asked to create their own pizza menu item with the winning entry becoming a permanent fixture, named after its creator, on Toppers menu nationwide. Toppers has more than 17,000 Facebook fans.

(Read More)

Toppers Pizza Featured in Flyer News

2010-10-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

Toppers was recently featured in an article in the Flyer News. The article discusses what sets Toppers—the “more fun pizza company”—apart from its competition, by marketing to the college demographic, staying open late, offering unique menu items such as the “Hangover Helper,” “Mac N Cheese,” and “Topperstix,” and creating a fun, college-friendly environment for students. The article explains that Toppers just entered Cincinnati and hopes to enter Dayton within the next six months, showing that UD students are very excited about someday having a Toppers Pizza near their school! A portion of the article is included below and can be read in its entirety by clicking here.

Youth-centered pizza place sets eyes on UD
By Justin Guinn

Toppers Pizza has big plans for Dayton.

The "more fun pizza company," which markets itself to 18 to 34 year olds and is open until 3:45 a.m. most nights, has 26 Midwestern franchises. Their newest location is a store at 345 Calhoun St., Cincinnati, located less than an hour from the University of Dayton. According to Toppers, the same franchisers are looking to Dayton for their next move.

"Other pizza chains are mundane, tired and boring," said Brett Larrabee, Toppers' director of franchise development.

Toppers employees said their company wants to focus on fun.

(Read More)

Toppers Pizza goes on air with Fox Business

2010-10-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

Toppers Pizza was recently featured on Fox Business. The segment featured CEO Scott Gittrich discussing how Toppers was built into a successful franchise. It's chock full of industry secrets and tips on growing your business. Check out the clip by clicking below!

Toppers Pizza featured in The Racquet

2010-10-22T14:05:00.000-07:00

Toppers was recently featured in an article called, “Pigging out for a cause,” which published in The Racquet, UW-La Crosse’s student newspaper. This article showed how Toppers Pizza continues to engage the local campus, community and nonprofits and discusses Toppers philanthropic efforts during the next month. Read a portion of the article below or check out the full story here.

Pigging out for a cause

By Gretchen Zishka

Could you eat an entire order of cheese sticks in two minutes and forty-two seconds? The winner of Toppers Pizza's Topperstix eating challenge last Saturday did just that.

Though the challenge seemed more about competition and stuffing oneself than anything else, it served to raise money and awareness for WAFER, a local food pantry.

Heidi Blanke, WAFER director, said, "We're busier than ever, so any funds help us fill out our shelves…We're thrilled that [Toppers] wants to do this for us." (Read More)

The Balloon Effect: Toppers Sets Sights on Midwest Expansion

2010-10-19T11:40:00.000-07:00

Successful Capture of 18-34-Year Old Demographic Spikes ’09 Sales; Projects Strong Onward Growth

WHITEWATER, WI – In 2009, the face of the pizza industry frowned, as sales were sluggish and growth was stunted. Toppers Pizza, though, dodged a slowdown with increased average unit volumes and system-wide sales; five new units; and 18 under contract. When the big chains are down, Toppers has remained up, taking names and gripping its share of the $40-plus-billion pizza industry. Why?

“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.”

Along with its ability to tap into the most influential demographic, Toppers has made a name for itself as the innovators of unique menu items. Toppers was the first delivery brand to capture the cheesy bread marketplace with its famous Topperstix. Toppers has never shied away from innovation with its Mac ‘N Cheese; Potato Topper; Cool C-B-R (Chicken-Bacon-Ranch); The Hangover Helper; Buffalo Wings, Quesadillas, Grinders, and dozens of other menu items. Different from the competition, 70 percent of Toppers’ sales come from items not traditionally found on competitor’s menus.

Gittrich has never swayed from his original mission: Create an eclectic pizza delivery experience while maintaining a better product and service than the competition. While Papa John’s, Domino’s, and Pizza Hut are stuck in a stiff battle for the family demographic, Toppers has maintained its original strategy of being a hip, cool brand, connected to the nationally untapped 18-34 demographic. This strategy, Gittrich said, has helped Toppers sustain its growth, even in a down economy, in that there are more young, energetic consumers craving a real brand connection.

Additionally, to celebrate the grand opening of each new location, Toppers gives 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. This, coupled with other out-of-the-box marketing methods, has lifted the brand into high ranks of success.

When Gittrich created Toppers in August 1991, he had the fortune of a long-stint in the Domino’s camp, in which he was inspired by its core culture, values, leadership of its founder Tom Monaghan, and even earned the privilege of securing one of the famed Rolex watches Monaghan awarded to his top performers. When given the opportunity to become a franchisee of two sinking Dayton, Ohio, Domino’s units for the price of just $1 each, Gittrich turned it down.

“I rebelled against the big box,” he said. “I knew that by pouring my heart and soul into my own concept I would be able to create a brand one-step better than the competition.”

Gittrich’s plan worked. The first Toppers location opened to rave reviews, a fanatical following, and an all-star first four months after opening in August of 1991. But just like any start-up business, there was bound to be a down moment. In December of its first year of operation, Toppers’ sales sunk to just $700 for the week, thanks to an underestimated college winter break. The downs are the reason Gittrich has remained a franchisee in his own system, as the owner of seven locations, he is able to test, treat and market new initiatives as well as contribute to the national advertising fund.

“I won’t give up being a pizza delivery franchisee,” he said, noting he still operates the locations, including the newest Whitewater location/training facility. “It is important for me to be in the trenches with my franchisee family. Plus, I love the grind way too much.”

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.

Toppers Fanatics line up for free pizza at the Bay View Opening

2010-10-18T13:50:00.000-07:00

People line up Oct. 15 on the east side of Kinnickinnic Ave. for the Toppers Pizza grand opening and its promotional offer of free food for a year to the first 50 customers in line on Friday. photo by Michael Timm (Bay View Compass)

Toppers' Bay View opening discussed in Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

2010-10-15T14:41:00.000-07:00

Toppers Pizza was recently featured in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel’s food blog, “Taste Buds.” The article discusses Toppers’ newest and perhaps final opening in Milwaukee, happening this Saturday, Oct. 16 and officially saturates the Milwaukee market. It also spreads the word about how Toppers will give the first 50 customers in line free food for a year, and mentions Toppers plans to expand throughout the Midwest. Check out a portion of the article below or read the full story here.

Toppers Pizza opening Saturday in Bay View
By Carol Deptolla of the Journal Sentinel

The newest Milwaukee-area Toppers Pizza is opening at Saturday in Bay View, and the company says it's likely the last for the area for a while.

The store, at 2262 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., opens at 10:30 a.m., and the Whitewater-based chain's openings tend to draw a crowd -- the first 50 customers in line receive free food for a year.

According to the company, the Bay View store -- the eighth Toppers in and around Milwaukee -- represents the saturation point for the market, at least for the time being, so no further franchises are planned here. (Read More)

Toppers social media contest featured by In Business Madison

2010-10-06T11:18:00.000-07:00

Scott Iverson discusses Toppers’ new “Spank Your Pizza” social media crowdsourcing campaign, where the winner’s pizza creation will become a permanent fixture on Toppers’ menu nation-wide. Scott explains this new marketing concept in detail and discusses what it means for both the future of Toppers and the relationship between business and social media in general. As an expert on the relationship between business and social media, Scott also offers advice to other business owners looking to connect with consumers via social media. Check out a portion of the story below or read the full article here.

Social media play: Can you top this?

It's safe to say that Toppers Pizza in Madison caters to the social media generation, but the people behind its new customer engagement campaign say that any business can actually relate to customers if it is willing to relinquish some control.

The technical term for what the Wisconsin-based Toppers is doing is "social media crowd-sourcing," but it's actually a new spin on an old motto — the customer is always right — for a comfort food product.

One trip to the Toppers website and you get the idea the company already takes an off-the-wall approach to brand loyalty, but it's new, tournament-style "Spank Your Pizza" Facebook challenge is giving consumers a chance to actually shape the menu. (Read More)

Toppers multi-unit franchisee Denise Downing highlighted in Onalaska Holmen Courier-Life

2010-10-04T11:37:00.000-07:00

In a recent article in the Onalaska Holmen Courier-Life, local Toppers Pizza owner/operator Denise Downing and local Fire Chief Don Dominick of Onalaska discuss their decision to team up to celebrate the fact that October is both National Pizza Month and National Fire Safety Month. On October 5th, from 4-8 p.m., local fire fighters will be delivering Toppers Pizza to residents via fire truck! Then, they will do smoke detector checks at every customer’s house, and provide free smoke detectors and batteries to any customers that need them. Check out a portion of the article below or read the full story here.

Ordering pizza might save a life

Onalaska pizza lovers ordering through Toppers on Oct. 5 will get a special treat when their pizza is delivered. A volunteer fire fighter might be behind the delivery person.

Toppers is teaming up with the Onalaska Fire Department to celebrate National Pizza Month and National Fire Safety Month, both celebrated in October.
According to Denise Downing, owner of Toppers, when pizzas are ordered between 4 and 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5, Onalaska firefighters will also arrive with the delivery, sometimes via fire truck if one is available. While the customer is completing the pizza transaction, volunteer fire fighters will conduct smoke detector checks and provide free smoke detectors and batteries where needed.

“It will be kind of neat to see fire vehicles with a Toppers sign on top,” Downing said. (Read More)

Toppers Cincinnati opening featured in The NewsRecord

2010-10-01T11:26:00.000-07:00

Toppers was recently featured in an article discussing their upcoming opening in Cincinnati. The article details all the cool reasons why Toppers is so beloved by the college demographic, from late night hours to unique menu items to "ping" pong ball dispensers! It also gives students information about the opening on Oct 2 and everything it will offer, including free food for a year for the first 50 customers in line, and the opportunity to be photographed in the Toppers mascot costume and "become a part of Toppers history! Check out a portion of the article below or read the full story here.

Toppers to award first 50 customers
By Meredith Tipton | Staff Reporter

Late night pizza, games, TV and an inviting atmosphere make for the ideal lobby of a college dorm. Thanks to Toppers Pizza, this description also applies to the lobby of a pizza restaurant coming to Clifton.

Wisconsin-based and college-oriented Toppers will open its first Ohio unit on Saturday,

Oct. 2 at 345 Calhoun St. Toppers sets itself apart from other "old, stale, boring" pizza places with its menu, as well as the events planned for its grand opening, said Brett Larrabee, director of franchise development.

Toppers' tradition at each grand opening grants the first 50 customers one year of free food from the restaurant. This has led to people lining up outside the building, sometimes camping out 48 hours in advance, Larrabee said. (Read More)

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

2010-09-29T07:37:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-28T14:49:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-27T12:25:00.002-07:00

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

2010-09-27T07:28:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-24T07:14:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-22T07:06:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-20T14:56:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-17T14:49:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-15T11:17:00.000-07:00

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)

2010-09-10T11:09:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-03T13:25:00.000-07:00

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)

Toppers Pizza pioneers with Spank Your Pizza contest

2010-08-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

Toppers Pizza is pioneering a whole new wave of social marketing using a theory called crowdsourcing. Through this avenue, Toppers is giving their fans complete creative control and letting them creative Toppers’ next menu item! The winner’s creation will appear on the menu permanently and will be named after the creator. Pizzamarketplace.com just published an article about Toppers’ newest Social Media campaign. Read a portion below or see the full article here.

Toppers Pizza creates new pizza through ‘crowdsourcing’
By Jennifer Litz

The pizza industry has been banking on some colorful tags lately, including Domino’s successful "Oh Yes We Did" mantra. Now expanding Midwestern chain Toppers Pizza is pushing the more cheeky "Spank your 'buds," meant to convey the brand's forte of "really good tasting food," according to marketing director Scott Iversen.

But just as Domino's used its now famous tagline to spearhead a recipe overhaul that admitted previously subpar food, Toppers is launching the promo that goes with the saucy saying: The “Spank Your Pizza” program will allow fans and customers alike to create their own original pizza recipe using the ingredients found at each Toppers. Top entrees will battle each other in a tournament-style bracket, where each recipe advances based on the voting of Toppers’ own Facebook fans. The ultimate winner will have their menu item featured as a part of the Toppers’ menu, also receiving free Toppers for a year as well as a $500 gift card. Second prize will be rewarded free Toppers for a year and a $100 gift card, while every finalist gets a free Triple Order. (Read More)

Toppers' expansion plans discussed in Green Bay Gazette

2010-08-16T12:36:00.000-07:00

Toppers recently handed out their Franchisee of the Year Award to Green Bay and Appleton owners, Joe Kirschling and Aaron Johnson. Joe and Aaron were recently interviewed by the Green Bay Press Gazette about their accomplishment. The partners opened their Appleton location in 2008 and re-opened the Green Bay location in February. The team is credited for revitalizing the Green Bay location while maintaining the success of their Appleton location. The interview also discusses the teams’s expansion plans as they plan to open their third location together by the summer of 2011. A portion of the article is below and the entire article can be read here.

Toppers looks to expand in Green Bay
By Nathan Phelps

The owners of Toppers pizza in Green Bay are eying an expansion of operations to the west side of the city late this year or by the summer of 2011.

Co-owners Aaron Johnson and Joe Kirschling are looking at the expansion on the heels of taking on the Green Bay Toppers franchise earlier this year.

The pair have operated Toppers in Appleton since early 2008 and re-opened Green Bay operations in February. They were also recently bestowed Toppers Franchise of the Year for 2009 and 2010. (Read More)

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

2010-08-10T08:10:00.000-07:00

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.

We Come Fast, No Apologies: Eclectic Pizza Franchise Expands to Tri-State Area with First Set for Cincinnati-Area

2010-08-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

Expanding Presence: Toppers Pizza Signs Contract with Verizon Wireless Center

2010-07-27T12:59:00.000-07:00

Toppers Pizza of Mankato Named Official Pizza Provider of Verizon Wireless Center

In the short two years that Toppers Pizza has been a pizza favorite for Mankato residents, it has done much more than just make great pizza, it has built deep connections with the Mankato community. Now, Toppers is being rewarded, as the Toppers Pizza of Mankato has become the official pizza provider of the Verizon Wireless Center, knocking out Domino’s who had been working with the Verizon Wireless Center since it’s opening over a decade ago.

Paul and Sue Wilke, the husband and wife franchisee team of Toppers Pizza in Mankato, are honored that Toppers was selected to be the sole pizza provider of the Verizon Wireless Center.

“This agreement will increase brand presence for the Toppers Pizza brand not only in our local area of Mankato, but also to visitors throughout southern Minnesota and the northern Iowa trade area,” said Paul Wilke, noting that the Verizon Wireless Center draws from a large geographical area that spans over 22 counties and over 8,500 square miles. “We hope to develop a larger fan base through daily event visitors to the Verizon Wireless Center.”

Toppers Pizza has signed a five year contract with the Verizon Wireless Center. According to Executive Director of the Verizon Wireless Center, Burt Lyman, Toppers Pizza will be sold at all event concessions including concerts, sporting events, and shows. Through the agreement, Toppers will have signage throughout the Verizon Wireless Center, use of two electronic reader boards on Riverfront Drive and Madison Avenue in Mankato, plus closed caption video commercials throughout the Verizon Wireless Center.

“We’re very excited to work with Toppers and build a strong working relationship,” said Lyman. “The Wilke’s are community-focused and have a strong sense of what resonates with our customers. We know that they will be very successful at the Verizon Wireless Center. It’s a win-win.”

This partnership comes only six months after signing a contract with the Minnesota State University athletics department to become the exclusive pizza provider for them. “Our new partnership with the Verizon Wireless Center really compliments our agreement on campus at Minnesota State University,” said Wilke. “It signifies our commitment to becoming a staple in the Mankato community.”

Toppers of Mankato opened its doors two years ago and immediately began connecting with the Mankato community through various sponsorships, partnerships with nonprofit organizations and community outreach initiatives. Upon entering the market, Toppers held a huge grand opening event in which the first 50 people in line the day of their grand opening received free Toppers for a year. Ever since then, Mankato residents have been hooked on Toppers.

“We have established an emotional connection with Mankato residents and we continue to work on initiatives that further intensify those bonds,” said Wilke.

Toppers was on TV!

2010-06-30T12:22:00.000-07:00

This morning Toppers Pizza debuted on Wake Up Wisconsin in Madison! Scott Gittrich, Founder and CEO of Toppers raced Matt Ziemann, this year's Toppers Skin Sprints winner. Guess who won!

Toppers on TV!

Toppers was recently featured in the Iowa City Press-Citizen!

2010-06-17T09:39:00.000-07:00

Toppers pizza franchise eyes Iowa City area
LEE HERMISTON • IOWA CITY PRESS-CITIZEN • JUNE 17, 2010

An up-and-coming pizza chain is looking to make its presence known in Iowa City.

"We think the time is right for expanding into Iowa, and Iowa City would be at the top of our list for new franchisee development," said Scott Iversen, director of franchise development for Toppers Pizza.

Based in Whitewater, Wis., and created in 1991, Toppers Pizza has 20 locations in Wisconsin, two in Minnesota, one in Illinois and Indiana, and two in Charlotte, NC.

Iversen said several things set Toppers apart from the big-name national pizza franchises.

"First and foremost, we just have a better-tasting product," Iversen said. (Read More)

Toppers Pizza was recently featured in the Kalamazoo Gazette!

2010-05-27T14:20:00.000-07:00

Want to own a restaurant? Wisconsin pizza company looking for Kalamazoo franchise owners

By Alex Nixon, Kalamazoo Gazette

KALAMAZOO — A Wisconsin-based pizza franchising company, Toppers Pizza, says it plans to expand throughout Michigan in the coming years.

And it’s looking for a franchisee in Kalamazoo.

“Kalamazoo is one of those places that we feel could be a home run for a Toppers franchisee,” said Scott Iversen, Toppers’ director of franchise development.

The company targets areas with large populations of college-age people, aged 18 to 25. (Read More)

Toppers Pizza was recently featured in the South Bend Tribune!

2010-05-24T13:17:00.000-07:00

Toppers considers S.B.

By HEIDI PRESCOTT
Tribune Columnist

Last Sunday, you read about the South Bend-Mishawaka market opening up to possible Potbelly Sandwich Shop franchisees.

Today, we have similar news from Toppers Pizza. The 26-unit chain recently opened the South Bend market to franchisees. About half of its restaurants are located in college towns.

"The greater South Bend area has the potential for two to three locations," says Scott Iversen, director of marketing and franchise development for the Whitewater, Wis.-base company.

The company recently expanded into Chicagoland with its 1,650-square-foot strip center prototype store that offers mainly carry out and delivery. Toppers hopes to have 100 restaurants in operation by 2013.

Toppers Featured in Nation's Restaurant News

2010-05-10T05:05:00.000-07:00

Toppers was recently featured in a Nation's Restaurant News article titled “More than friends”. The article was built from an in-depth interview with Scott Iversen and Nick Powills, and focuses on Toppers interaction with customers through social media. The article talks about Toppers social media efforts, including the “MyZa and Me” contest and “Toppers Tuesday’s,” discussing how Toppers is able to interact and grow their brand based on interaction on social media, which in return leads to incremental sales across all 26 locations! Below is a thumbnail of the article. Clicking on the thumbnail will bring the article up in its entirety.

Toppers was recently featured in QSR!

2010-04-30T13:48:00.000-07:00

The Renovation Rush
By Daniel P. Smith- QSR May Issue

Operators plan on committing more of their resources to redesigns and renovations in 2010 as they try to stay relevant for consumers.

Four years ago, the winds of change moved Scott Gittrich, an experience that the Toppers Pizza CEO is appreciative for these days as his Wisconsin-based pizza chain pushes into a new decade with promise and purpose.

While working with an advertising agency, Gittrich and his Toppers leadership team noted their success with teens and twentysomethings, a revelation that sparked a multiyear plan to renovate existing restaurants and build new outlets with a more casual, youthful edge.

“Our existing stores were built like fast food places, but that wasn’t how our customers perceived us,” Gittrich says. “If we were going to realize our potential, then we needed to embrace our late-night, burn-the-candle-at-both-ends image, and that meant we needed to change our prototype store.”

A year later, Gittrich and his design firm settled on a snazzy, modern, and cost-effective store design that converted Toppers’ stores from quick service to fast casual. Today’s Toppers feature loft-like ceilings, exposed brick, earth tone–colored walls, and lounge seating, a far cry from the checkered tile floor and laminate tables of yesteryear.

“We think the physical space reflects the way customers perceive the quality of our food,” Gittrich says. “And we didn’t want to look like fast food pizza.”

The company spent the last two years converting half of its 25 stores, with remaining locations on target for redesign by the end of 2013, a timeline acknowledging the reality of lease negotiations rather than any hesitance or lack of excitement on Gittrich’s part.

“We feel we’ve got a store design now that represents our brand and showcases our food in an exciting way,” Gittrich says. “We couldn’t be happier we made the decision to renovate. Sales are increasing at our converted stores and customers are responding favorably to the changes.”

Though costly in both time and money, renovations like Toppers’ are likely to blanket the 2010 restaurant industry landscape. Looking to capitalize on brighter economic prospects and resurrect slumping recession sales, operators are expected to turn to renovation as an avenue to spark consumer interest, refresh the brand and its individual locations, and position the company for long-term success. (Read More)

Say CHEESE Midwest – Toppers is Bubbling Out of Wisconsin

2010-04-19T12:10:00.000-07:00

The biggest advantage of how we have grown in Wisconsin is the buzz that we have built in terms of brand awareness. By starting on college campuses we have built a loyal cult like following. Our customers are fanatical about our products. These fanatics help us create new fanatics by telling them about Toppers. When we showed up 5 years later in Milwaukee people would say I loved you while I was in college at Whitewater, Stevens Point, Madison, etc.

How we be able to sustain that fanatical following as we progress outside of Wisconsin, is the million dollar question. We need to do a great job of educating people on the awesome tasty goodness of our core products – Topperstix & House Pizzas. We intend on strategically growing one market at a time much like we did in Wisconsin. Our primary targets are major college campus markets in the Upper Midwest. By developing the brand in these influential markets first this will allow us develop a loyal following that will help carry us as we enter other major metro areas such as Minneapolis, Chicago, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati. To accomplish our growth goals we need to continue to align ourselves with great single unit and area developer franchisees.

We are getting franchising interest from people all across the country. However, the majority of our leads are from people who already know the Toppers brand. Most of them are customers or friends of employees or franchisees. We get the most leads from the places where we already have open Toppers stores.

In 2010, we are going to be making an aggressive push to attracting new franchise prospects. As of today we are right on our pace of hitting 100 stores by the end of 2013. We currently have 26 stores open with another 18 under contract to open in the next 24 months. In the coming year we are planning on taking more advantage of our social media outlets as a lead generating tool.

Toppers Says: Eat it Economy! Continues Growth

2010-04-12T12:08:00.000-07:00

Many brands are struggling in this economy. That is an unfortunate fact. For us, we have been able to sustain by simply maintaining our visions and following our core values, especially: Give Customers What They Want!

Our success at Toppers really comes down to we have great food and great people. We have two signature products: Our Topperstix are cheesy covered breadstix that people order more often than pizza! The most popular is our world famous Triple Order. Our second point of difference vs. the competition is our wide selection of unique House Pizzas. We have some of the most unique pizzas in the pizza delivery category. Our Potato Toppers, Mac N Cheese, Cool C-B-R and Hangover Helper are examples of tasty pizzas you are just not going to find anywhere else. Giving customers what they want also includes our franchisee owners as they are our other set of customers. We have continued to grow in a rough economy because we have a system that produces ROI for our franchisees. The proof: in 2008 our stores averaged over $945,000 in sales with an average EBTDITA of 14.5 percent (as disclosed in our 2009 Franchise Disclosure Document). The other delivery competitors in our category are closer to an average of $600,000 in annual sales. Our stores are doing extremely high sales out of a small footprint of 1600 square feet. Our annual sales per square foot rival the biggest restaurant companies in the world. We have continued to grow because people see the success our franchise owners are having and new people want to jump on the Toppers train.

We do understand that the economy is definitely tough as people are being extremely choosy about where to spend their dining dollars. One of the most important things we have done is not panic like many of our competitors have done. We have not jumped into the deep discounting game to try to save our market share. We have looked for new ways to create value for our customers without putting our franchisees in the position where they are forced to try to make money on high food cost promotions. An example of this is our new MyZa sized pizza. This individual size pizza is unique in the industry. It is rectangular in shape and is cut into four right triangle slices. The MyZa is $4.99 for a 1 topping or $6.99 for one of our signature House pizzas. This new product has allowed us to do two things; create trial of our House Pizzas and provide a price point that attracts the solo eater.

We are also constantly looking at how we can improve the quality of our food. We look at trends and watch how consumers’ tastes are changing. We then come up with unique flavor combinations to match those trends. We aren’t afraid to try anything on our pizza. If Captain Crunch with jalapenos tastes good on a pizza then let’s try to sell it!

I guess I wouldn’t call us “innovators” in terms of marketing. Being a small company, we don’t have the resources the big national chains have at their disposal to be innovative. Although being smaller it gives us the opportunity to our hustle the big slow plodding chains. We do and say things in our marketing the big guys could never get away with doing. I would call our approach genuine and authentic. Our marketing is simply to be real in the eyes of our fanatics. To be successful we must know who we are and we know what our customers think of us.

At Toppers we love to have fun, it is a company core value. We want our customers to have fun too. So if we come out with some B.S. campaign that is not believable our customers will see right through it and hurt the brand long term. Our goal is simple create fanatics for life by creating personal moments and making emotional connections with each and every customer.

While I’m definitely not an economist, so my opinion probably doesn’t mean a whole lot, I think we are seeing signs that consumer confidence is growing. Hey, people still have to eat, right? You can only stay home and eat meatloaf so many times each week. Ordering pizza is like having a party delivered at an economical price to feed a group of people. The per person price of having pizza delivered compared to going out to a restaurant is so much less that we feel we have an advantage.

We are predicting the first part of 2010 might still be a little rough but the second half should see some modest growth. At Toppers we are expecting to continue our run of consecutive record sales with another year of growth.

That’s Right, We’re Cool: Toppers Progresses Itself Into Social Media

2010-04-05T10:02:00.000-07:00

Every brand seems to have an increased interest in jumping head first into Social Media, however, few actually create a plan of attack when doing so. For us, Toppers Pizza, we wanted to take a calculated approach that combined a mixture of attainable goals and fun.

Using a contest, our weekly specials (known as Toppers Tuesdays), we crossed over the 10k fan mark on our Facebook Fan Page. Not too bad for a 26-unit pizza chain.

From the get-go, Social Media was so attractive to us because it allows us to make personal connections with all of our Toppers fanatics. We get to interact with them in a fun way in their own personal space. The Toppers brand then becomes more than just a functional brand it becomes a friend, a friend for life. The big benefit of interacting with our fanatics on social networks is it is real time. We can put out a special offer and see immediate results. We can ask our fans a research question and get instant feedback.

Toppers we use social media to make all kinds of different personal connections with our fanatics. We use social media to announce new products, new store openings, conduct research, special offers social media only offers, fun interactive contests, giveaways of Toppers merchandise and most of all we use it to continue to build the culture of a fun, irreverent brand. If one of our fanatics is having a bad day we try to brighten it by giving them a special offer or simply telling them a joke.

Additionally, Social Media has provided us with a glimpse of the future. We believe that Social Media will completely change the advertising landscape. Consumers, today, are bombarded by brand messaging. They are getting more and more numb to traditional “sell me” type advertising. Today’s consumer picks brands for more than just their functional benefit (what the product/service does for them). Customers today and in the future are going to associate themselves with brands that align with their own personal beliefs and value structure. Social Media allows brands like Toppers to be a part of their daily lives in a way that traditional advertising will never be able to accomplish.

Social Media definitely is more than just another form of retail advertising; it helps educate people on our franchising opportunities. We use our Topperspizza Guy profile on Facebook as a day in the life of a Toppers franchise owner. So when a person is interested in learning about the Toppers franchise opportunity and they do a search of the web our social media sites help to educate the potential owner on the power of the Toppers brand. Social Media really helps us sell the difference of our brand compared to our closest competitors.

If you take a look around our Social Sites, you may be impressed on first glance, but this is just the beginning, as we learn more about us as a brand and most importantly, how our consumers see us.

Toppers was just recently featured in the Ann Arbor Journal!

2010-04-05T08:02:00.000-07:00

Toppers Pizza hoping to open in Ann Arbor
By Lisa Allmendinger, A2 Journal

You might not be familiar with The Hangover Helper pizza or a Mac 'N' Cheese, Potato Topper, Cool C-B-R (Chicken-Bacon-Ranch) varieties.

There also are buffalo wings, quesadillas and grinders, plus dozens of other menu items at Toppers Pizza, now in 26 locations throughout the upper Midwest.

In the future, University of Michigan students and Ann Arbor residents might be able to taste these unusual toppings as Toppers Pizza scouts a Wolverine-friendly location, while looking for franchisees.

There are an additional 18 under contract, and Ann Arbor is one of the Michigan target cities that Toppers plans for its franchise expansion plans.

The eclectic pizza franchise plans to use Ann Arbor as a hub for expansion in Michigan, says Scott Iversen, Toppers director of franchise development.

Topping $1 million in sales per location, Iverson says these numbers are 35 to 45 percent higher than national competitors. (Read More)

Toppers Pizza was just recently featured in the Dayton Daily News!

2010-03-29T14:21:00.000-07:00

Pizza chain eyeing Dayton for expansion
By Mark Fisher Monday, March 29, 2010, 10:59 AM

Scott Gittrich hopes his second experience with Dayton is more rewarding than the first.

In 1991, Gittrich — founder and CEO of the Whitewater, Wisconsin-based Toppers Pizza, a mostly-delivery pizza chain that targets the 18-to-34 age group demographic — was offered the opportunity to become the franchise owner of a couple of Domino’s pizza shops, the large pizza chain for which he was working in Charlotte, N.C. Gittrich researched the offer, but didn’t like what he found about what were then a pair of low-volume, struggling stores.

“It wasn’t anything about Dayton, but it just didn’t fit with my own entrepreneurial spirit,” Gittrich said. “I’d prefer to do my own thing rather than try to reverse the fortunes of an existing franchise.” (Read More)

Toppers Pizza was just recently featured in the Chicago Tribune

2010-03-29T14:18:00.000-07:00

Toppers pizza chain to add 30 locations in Chicago
Published on March 26, 2010 11:52 AM

By Julie Wernau A new pizza chain is coming to town and plans to add 30 locations in Chicago by 2012. Toppers Pizza, a 26-unit pizza franchise with 20 locations in Wisconsin caters to the college crowd with pies such as the "Hangover Helper," "Mac 'N Cheese" and a pizza called the "Potato Topper" that tastes like a loaded potato, according to the company. To celebrate the grand opening of each new location, Toppers gives away free food for a year to the first 50 customers. (Read More)

Toppers Pizza was recently featured in the Journal & Courier

2010-03-05T06:53:00.000-08:00

Toppers breaks the 5,000 fan mark; Rewards loyal fans with Toppers Tuesdays

March 5, 2010-- Journal & Courier

Toppers Pizza, which has a location in West Lafayette, is celebrating breaking the 5,000 fan mark on their social networks by offering Toppers Tuesdays.

Every Tuesday, Toppers will post a new special. In order to claim it, customers will have to tag themselves in the funny photo of the day. To keep the promotion going, Toppers must surpass 10,000 fans on its social networks by the end of April.

Toppers Pizza was featured in the Wisconsin State Journal

2010-03-01T06:26:00.000-08:00

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)

Franchisee Spotlight: Aaron Johnson & Joe Kirschling

2010-01-19T14:53:00.001-08:00

Each week we spotlight our new and established franchisees to show how vast the Toppers family really is! This week, Aaron Johnson and Joe Kirschling, are our spotlight franchisees.

Franchisee Locations: 2042 E. Main St., Green Bay, WI 54302; 109 E. College Ave., Appleton, WI 54911

What intrigued Aaron and Joe about Toppers Pizza…

Aaron and Joe were eager to open multiple locations in Fox Valley from the beginning. When they opened their first location in Appleton, the response was tremendously positive and their fan base grew vastly. People want a great product at a fair price, and Aaron and Joe new that they could continue to grow the brand throughout the region because Toppers offers just that, as well as fast delivery and being open much later than competitors.

Something Interesting About Aaron and Joe’s Story…

Aaron and Joe are becoming closer to their ultimate goal, which is to open four Toppers locations throughout Green Bay and Appleton. Aaron and Joe believe that customer satisfaction is key to becoming and staying successful, and that is exactly the approach they are taking with each location, which has allowed them to continue to grow and open additional locations.

Where specifically did Aaron and Joe learn about Toppers Pizza?

Aaron and Joe experienced the brand firsthand in college and decided to become franchisees of the brand because of their love for everything Toppers stands for. In fact, 90% of Toppers franchisees experienced the brand while in college.

Franchisee Spotlight: Justin Marten

2010-01-18T14:42:00.001-08:00

Each week we spotlight our new and established franchisees to show how vast the Toppers family really is! This week, Justin Marten, is our spotlight franchisee.

Franchisee Since: Jan. 3, 2009

Franchise Locations: Kenosha, WI; Racine, WI

How Justin Marten Got Started With Toppers Pizza…
Justin went school at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in Whitewater, WI, where Toppers Pizza headquarters are located. Justin began working at Toppers Pizza in Waukesha one to two days a week to earn some extra money to help pay for his wedding, and he instantly began attached with the witty, eclectic brand. Justin opened his first Toppers Pizza location in January of 2009 in Racine, WI.

What intrigued Justin Marten about Toppers Pizza…
While working part time at Toppers pizza after graduating, the franchisee Justin was working for presented him with the idea of opening his own location and he took his advice. Now a year and a half later, Justin is opening his second Toppers Pizza location. Justin was intrigued by Toppers ability to connect with a niche demographic, which was exactly how he first became familiar with the brand.

Something Interesting About Justin Marten’s Story…
Justin is a very young entrepreneur. At the age of 26, Justin is opening his second Toppers location, and has become a community staple through a number of sponsorships and donations he has made. Justin has sponsored softball teams and given donations to local schools and charities, and he is looking forward to connecting with the Kenosha community also.

Toppers Pizza of Greenfield Donates Pizza to Feed 100

2009-12-23T07:21:00.000-08:00

Kyle Soderstrom, franchisee of Toppers Pizza in Greenfield, donated enough pizza to feed 100 kids with the Boys and Girls Club of America on Friday, December 18. Before Soderstrom stepped in with his donation, the club had only received one 4 ft. sub, which would not feed all of the children. With Soderstrom’s contribution from Toppers Pizza, organizations like the Boys and Girls Club are able to continue to help children who are in need.

Like many non-profit organizations and charities, the Boy and Girls Club is struggling this holiday season as the economy has taken a toll on many Americans, not allowing them to contribute to such organizations that help millions of people. Toppers Pizza continues to give back by making in-kind donations to the nonprofits and charities, and stand by the communities that have supported them over the years.

Soderstrom is active year round making several Toppers Pizza donations a year to elementary school reading programs, where children receive free pizza for working hard and achieving goals. Toppers Pizza has become ingrained throughout the Greenfield community and will continue to thrive and be a community partner, rather than just another pizza place.

For more information on Toppers Pizza or the Toppers Pizza franchise opportunity, please visit http://www.toppers.com/.