Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Toppers Pizza Finds Yet Another Way To Captivate Their Charlotte Fans

CHARLOTTE - Imagine this: You take a photo of you with Toppers newly
launched MyZa, a pizza designed to fill the needs of just one
customer; post the photo on Facebook; tag Toppers Pizza; win $1,000 in
Pizza, and, well, PARTAY.

To celebrate the launch of its newly created MyZa, Toppers Pizza has
launched a national search for its funniest fan. By doing so, the 26-
unit eclectic pizza delivery franchise brand has officially launched
head first into Social Media. With a growing network of more than
7,000 people (not too shabby), Toppers is encouraging personal
interaction in the personal spaces of its customer base.

Here are the addresses of the two Toppers locations in Charlotte:

9510-104 University City Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28213
704.548.8666

5033-f South Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28217
704.523.1669

"Our customers are fanatical about our Pizza and our culture in the
real world – now they are showing their craziness online," said Scott
Iversen, Director of Advertising and the creative mastermind behind
Toppers' Social Media emergence and customer connection contest. "When
we open a new location, tons of our fans line up days before our
restaurant opens. What do you think they will do for a photo contest?"

Toppers' "My MyZa and Me" photo contest begins November 2, and runs
through January 24, 2010. Designed to create a slew of photo
submissions for Toppers Pizza online using Facebook as the primary
generator for fun, creative images, the contest will showcase why its
fans love their Toppers – while obviously showing a sense of humor.
Grand prize winner gets a $1,000 Toppers gift card; second place gets
$500; third place gets $350; and 10 runner ups get a free MyZa.

"We market to an untapped demographic – 18 to 34-year olds," Iversen
said. "Our demographic is insane with their Social Media and Toppers
addictions."

The contest also celebrates a big year for Toppers – including the
doubling of its store count, booming from 13 in three states in 2007
to 26 in six states today, and experiencing a 30 percent in company
wide sales in 2009 – and that's just the beginning. In addition to its
sustained growth, Toppers 1,600 square foot prototype is also breaking
the mold of the delivery/takeout pizza chain, as average unit volumes
are $945,000.

In an ongoing battle to create an alternative to the uneducated big
pizza chain's bland menus, Toppers Pizza added the MyZa, a pizza
designed to fill the needs of just one customer, yet different from
the "pizza-by-the-slice" concepts as it is still made from scratch and
still showcases innovation from the kitchen, as each MyZa still can
feature house favorite concoctions.

"The big boys give customers little option for solo dining. We have
come up with the solution," said Scott Gittrich, founder and CEO of
the growing Whitewater, WI-based franchise brand. "Cold pizza is
great, but what if you just want to meet the craving of just a one-
time pizza experience? We don't discriminate against the single-guy,
either."

The MyZa competes with any chain offering a "fast food" option and any
chain offering low price point menu items.

"The best thing about our MyZa is that it isn't limited to just a few
famous Toppers pizzas," Gittrich said. "You want Mac 'N Cheese, you
got it. Cool C-B-R, we can do that too."

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.

ABOUT TOPPERS
As a 26-unit eclectic pizza delivery franchise brand, Toppers Pizza,
headquartered in Whitewater, WI, takes a unique approach to the
crowded pizza segment by appealing to 18-34 year olds in an irreverent
way that totally separates them from the competition. Toppers' menu
includes 17 house pizzas; the franchise's signature product line
Topperstix; Oven-Toasted Grinders; Buffalo Wings; Quesadillas; and
cold drinks. The brand has strongly established itself in Wisconsin,
and is now in the midst of Midwest and then national growth. By
focusing on Toppers' demographic friendly markets, Toppers is able to
continue its building of a fanatical relationship with its customer
base. For more information on Toppers or Toppers Area Development
Franchise Opportunities, visit www.toppers.com.