Scott Gittrich, Toppers founder and CEO

Scott Gittrich opened the first Toppers pizzeria in Champaign, Illinois as an alternative to big box pizza and began franchising in 2000. Now based in Whitewater, Wisconsin, Toppers Pizza ranked No. 337 on the Franchise Times Top 400.

Just a few months after Toppers Pizza turned 30, it got a belated birthday present in the form of a long-term minority investment from Great Plains Capital. Though the investment amount was not disclosed, Wisconsin-based Toppers plans to use the money to grow its store count 15 to 20 percent each year through both franchised and company locations.

“We sought out a partner for one real reason: growth,” said Scott Gittrich, Toppers founder and CEO. “Great Plains emerged as the right financial and business partner to take Toppers to the next level.”

The 70-unit brand started talking to potential investors in February. “The pandemic accelerated our 13 quarters of same-store sales growth and really made it obvious that now is the time to accelerate growth,” Gittrich said, adding that average unit volumes surpassed $1.1 million.

The Great Plains influx of capital will also fund increased training and technology innovation. Toppers brings in 73 percent of its systemwide sales through its proprietary digital platform, which is largely driven by the brand’s social media channels.

In addition to unique pizzas such as the Loaded Tot-zza—which features Wisconsin mozzarella cheese, tater tots, applewood-smoked bacon, green onions and nacho cheese—Toppers offers vegan menu options. Ingredients such as dairy-free mozzarella, plant-based Beyond Chicken and its own homemade vegan garlic sauce attract vegetarian and vegan consumers who “are often forced to settle for second-rate options when it comes to ordering from restaurants,” the company website states. Toppers partnered with Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based vegan chef Melanie Manual to develop those plant-based menu options.

Gittrich opened the first Toppers pizzeria in Champaign, Illinois, as an alternative to big box pizza and began franchising in 2000. Now based in Whitewater, Wisconsin, Toppers Pizza ranked No. 337 on the Franchise Times Top 400.

The brand closed out 2020 with $65.2 million in systemwide sales, a 9.6 percent increase from 2019. Though it has a few locations in states such as Texas and North Carolina, the majority of locations are concentrated in the Midwest.

C Squared Advisors served as the financial advisor to Toppers for the transaction, and Cheng Cohen served as legal counsel. Great Plains Capital, a private holding company based in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, was advised by Ropes & Gray during the deal.