Orlando pizza restaurant, Flippers Pizzeria, known for firing up fresh, handcrafted pizzas in their authentic brick-ovens, has successfully taken their 25-year-old concept to the national franchise arena, most recently, the Tampa pizza market.
Gerard Pickhardt, principal at Novita Tampa Bay, LLC, is leading the pizzeria’s entrance into the Tampa market. “The Tampa Bay market is perfect for this concept. We are excited about getting in on the ground floor with the Flippers franchise team. What is equally exciting is the quality, passion, integrity, charity and fun that are all part of the equation in this organization,” said Pickhardt.
Founded by Scott Kousaie and Todd Dennis in 1987, Flippers Pizzeria has become one of Central Florida’s favorite pizzerias. Since its inception, the mission of Flippers Pizzeria has always been to satisfy every customer through the company’s passion for the perfect pizza. Today, with eleven locations throughout Central Florida and new restaurants in the works, that commitment remains the same.
The team has created an environment that focuses on a culture of excellence, utilizing only the freshest ingredients, and pairing it with a rigorous quality control program.
“We firmly believe that we have what it takes to become a nationally recognized brand,” says co-founder, Scott Kousaie. According to Kousaie, the pizzeria has a product and a business model that fills a void in the industry. “It’s our goal to satisfy every customer through our passion for the perfect pizza while offering other great menu items that complement our brick oven specialty pizzas,” says Kousaie.
In addition to authentic brick-oven baked pizzas, a variety of appetizers, flatbreads, salads, pastas, and sandwiches round out the menu, offering a blend of traditional and healthy menu options. “Paired with beer and wine, the experience at Flippers is as diverse as the customer wants it to be,” says Kousaie. That experience also extends beyond the Flippers door. Customers have the option of enjoying fast, fresh carry out or delivery. They can also order online through the company’s website and soon–a new iPhone application.
Flippers selected Chute Gerderman, a prominent national branding and design firm to enhance the business’ corporate identity and interior design palette. The agency redesigned the Flippers logo, packaging, brand language, signage, and various graphic elements. Investing in this reputable brand-development company allowed executives to take the brand to a franchise market, which would promote brand consistency and ease of opening new locations.
Today’s interiors reflect the company’s “fresh, friendly, fun” manifesto. Bright, energizing colors cover the restaurant walls; large cans of tomatoes, framed artwork of fresh ingredients, bottles of extra virgin olive oil, and sleek directionals enhance the experience. Dark stained concrete floors, exposed ceiling beams, comfortable booths, high-top bar, and even a bright red, solid oak communal table have also been worked into the signature Flippers design.
The centerpiece of every Flippers restaurant is the brick oven cooking and prep area. It calls attention to the pizzeria’s signature Marsal brick ovens. This unique oven results in more evenly cooked pizzas that channel the rustic origins and traditions of old-world hearth ovens. The prep area also features a variety of fresh ingredients that are prepared daily.
Through the years, Flippers executives have continued to enhance the Flippers Pizzeria experience, which is rooted in attentive customer service and customer satisfaction. Today, that mission continues to be the inspiration behind multiple Flippers Pizzeria locations. Both new franchise and corporate stores have also been opened and many more are being planned to open in 2012.
“All senior management at Flippers Pizzeria were very forthright and credible throughout the entire process. In fact, everyone from the general managers to the servers and drivers are solid, hard working people. It became clear that the entire organization, from the very top on down, understands that ‘customer,’ is not just a word, it is lived every day,” said Pickhardt.
Combining a great customer experience with always-fresh, high-quality food items is one of the many key components to the success of the pizzeria, which is currently celebrating its 25th year in Central Florida.
“Fresh Honest Ingredients.” From authentic brick-oven baked pizzas and pastas, to handcrafted calzones and flatbreads, Flippers Pizzeria maintains consistency in taste and freshness. Customers have the option of enjoying a delicious Flippers meal in the comfortable, family-friendly environment of their restaurants or the convenience of pick-up and delivery services, as well as Orlando catering services. Flippers Pizzeria is one of the only delivery services offering the quality of authentic brick-oven-baked pizza. Online ordering is available. Follow Flippers Pizzeria on Facebook (facebook.com/flipperspizzeria) and Twitter (@flipperspizzaus).
