Multi-Unit Operators Set Toppers Pizza Up for Record Expansion from East to West

For nearly three decades, Toppers Pizza has been consistently stealing sales away from the major players in the booming pizza industry. By working with its strong network of passionate and dedicated franchisees who are 100 percent committed to bringing Toppers’ delicious products to new communities, the brand has been able to tap into consumers in a way that no other pizza delivery chain has been able to replicate. However, Toppers’ slice of the pizza segment’s lucrative pie is about to get even bigger.

The Wisconsin-based brand is expanding nationwide thanks to major development deals with multi-unit operators. Out West, Toppers Pizza will be opening its first locations in Colorado and Wyoming. That expansion deal, which is being led by Rocky Top Management group co-owners Todd Geatches and Clayton Hartman, will bring 13 Toppers units to the states over the next six years. And because of the brand’s proven franchise model and concept, there are already additional plans for further development.

“Clayton and I decided to research several different chains: Papa John’s, Jet’s Pizza, Marco’s Pizza and Toppers Pizza. But what ultimately stood out was Toppers, and a big part of that was Scott Gittrich. Scott had figured out a way to target millennials—an important demographic to go after in the food industry. He knew exactly how to target those folks and bring them into Toppers restaurants,” Geatches said. “Of course, the quality of the product was a huge factor, too. When I first tried the pizza and Topperstix I fell in love—it was far and above all the other brands.”

Toppers Pizza is also making a name for itself out East. Mike McLaughlin and his wife Helen have signed on to open 22 Toppers locations in Virginia and Maryland. McLaughlin, who brings over 25 years of experience in the restaurant industry to the table, says he decided to invest with the brand because of its unique position in the crowded market.

“The infrastructure that Toppers has in place on the corporate level makes it incredibly well suited to take the brand national. There’s definitely room for Toppers to compete with major chains, and its superior menu offerings really make it stand out,” said McLaughlin. “I ultimately decided to grow with Toppers over other pizza brands because the entire team is overflowing with passion not only for their products, but also for their customers.”

Both Geatches and McLaughlin are making their return to the pizza segment in a big way with Toppers. Geatches worked in the Papa John’s system for many years, and McLaughlin brings years of experience to the table after working for both Papa John’s and Domino’s. Ultimately, they both signed on to bring Toppers to new markets because they believe the brand has the runway to take down the big guys in the industry.

These multi-unit deals have helped Toppers Pizza break its record for the most number of contracted stores in a single year, and the brand’s momentum isn’t slowing down any time soon. That’s because over the past year, Toppers has refocused its franchise model on multi-unit deals—particularly those with operators who have experience in the restaurant industry. By making its model more attractive to experienced operators, the brand is better positioned to take its made-from-scratch pizza and iconic Topperstix nationwide.

“Our goal is to keep on keeping on until we become a household name throughout the country, and we’re fortunate to have a group of dedicated franchisees to make that possible,” said Scott Gittrich, founder and President of Toppers Pizza.