Food & Beverage

Toppers Pizza thrives during the pandemic, bolstered by technology

Image courtesy of Toppers Pizza.

April 22, 2021

Toppers Pizza has been cashing in on the shift to off-premise dining during the coronavirus pandemic, thanks in large measure to the company's investments in technology, including an e-commerce platform and a digital POS system.

"We were the first to offer contactless pickup and curbside delivery in our segment after the pandemic hit," CEO Scott Gittrich said in a press release. "I point this out as a testament to our urgency and commitment to technology — we were nimble, and we punched way above our weight, which led to incredible results."

Thanks to these advancements, 73% to 78% of Toppers' sales have come through digital channels over the past several months, said Gittrich.

"Overall, our same-store sales increases are up 20% to 30% on a weekly basis, and we've also continued to open stores during the pandemic," said Gittrich. "We opened our fourth store since the pandemic began, over a period of the last six months."

Toppers' corporate team, which includes eight developers and an IT department, allows for a high level of support.

"That support infrastructure, which is much more advanced than many brands our size, has really allowed us to continue thriving over the past year as demand increases," said Bill Stayduhar, a multi-unit Toppers franchisee in North Carolina and one of the brand's oldest franchise owners.

Franchisees are able to tap into the brand's first-party delivery platform through their POS, which means they have the ability to save on fees associated with third-party delivery apps and maintain a level of consistency.

"The move to e-commerce has been growing since the mid-90s, and we don't see that changing," Gittrich said. "We've dedicated ourselves and doubled down on those things that create advantages for our franchisees, such as technology, first-party delivery, curbside pick-up, menu creation, commitment to quality and a variety of fun, bold flavors for customers."

Over the past few months, the brand has continued to roll out new menu items, including a vegan menu system wide, Vegan Topperstix and a recent addition of prime rib as a topping option.

Looking ahead, Gittrich predicts 2021 will see the Toppers franchise network continuing to grow as the economy and restaurant market share bounces back.

The company has 69 corporate- and franchise-owned locations in 12 states.