By: Heather Ruenz
“We have great team members everywhere – youthful energy, great people and a great culture. The key is having that magic and passion while focusing on the customer,” Gittrich, founder and president of Toppers Pizza, said.
Showing posts with label Whitewater. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Whitewater. Show all posts
Monday, December 16, 2013
Toppers in the Whitewater Register
Toppers in the Whitewater Register in an article titled, "For the Love of Pizza." The article begins with some background on Toppers and how Scott Gittrich moved the company to Whitewater after getting it officially started in Champagne, Illinois. The article goes on to talk about how Toppers has differentiated itself by offering innovative ingredients and keeping a fresh and youthful attitude. The article then touches on the new pizzas, the popularity of Topperstix, and then begins going into more detail on Toppers’ beginnings. A tease to the complete story in this week’s edition of the Whitewater Register ends the article. Click here for the entire article or begin below.
Scott Gittrich has been thinking outside of the box – pizza box, that is – for more than 20 years. And while many things have changed as Toppers Pizza has grown, one thing hasn’t – his passion.
“We have great team members everywhere – youthful energy, great people and a great culture. The key is having that magic and passion while focusing on the customer,” Gittrich, founder and president of Toppers Pizza, said.
“We have great team members everywhere – youthful energy, great people and a great culture. The key is having that magic and passion while focusing on the customer,” Gittrich, founder and president of Toppers Pizza, said.
Monday, August 19, 2013
Toppers featured on PizzaToday.com
Toppers was recently featured on PizzaToday.com in an article titled, "Toppers Pizza announces Chris Cheek as chief development officer." Click here to read the entire article or begin below.
Toppers Pizza announces Chris Cheek as chief development officer
WHITEWATER, Wis. –Toppers Pizza, an eclectic franchise pizza delivery brand, is thrilled to welcome Chris Cheek to the Toppers family as the brand’s first Chief Development Officer. Cheek’s impressive and extensive resume prepares him perfectly for this new role, which will include franchisee recruitment, as well as working closely with both franchisees and corporate to oversee the real estate selection and construction phases of new units. He will proceed along with the new franchisees just entering the system, from assisting with site-selection to overseeing successful openings.
Cheek holds a mechanical engineering degree from North Carolina State University, and upon graduation, he went through General Electric’s management training program, eventually working in sales and business development for the company. In 2002, he entered the restaurant world and developed a franchise sales program from the ground up for Bear Rock Café, where he gained a wealth of knowledge for what would become an extensive career focused on franchising. From there, he joined Bruegger’s bakery-cafés in 2006 just as they were restarting their franchise program. Cheek worked on the development of both traditional and non-traditional venues, such as airports and military bases. By the time he left the company, he had added numerous new franchise commitments for Bruegger’s. In 2012, when Bruegger’s was acquired by Le Duff America, Inc., Cheek served as the Vice President of Franchise Development for the restaurant group with responsibility for Bruegger's, Timothy's World Coffee, Michel's Bakery Cafés, la Madeleine Country French Café and Brioche Dorée. In 2012, Cheek went to work for Freebirds World Burrito, a 26-year-old brand that was just beginning to offer franchising opportunities. Cheek was hired as their first Vice President of Franchise Development.
Toppers Pizza announces Chris Cheek as chief development officer
WHITEWATER, Wis. –Toppers Pizza, an eclectic franchise pizza delivery brand, is thrilled to welcome Chris Cheek to the Toppers family as the brand’s first Chief Development Officer. Cheek’s impressive and extensive resume prepares him perfectly for this new role, which will include franchisee recruitment, as well as working closely with both franchisees and corporate to oversee the real estate selection and construction phases of new units. He will proceed along with the new franchisees just entering the system, from assisting with site-selection to overseeing successful openings.
Cheek holds a mechanical engineering degree from North Carolina State University, and upon graduation, he went through General Electric’s management training program, eventually working in sales and business development for the company. In 2002, he entered the restaurant world and developed a franchise sales program from the ground up for Bear Rock Café, where he gained a wealth of knowledge for what would become an extensive career focused on franchising. From there, he joined Bruegger’s bakery-cafés in 2006 just as they were restarting their franchise program. Cheek worked on the development of both traditional and non-traditional venues, such as airports and military bases. By the time he left the company, he had added numerous new franchise commitments for Bruegger’s. In 2012, when Bruegger’s was acquired by Le Duff America, Inc., Cheek served as the Vice President of Franchise Development for the restaurant group with responsibility for Bruegger's, Timothy's World Coffee, Michel's Bakery Cafés, la Madeleine Country French Café and Brioche Dorée. In 2012, Cheek went to work for Freebirds World Burrito, a 26-year-old brand that was just beginning to offer franchising opportunities. Cheek was hired as their first Vice President of Franchise Development.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Toppers featured in Whitewater Register
Toppers was recently featured in Whitewater Register in an article titled, "Topper’s continues major growth spurt." The article discusses the aggressive growth of Toppers and their plans to keep Whitewater as their headquarter city. Scott Gittrich says the brand is on track to open 12-14 stores in the states they currently have locations and that they have a vision of opening 500 stores by 2020. Click here for the entire article or begin below.
The restaurant chain known for such crowd-pleasers as Topperstix and macaroni and cheese pizza is in the midst of an aggressive growth spurt.
Scott Gittrich, CEO of Toppers Pizza, discussed his company’s progress and future plans with a reporter last week. He revealed a vision to have 500 stores operating throughout the country by 2020 and emphatically stated the company plans to remain anchored in Whitewater well into the foreseeable future.
By: Dave Fidlin
Scott Gittrich, CEO of Toppers Pizza, discussed his company’s progress and future plans with a reporter last week. He revealed a vision to have 500 stores operating throughout the country by 2020 and emphatically stated the company plans to remain anchored in Whitewater well into the foreseeable future.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Toppers does the Harlem Shake
Friday, January 4, 2013
Toppers featured in Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal
Toppers was recently featured in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal in an article entitled, "Toppers franchisee expands." The article is about Derek Henze and his career path with Toppers Pizza. Derek discusses transitioning from Toppers corporate and how his military background has helped his entrepreneurial career. The article discusses Derek’s current locations in Minneapolis and his plans for future growth. Scott expands on how Derek has been a great fit with Toppers Pizza and their model. Click here for the entire article or begin below.
Toppers franchisee expands
By: Meg O'Connor
When Derek Henze sees a cubicle, he only sees a cage.
That’s why he jumped from working in the headquarters of Toppers Pizza to opening and running Toppers franchises in the Twin Cities, with plans to open another 20 stores over the next five years.
In college, Henze worked full time in Toppers’ corporate headquarters as the national marketing coordinator in his college town of Whitewater, Wis. However, Henze didn’t see the corporate life as a land of opportunity, only as a place that would keep him from doing what he was trained to do.
Toppers franchisee expands
By: Meg O'Connor
When Derek Henze sees a cubicle, he only sees a cage.
That’s why he jumped from working in the headquarters of Toppers Pizza to opening and running Toppers franchises in the Twin Cities, with plans to open another 20 stores over the next five years.
In college, Henze worked full time in Toppers’ corporate headquarters as the national marketing coordinator in his college town of Whitewater, Wis. However, Henze didn’t see the corporate life as a land of opportunity, only as a place that would keep him from doing what he was trained to do.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Toppers Pizza was featured in the Wisconsin State Journal
Executive Q&A: Toppers Pizza founder Scott Gittrich on pie appealBy 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)
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