Toppers Pizza announce that David Biederman was promoted to Executive Vice President. In this role, Biederman will take on broad-based authority and responsibility, including increased involvement in marketing and operations while continuing to lead the development department for the growing pizza franchise.
“I’m excited to work directly with David in his new role as we get ready to enter 2018,” says Scott Gittrich, founder and president of Toppers Pizza. “Our goal is to continue to create great results by delivering for our guests and team members. We’ll work with the entire Toppers leadership team and our system of dedicated and incredible franchisees to achieve that goal and continue to enhance the Toppers Pizza experience.”
Biederman has spent four decades in the restaurant business in high level leadership positions in the areas of marketing, operations and development at concepts like McDonald’s, Quiznos, and Smashburger before joining Toppers Pizza in 2016 as chief development officer.
“We truly have something special with the Toppers Pizza model, our approach to customer service, and the overall unique and passionate culture embodied by our system of franchise owners and team members,” says Biederman. “As we enter a new year, I am motivated by the fact that our guests don’t settle for lesser pizza options and am driven to continue our efforts to improve their experience.”
Biederman’s promotion comes as the company also adds new Director of Social Media and Public Relations, Colleen Glendinning, as well as new Franchise Sales Coordinator, Joanne Esser.
Glendinning first experienced Toppers Pizza as a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She got her start in the restaurant industry working for a Qdoba franchisee in Wisconsin after college. From there, she worked at Noodles & Company as part of the field marketing team, eventually being promoted to Regional Marketing Manager. In the role, she was responsible for developing the local marketing plans in her territory. In her time at Noodles & Company, Glendinning oversaw the opening of 58 restaurants, preparing her for Toppers Pizza where the company has plans to have 200 locations open by 2020.
“I’ve always felt pulled to the restaurant industry,” says Glendinning. “Toppers Pizza approached me and it felt like the right time and the right need. The collaboration between the field marketing team, the design team, the agency partners and everyone else involved is what really sold me. I’m loving it every day so far. There is a true entrepreneurial spirit here that allows us to be innovative and try new ideas, so there is a lot we can do and I’m genuinely excited for the potential.”
Esser will join the development team as they continue a mission of smart growth and expansion. She will be working with qualified franchise prospects interested in joining the growing Toppers Pizza system. Previously, Esser worked at Batteries Plus Bulbs. Both Esser and Glendinning will provide valuable assistance to a corporate team that continues to hone in on ways to improve unit level economics and pairing it with strategic growth.
Toppers Pizza is set to open 15 locations by the end of 2017 and enters 2018 with a focus on investing in existing franchisees and enhancing the in-store, delivery and online ordering experience while also continuing growth momentum through strategic expansion in targeted markets with qualified franchise candidates.
