Family Matters: Father-Son Duo to Open Toppers in Grand Rapids

Toppers Pizza* (Toppers) announced that Grand Rapids entrepreneurs Arie Leder and his son Nathan will open their first Toppers location on Monday, August 11 at 947 Wealthy St SE. Toppers continues to prove that its’ one of a kind creations are a recipe for success as it experiences growth in 2014 and beyond. As a reflection of the Leders’ confidence that the Grand Rapids community will enjoy Toppers as much as they do, the local residents have already committed to opening a second location in the city. “Nathan’s background in the hospitality industry, coupled with his knowledge of the Grand Rapids food scene, will ensure his success in upholding Toppers’ standards,” said Toppers Director of Franchise Development Mark P. Cairns. Local Calvin College graduate Nathan brings to Toppers a strong background in the food industry, most notably with quick-service giant Taco Bell. His experience with the brand spans nine years, and in that time, Leder managed every single Taco Bell in the Grand Rapids area. His expert skill in high-traffic, high-volume and high-grossing environments will prove to be invaluable to his new locations. The Leders chose to join Toppers due to their initial attraction to the attitude, spunk and appeal of the brand. “I’ve worked in restaurants for nearly a decade and I have always dreamt of opening one of my own,” Nathan Leder said. “We are looking forward to serving out-of-this-world pizza to the Grand Rapids community and feel that the brand is a perfect fit for this college town.” As a growth-focused franchise, Toppers forecasts an impressive finish to 2014 with plans to continue growing its presence throughout the Midwest. The brand aims to reach 500 locations by 2020, primarily through the focused support of multi-unit operators. “2014 has proved to be a prosperous and rewarding year for Toppers, and we’re very excited for the strides we’ll make the remainder of the year,” Iversen said. “With significant growth opportunities ahead of us, and past successes under our belt, we’re prepared to continue our aggressive expansion. Headquartered in Whitewater, Wisconsin, Toppers takes a unique approach to the crowded pizza segment by cooking up specialty pizzas that start with their fresh, made-from-scratch dough, covered in real Wisconsin cheese and finished with outrageous toppings such as French fried onions, oven-roasted tomatoes, mac ‘n cheese and tater tots. The Toppers empire encompasses over 60 restaurants across 10 states. For more information on Toppers, visit www.toppers.com.