Toppers Pizza, headquartered in Whitewater, Wisconsin, is debuting its catering menu nationwide, with bundles for large and small groups as well as office/event lunches and a la carte offerings. Let’s take a closer look at what makes Toppers’ approach a smart way to feed a crowd while maximizing profitability.
The catering lineup was developed by Chef Brian Brindza, Toppers’ director of culinary and menu innovation. It appears to have been devised with food costs in mind while meeting the needs of a typical party or event, where it can be safely assumed that some guests will fill up on sides and/or salads rather than pizza.
Every bundle features large pizzas, which carry a higher margin for a pizza chain that knows how to optimize ingredient purchasing and prep. But Toppers has scaled the number of pizzas only slightly between the tiers while the add-ons bring higher perceived value with minimal impact on food costs.
The catering program includes bundles for small parties of 10-12 adults (four large pizzas, Triple ‘Stix, a large salad and a large side); medium parties of 16-18 adults (four large pizzas, two Triple ‘Stix, two large sides and a large salad); and large parties of 22-24 adults (five large pizzas, two Triple ‘Stix, three large sides and two large salads).
In short, high-margin pizzas anchor the catering deal, while the add-ons are inexpensive to make but appealing to a group of people with varying tastes and appetites. This tiered-scaling strategy means Toppers can advertise options for different group sizes without a proportional increase to its food costs. At the same time, the client gets a sense of convenience and value.
Meanwhile, Toppers’ Pizza Party Bundles consist of pizza-only deals for small parties of 14-16 adults (five large pizzas); big parties (10 large pizzas); and mega parties (15 large pizzas).
Additionally, for individual lunch meals at office parties and other self-service events, Toppers will let clients order a small pizza with a choice of a side or salad plus a drink, or just a small pizza and a drink. With the a la carte offer, customers can build their own spreads with pizzas, wings, Topperstix, salads, desserts and more.
“We’re always looking for ways to bring our bold flavors to more people, and catering opens the door for us to be part of even more celebrations and gatherings,” Brindza said. “We’ve made the menu simple to order, easy to customize and perfect for sharing—whether you’re feeding a small team or a large crowd.”
Just as importantly, Toppers has made the menu a good deal for Toppers’ own bottom line.
